Non-state actors participation is an integral part of EC Development policy (COM(2005)311 final, 13.07.2005).
Through this consultation (from 19 September 2005 to 11 November 2005), the Commission is seeking the opinion of local authorities, economic and social partners, academic institutions, NGOs and of every citizen with an interest in the main characteristics which should govern a new thematic programme in support of Non State Actors in the area of development cooperation.
In the framework of the Financial Perspectives 2007–2013, the Commission has proposed to replace the existing range of geographic and thematic instruments by six instruments, with a view to simplifying the legislation regarding EU external action. As a result of the new legislative framework, a number of regulations, some of which are directly linked to supporting non state actors in development cooperation, will no longer be in force after 2006. However, Community actions in the different areas concerned will continue in the form of "thematic programmes" which have yet to be defined.
In this context, the Commission "intends to propose a thematic programme aimed at providing support to civil society organisations and other non state actors, active in development and originating from the EU and partner countries. Support to local authorities (municipalities, regions, …) could also be considered in this framework. More specifically, this programme would have the threefold objective of seeking to support: (i) non state actors contribution to the development process at partner country and regional level, including by means of confidence building measures, fostering advocacy, networking and dialogue capabilities, facilitation of greater grassroots participation and promotion of development synergies between state and non state actors, (ii) better understanding, partnership and solidarity between European citizens and civil societies in developing countries by promoting awareness raising and education for development issues amongst the citizens of the EU, acceding and candidate countries, (iii) cooperation and coordination between civil society networks, and between these networks and EU institutions" (COM (2005) 324 final, 03.08.2005).
The Commission has prepared an issues paper to discuss the rationale and the main features of a specific thematic programme to support non state actors’ initiatives in EC cooperation with partner countries, as a successor to both the current NGO co-financing and decentralised cooperation programmes. Geographic programmes will remain the main tool for EC cooperation and non state actors shall continue to be eligible to participate in geographic and other "sectoral" thematic programmes that the Commission may propose (*) . Therefore, a thematic programme aimed at providing support to non state actors must demonstrate a clear added value and be complementary to geographic programmes. It shall build on the lessons learned and experiences from the NGO co-financing and decentralised cooperation latter programmes. It shall be "actor-oriented" and have a global character with strategic priorities defined in a single document for a multiannual period.
Participate in the consultation
(*) Such as Democracy and human rights, human and social development in developing countries, environment and sustainable management of natural resources, food security in transition form emergency to development, migration and asylum, cooperation with actors in OECD countries.
