On Thursday 9 January, a number of organisations active in the field of sustainable development announced the launch of a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening the influence of civil society on the European Union’s global cooperation programme.
Called ‘Towards an open, fair and sustainable EU’ and funded by the EU, the project aims to highlight the EU’s role as a global player and its responsibility in addressing key issues such as climate justice, sustainable finance, civic space and inclusive partnerships.
Workshops, training sessions and the production of analyses, research and policy recommendations will form the basis of the initiative’s activities. It is supported by the Danish organisation Global Focus, the Polish platform Grupa Zagranica, the Cypriot institution Cardet and the European NGO confederation for sustainable development, Concord Europe.
“The EU must continue to engage with civil society to ensure that decisions respect human rights, protect the planet, and impact positively on those most affected by inequalities, climate change, conflict and other global challenges” said Tanya Cox, Director of Concord Europe, in a statement.
With a budget of €2 million, the initiative will run during the Polish, Danish and Cypriot Presidencies of the Council of the EU, from January 2025 to July 2026, a key period for the negotiation of the EU’s next post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (see EUROPE 13543/16, 13553/12). (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)