1. ENPI Project: Towards a People’s Partnership Implemented by Eurostep in association with Aprodev, Oxfam Novib, Acsur & Womnet

2. Project objectives Overall objective –Ensure EC’s cooperation with its neighbours reflects the people’s aspiration in the region; specifically in the context of the mid term review of EC assistance Specific objectives –Capacity building: increase the knowledge & monotoring skills of CSOs on ENP/ENPI issues –Advocacy: bring recommendations of CSOs on ENP/ENPI issues to the EU

3. Means Promotion of CSO involvement in EC assistance processes –Improve the understanding of how EC assistance works, and how to influence it Promotion of budget monitoring activities –Improve the understanding of how budget support by EC to the government works, and how to monitor it

4. Why this project? Why is CS not involved? Decisions on ENP/ENPI priorities are made by few individuals in the EU and the neighbouring government. EU policies & financing agreements are complex  difficult for civil society actors to participate. Why should CS get involved? EU & neighbouring governments have committed to ensure transparency and broad participation of civil society actors. ENP/ENPI impact on national policies and overall development.

5. Project activities Preparatory workshop in Brussels (March 2008). National workshops: Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova (April - September) Final conference in Brussels (October/November)  Mid term review of CSPs (2009)

6. Aim of preparatory workshop Ensure the understanding of the EC policies/ programming Identify and prepare the political & practical issues to be addressed in the national workshops Define a shared methodology for the national workshops and a common advocacy strategy

7. Aim of national workshops Capacity bulding: 1.ENP & the functioning mechanism of the ENPI. 2.Budget support within the ENPI & how to monitor government budget. 3.Build CSO coalitions. 4.Opportunities for civil society actors to influence the ENP/ENPI. 5.Suggested strategies to enhance their impact on these policies. Advocacy: 1.Concrete recommendations on CSP’s priorities. 2.Define common ”national” advocacy strategy

8. Means Capacity: –Ensure broad & differentiated representation of civil society. –Collect reactions from local CSOs on EC policies in the country. –Collect experiences from CSOs on participation in progamming process/relation to EU representatives. Advocacy: –Analyse and discuss critically the CSP-IPs. –Prepare concrete recommendations on the CSPs-IPs –Identify relevant deadlines and targets –Identify the opportunities & obstacles in working with: Government, delegation, EC in Brussels?

9. Outcome Better understanding of ENP/ENPI processes by CSOs Concrete recommendations to EU’s policies towards the country – target focus: Mid term review of CSPs. Effective advocacy strategy on how to impact EU policies – to be acted on in the country and in Brussels.

10. Targets National government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, European integration Departments etc.). National parliament. Cooperation committees & monitoring subcommittees. EC Delegation, Member States embassies. European Commission in Brussels (DG RELEX, EuropAid). European Parliament.

11. Thank you for your attention. Marie Skov Madsen Policy Adviser: European Neighbourhood Policy Eurostep mskov@eurostep.org www.eurostep.org