Brussels Civil Society Forum Report 2019

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Brussels Civil Society Forum Report 2019 Table of Contents Table 1. Foreword 7 2. List of abbreviations 8 3. Background, methodology and participants 10 4. Introduction 14 5. The Opening session 16 6. Plenary session: Reality and dialogue of civil societies and social movements on both sides of the Mediterranean 18 7. Plenary session: The 5 themes of MAJALAT in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027: analysis of the civil society and the implications for the Southern Neighbourhood 21 8. Plenary session: Summary of recommendations from the 5 MAJALAT themes 24 9. Plenary session: Presentation of sub granting initiatives funded by MAJALAT and their contribution to structured dialogue 41 10. Plenary session: Presentation of conclusions by parallel discussion group 44 11. Plenary Session: How to strengthen the structured dialogue, ensure effective monitoring of joint commitments and sustain the process started 47 12. Plenary session: Closing remarks 50 5 1. Foreword For too long, the Southern Neighbourhood has been more structured involvement of civil society in perceived as synonymous of political, economic and the political dialogue with the EU emerged as a social instability. The post-revolutionary backlash result of the 2011 uprisings and new priorities in in the Arab countries has replaced the fervour the region. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have of the 2011 uprisings. However, protests and been recognized as having a valuable role to play demonstrations are now, once again, underway. in identifying priorities for action and in promoting The central feature of the mobilisations now and monitoring the implementation of the ENP taking place, with varying intensity, in a growing in the region. They are indeed considered as key number of countries of the region, is the huge actors in the promotion of good governance and public frustration with failed, corrupt, inefficient human rights respect. The EU’s willingness to take and authoritarian rulers who are incapable of into account the demands of civil society in the guaranteeing decent levels of wellbeing and region has been transposed in different ways into security for their citizens. Youth unemployment its internal and external policies. in the region, which was the highest in the world at the time of 2009 financial crisis and has grown On the other hand, however, 2015 ENP revision over the past decade more than anywhere else - represented a shift towards a more realist approach according to the International Labour Organization which led to a greater emphasis on stability and (ILO) - represents another important driver of the stabilization (in security and economic terms). current protests. Concerns have been raised about the diminished level of political priority and attention that the EU The substantial difference with previous episodes gives to Human Rights, democratisation and civil of grassroots mobilisation, it that the more recent society space in the last ENP revision. protest movements have been, and continue to be crosscutting, leaderless, young, spontaneous In order to strengthen the cooperation with civil (emerging from civil society itself) and peaceful. society of the Southern Neighborhood countries, the EU has initiated a structured regional dialogue Following the societal awakening in the Arab in 2014. The dialogue was organized for 4 years world in 2011, the EU’s strategic response by the European Union. Nevertheless, one of the to the momentous changes in the southern main recommendations of the last civil society neighbourhood came with the strategic review of dialogue held in 2017 was to advocate for the the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) released creation of a regional hub for a structured dialogue in May 2011. The revision, among other things, organised by and for civil society itself - while aimed at ensuring an increased involvement of ensuring coordination with the EU institutions. civil society actors. The need for a stronger and The result took the form of a civil society initiative 7 - co-financed by the European Commission (DG NEAR) - aimed at creating spaces for constructive dialogue between civil society organisations, trade unions, social movements, academics from both sides of the Mediterranean. This initiative, called MAJALAT, was launched in February 2018 for three years. This second edition of the Brussels Civil Society Forum is the closing event of the MAJALAT activity cycle and represents an important moment for civil society actors to express themselves freely and to openly discuss current challenges and opportunities in the southern Mediterranean. In the following pages, the main outcomes of the two-day discussions taking place in the framework of the Brussels Civil Society Forum. ANHRI Arab Network for Human European Bank for Rights Information EBRD Reconstruction and Development Arab NGOs Network for ANND Development ECSFAP European Commission Sustainable Finance Action Arab Trade Union ATUC Plan Confederation European External Action Centre Chercheurs d’Etudes EEAS CCERSS Service et de Recherches en Sciences Sociales EESC European Economic and Social Committee CIHRS Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies EFSD+ European Fund for Sustainable Development plus Convention on the Protection EIB The European Investment of the Rights of All Migrant Bank CRMW Workers and Members of their Families EIDHR European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights CS Civil society(ies) List of abbreviations EuroMed Rights EMR CSO Civil society organisation 2. ENI European Neighbourhood Deep and Comprehensive Free Instrument DCFTA Trade Agreement FMAS Forum des Alternatives Maroc DFI Development Finance Gross National Income Institution GNI Directorate-General for IcSP Instrument contributing to DG International Cooperation and stability and peace DEVCO Development ILO International Labour Directorate-General Organisation DG for Neighbourhood and MDB Multilateral Development NEAR Enlargement Negotiations Bank 8 MFF Multiannual financial SDG Sustainable Development framework Goals NDC Nationally Determined SMPs South Mediterranean Partners Contribution Neighbourhood, Development TI Transparency International NDICI and International Cooperation Instrument TW Thematic Workshop NS Neighbourhood South United Nations Framework UNFCCC Convention on Climate Change ODA Official Development Aid WHO World Health Organisation REF Réseau Euromed France WTO World Trade Organisation 9 3. Background, methodology and participants The MAJALAT initiative is part of an ongoing Three specific objectives are to: process of exchange and dialogue with civil society of the Southern Neighborhood countries 1. Facilitate knowledge and information in order to strengthen the cooperation in transfer about EU policies to civil society in the political decision-making process in a the NS, and to peers in the EU, by engaging in consultative manner. In particular, the process monitoring and review processes enhancing of structured dialogue between the EU and citizens’ possibility for engagement and the civil society of the southern Mediterranean political participation in matters important began in Brussels in 2014 with the first edition to the EU and the NS. of the structured dialogue called Southern 2. Promote an enabling environment for civil Neighborhood Civil Society Forum. The dialogue society through establishing an inclusive, was organized for 4 years by the European Union. safe and multi-stakeholder dialogue of civil Nevertheless, one of the main recommendations society organisations with a wider spectrum of the last civil society dialogue held in 2017 was of EU interlocutors and other regional to advocate for the creation of a regional hub stakeholders integrating new social actors, for a structured dialogue organised by and for social movements, youth and women groups civil society itself - while ensuring coordination in this dialogue. with the EU institutions. The result took the form of a civil society initiative - co-financed by 3. Provide sustainable and interactive internet the European Commission (DG NEAR) - aimed and face-to-face platforms that facilitate well- at creating spaces for constructive dialogue informed dialogue through learning, capacity between civil society organisations, trade building and information sharing regarding unions, social movements and academics from civil society policy, previous and ongoing both sides of the Mediterranean. This initiative, initiatives, training opportunities, et.al. called Majalat, was launched in February 2018 The Consortium carrying the initiative is for three years. Majalat is an Arabic word which composed of six regional networks of civil refers to “spaces, opportunities, fields and society: the Arab NGOs Network for Development domains”. The uniqueness of this initiative lies (ANND), the Arab Confederation of Trade Unions in the fact that its main organizers are networks (ATUC), Réseau Euromed France (REF), EuroMed of civil society organizations from the southern Rights (EMR), Forum des Alternatives Maroc and northern shores of the Mediterranean. (FMAS) and SOLIDAR. Six other organizations The overall objective of the action is to are part of the project’s advisory committee: the reinforce regional dialogue between civil society Arab Network for Human Rights Information organisations in the Southern Mediterranean (ANHRI), Transparency International (TI), Countries, but also between CSOs in the EU and Disabled People’s International (Maghreb the Neighbourhood South (NS) and to address Office), the Arab Campaign for Education for All, key
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