The European Year of Development 2015 EYD2015. Opportunities and challenges, a role to play for CONCORD and its National Platforms

Transcription

1 The European Year of Development 2015 EYD2015 Opportunities and challenges, a role to play for CONCORD and its National Platforms

2 How it started: a CONCORD initiative At the CONCORD General Assembly of June 2011, Andris Gobins, representing LAPAS-Latvian NP, urged CONCORD to lobby the EU to designate 2015 as European Year for Development. At the same General Assembly, Marius Wanders was elected as member of the Board of CONCORD and mandated to take this initiative forward. They formed a mini-task force to begin the work towards an EU political decision. A first concept note was drafted and the first discussions with DG DEVCO & Commissioner Piebalgs cabinet started.

3 Why? EU s global leadership role in development issues and in creating, promoting and supporting realisation of MDGs. Almost 60% of the total global ODA comes from EU and its member states. Development is still a relevant topic for EU citizens (*re. last Eurobarometer published on 27 Nov 2013) 2015 is the horizon year of MDGs and likely start year of new Post2015 framework. Bi-dimensional initiative for the first time: EY2015DEV will be first ever European Year dealing with external action of EU and aiming to impact inside and outside the borders of the EU.

4 Unique opportunity for a broad public discussion and meaningful civic engagement on the vision of Europe on Global Development. EU citizens are all actors in global economy and consumers of global goods. Generate public support for development, global solidarity, PCD, SDG s, concept of global public goods Europe can be concretely taken into account in the global post-2015 process when it takes its own citizens and their organised civil society on board as political actors and not only as funders or implementers of European ODA

5 CONCORD task force received support and cooperation from key institutions of the EU Commissioner Piebalgs assigned his Deputy Head of Cabinet to support the CONCORD initiative and facilitate contacts with other Commission services, including the Cabinets of President Barroso Strong and active support from the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee included a call for EY2015 in one of their opinions to the EP Identification of champion MEPs (Berman, Goerens, Boulland) to take the process forward within the EP Active support from CoR - Committee of the Regions The small initial task force of CONCORD evolved into an inter-institutional task force

6 2012 / 2013: CONCORD actions around EYD2015 Project lab on EY2015DEV at EuDevDays2012, moderated by CONCORD, with EP, EESC, CoR and European Commission in the panel Regular meetings of the inter-institutional task force in EESC and in EP

7 Creation of a special web page, hosted on EESC website, to collect inputs/proposals from citizens and civil society representatives, centred around 5 main questions related to EYD2015 Input collected through this webportal were summarised and shared with EC Formal support in a joint letter from EP President Schultz + EESC President Nilsson to EC President Barroso favourable response by Barroso Ms. Stina Soewarta -Head of Unit in DG DEVCO, in charge of EYD2015- was invited to CONCORD General Assembly on 6 June 2013 to give a presentation on groundwork of the EC official proposal

8 Official documents and milestones in the institutional process EC work led by DG DEVCO but involving other EC services and stakeholders and resulting in two documents: COM(2013) 509 final (Proposal for decision by Parliament and Council) SWD(2013) 265 final (Staff working document accompanying above proposal) CONCORD submitted 1-page reaction to Commission documents (Sept 2013) EESC drafted opinion REX/392 on Commission proposal on (approved in REX, still to be approved in plenary) Andris Gobins rapporteur EP appointed Charles Goerens as Rapporteur for EYD2015 proposal Report by MEP Goerens proposing changes to EC proposal Oct/Nov 13 (CONCORD suggested amendments to EP DEVE shadow rapporteurs)

9 And now? 1. The co-decision adoption of the EC Proposal by European Parliament and European Council is expected by March 2014 (before EP elections) 2. EC is currently working on policy messages (still space to influence) they should be enough flexible to adapt to different national realities 3. As soon as the proposal will be adopted the EC will launch a call for National Work Programmes NWP for MS **it is not a competitive selection process among MS

10 What is expected from a national institution (MFA, other ministries, public agencies, )? There is NO legal obligation for a MS to participate to European Years initiative but it s the only way to receive financial support There should be complementarity between the MS Communication activities and the EYD2015 related ones

11 EC will ask to MS to: -Identify a NATIONAL COORDINATOR (will serve as well as legal/financial entity ) the national coordinator should work with a wide range of stakeholders - Submit the NWP National Work Programme by 1 June 2014 (or later: can be 1 Sept) -Coordinate within existing Platforms (practitioners networks, etc )

12 Basic principles of the NWP The NWP will promote EU development cooperation and can include MS own priorities based on EYD2015 Decision The NWP need to propose concrete activities NWP need to correspond to national information needs Distribution of funds among MS following pre-established criteria

13 Main components of the NWP I Description of the national context Identification of information needs on EU dev. policy Report on consultation of stakeholders and on involvement of relevant players in development National Communication Strategy containing concrete communication activities and deliverables (free choice or choosing from examples or using EC kit that will be published with the call)

14 Main components of the NWP II Determination of target groups Identification of key messages (in line with Proposal and national context) Description of concrete activities and deliverables proposed Deadlines for delivery Monitoring and evaluation, reporting Follow-up Detailed budget (the NWP will serve as application for the grant/cofinancement)

15 Financial & legal aspects - amounts limited funds available: EUR 6 million for all 28 Member States = just over EUR 200,000 on average a distribution key will lead to a range of maybe between EUR 100,000 and 500,000

16 Who can get the funds? Whomever the MS designates: MS itself (ministry), MS agency, a private player (e.g. NGO), one or more. However, the choice has an impact on the terms of the funding (see next slide).

17 On what terms can funds be received? 1. Grant (grant contract) EU contribution covering up to 80 % of eligible costs for delivering what was agreed. In principle, beneficiary delivers alone, but buying inputs (subcontracting) and funding third parties (subgranting, if defined in detail upfront) are also possible. 2. Indirect management (delegation agreement) only on certain conditions: if the entity is public or with public-service mission; if the entity passed the so-called Pillar Assessment; if the activities mostly consist in redistributing funds by way of procurement or grants. Co-financing by the entity of 20 % will also be required.

18 The NWP and later the contract will also include, in accordance with guidelines issued in advance: Eligible and ineligible costs Calculations of the EU contribution Payment conditions (including an advance) Other contractual provisions While guaranteeing equality of treatment, the contracts may take individual situations into account.

19 Timing & next steps Adoption of the EYD2015 Decision in the first quarter of 2014 Launch of call for NWP right after Call for NWP will include guidelines and the standard grant application form or delegation agreement template Deadline for submission of NWP: 1 June 2014 or later (still under discussion with EP and Council)

20 DEAR call (2014) & EYD2015 Proposals must clearly indicate and explain how they address each of the three priorities. This will be assessed under point 1.2 of the Concept Note evaluation grid. A proposal which does not clearly address all three priorities of the Action may be rejected on this sole basis. 1. Proposals will contribute to the pursuit of objectives of the "2015 European Year of Development (EYD 2015)"11 And: Actions shall foresee the implementation of the major part of activities in the context of the European Year of Development All major activities undertaken in 2015 shall bear the label "EYD 2015". Additionally, the title of all projects under this call should contain the mention "EYD 2015". The deadline is 30/01/2014

21 What s in it for us? Opportunities for civil society Reach out to new audiences and (potential) new groups of supporters Rejuvenate our supporter base through smarter use of new technologies and of capacities and opinions of young people Offer opportunities for engagement to our partners in developing countries Strengthen overall potential and capacity/confidence of ourselves and of citizens at large to become effective agents for change and advocates for global social justice, which begins at home Be able to discuss the hard questions with development-sceptic citizens. Understand where they come from and make them understand where we come from

22 To support and coordinate the work of CONCORD members (especially NPs) around the EYD2015 SAVE the DATE Thursday 5 Dicember ,30-11,45 AM CET Kick-off teleconference of CONCORD new Task Force on EYD2015 (open to all members)

23 Thank you for your attention! Please write to to: - Receive additional details on EYD2015; - Join the EYD2015 CONCORD Task Force (and be included into the mailing list); - Receive official documents and presentations; - Double check on focal points in your respective MFA / Perm Rep dealing with EYD2015.