Brussels, 02/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Civil society organisations from the whole Euro-Mediterranean area met in Brussels on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May at the initiative of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), under the aegis of the European Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS). Over the two-day conference, civil society expressed its desire to see more means mobilised for its programmes, and especially for this dialogue to be structured - initially between its components, then with the European institutions and even in a “triangular” framework (the EU, the governments of the partner countries and “organised civil society”).
Participants at the conference stated that these consultations are the first to be conducted in a “structured” way and at a regional level. They come prior to the review of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP). Nevertheless, the goal of bringing civil societies together for reflection -a reflection which has already been started by the governments of the “southern neighbourhood” - seems only to have been partially achieved, and there is a great deal of criticism.
The shortfalls in the ENP are now acknowledged, both outside and inside the European institutions, and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini herself confessed at the opening of the conference that she was not at ease with this policy of “neighbourhood” (see EUROPE 11323). Once the assessment had been made by the Commission and EEAS in March, the way was paved for a review - which several countries hope will not be just a touch-up. And, said Amnesty International member Ahmed Galai, civil society should not just play a “figurative” role.
Criticism has come from far and wide about the working method or organisation. Strong rivalry exists within a diverse civil society - the definition of which alone merits debate. The main criticism has been about the little means and the Commission's selection of civil society discussion partners in each country. At the opening of the conference, Ziad Abdel Samad, the managing director of ANND (Arab NGO Network for Development), gave a complete picture of the critical perception of the ENP and of how civil society is organised.
Representatives from two Tunisian unions - for employers (UTICA) and for workers (UGTT) - who have strong national experience, are distinctive by their criticism of how consultations have been conducted in their country. Too selective and not transparent, said Sadok Bel Haj Hassine, who is close to UGTT. “The impact of the results of this consultation is insignificant”. In his opinion, the EU reportedly just carried out a simple communication operation. The UTICA representative responsible for international relations, Mehrez Ben Rhouma, stated that unions', employers' and workers' structures are the first component of a civil society. In his opinion, it is therefore important to conduct this dialogue with an “organised civil society”.
This is an idea close to those who support the role of economic and social committees in each country and at the regional level - hence the idea of a “triangular structured dialogue” (EU, governments and associations). In short, the idea would be to involve civil societies in all the negotiations including economic and trade. This “triangulation” is said particularly to be the wish for migrants and mobility, Galai stated.
The European officials argued that this is only the beginning of the dialogue. Hugues Mingarelli, the managing director of the EEAS, said that one of the positive points is that the ENP has paved the way for non-state associations to participate in the design of actions and programmes - some of which focus on so-called “human” issues (human rights, democracy, gender, freedom of expression including the media). Mingarelli noted that “in spite of everything, what has been achieved over the last ten years has been remarkable, without being revolutionary, because ten years ago civil society did not have a say”. There has been “a perhaps slow evolution but this achievement is to be preserved” and “the utmost must be done to ensure it doesn't disappear but forms the foundations for deeper work”.
Mingarelli takes positive note of the call for civil society structures to be set up. The European institutions “would like to pass the baton on to you for the management of this process”, he told the associations and platforms present at the conference. “We will continue to help you with the means - which are not limitless. As far as the EEAS is concerned, it believes that dialogue with civil society is essential” and it is committed to “feeding the reflection and repeating the success” that has already been recorded with the Eastern countries.
Closing the conference, the director general in charge of “neighbourhood”, Christian Danielsson, called in particular for the dialogue to be continued, but without really advocating deep commitments. He too recommends that the dialogue be organised and that it focus on determining “where the main effort should be borne”. (Fathi B'Chir)