EU and Trade Unions Presentation Vilvorde Conference Centre 26 February 2011 Henrik Als

Content EU & Development The Lisbon Treaty – and the future EU ITUC – TUDCN A few ideas to applying for EU-funds

EU & Development – timeline Dec, 200O: Nice summit: the future of EU Dec, 2001: The European Convention June 2004: Agreement of the European Constitution May & June 2005: Referendums in France and the Netherlands reject the Constitution ’Period of reflection’ Dec, 2007: Signing of Lisbon Treaty June, 2008: Irish referendum rejects the Treaty 1. Dec, 2009: Lisbon Treaty enters into force 1. Dec, 2010: formal launch of European External Action Service (EEAS) 1. Jan, 2011: first staff transferred to EEAS – “FUT’en”

EU as a global power

EU & development –55 % of global aid – Commission third largest donor –Global aid 670 billion DKK –EU total aid 367 billion DKK –USA 157 billion DKK –EU Commission 82 billion DKK –Denmark 15 billion DKK

Background for EU development Basis: –Treaty –The European Consensus (2005) –The Cotonou Agreement –Decentralisation Budget: 35 billion Euro (5 years) EDF: 23 billion Euro (5 years)

EU Programs

Geographic Programs Funding InstrumentGeographical zoneGoals/prioritiesBudget frame Development Co-operation Instrument (DCI) 47 countries in Latin America, Asia and Central Asia, the Gulf region and South Africa Supporting the implementation of policies focusing on eradication of poverty and fulfilment of the MDG’s. € 11,181 billion European Development Fund (EDF) 79 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and the overseas territories of EU Member States (OCT) Economic, social and human development, regional cooperation, and integration. € 22.7 billion European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) 17 countries neighbouring the EU Supporting the transition towards democracy and market economy, promoting human rights & sustainable development € 10,057 billion

Thematic Programmes Funding InstrumentGoalsBudget frame Investing in peopleSupport to Social and human development. 12 % (Education), 55 % (Health)€ 1 billion Non-state actors and local authorities Build the capacity of CSO’s and LA (!) through support to participation political processers and support to basic needs of poor people € 1.6 billion European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Support to democracy and human rights and prevention of conflicts € billion Migration and AsylumSupport to Developing countries to manage migration (e.g. prevention of illegal migration; and abuse ) € 384 million

EU’s role in development –Positive: High potentials in setting the agenda globally Main architect of the MDGs Relatively dialogue-based (with ACP countries) –Negative : Not setting the agenda politically Lack of poverty focus Lack of involvement of Civil Society Lack of expertise and resources

The Lisbon Treaty Divided in two: –TEU: Treaty on European Union (overall principles) & –TEUF: Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (operating principles) Overall purpose (art. 3, TEU) The Union’s aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples. 3. (…) the sustainable development in Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy (…) Civil society (art. 11, TEU) 2. The institutions shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society.

Lisbon Treaty – Institutional Changes Institutional Innovations: Substantial strengthening of the European Parliament: Co-legislator on almost 50 additional areas including the entire annual budget. Assent for international agreements. Parliament also elects the entire college of Commissioners, including the President of the Commission The EU has become a legal personality The European Citizens’ Initiative – 1 million signatures New form of Qualified Majority in the Council Permanent president of the European Council, Van Rompuy High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton –Double (triple) hat: High Representative, Vice President of Commission & Commissioner for External Relations, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, head of EEAS European External Action Service: –Serves as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps of the Union –Implements the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and other areas of the EU’s external representation (incl. development programming) –136 delegations with similar functions as embassies –Comprises staff from the Commission, the Council Secretariat and the diplomatic services of the Member States

Lisbon Treaty – External Action Art 21, TEU: 1. The Union's action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation (…) 2. The Union shall define and pursue common policies and actions (…) in order to: a) safeguard its values, fundamental interests, security, independence and integrity; b) consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law; d) foster the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of developing countries, with the primary aim of eradicating poverty; e) encourage the integration of all countries into the world economy, including through the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade; g) assist populations, countries and regions confronting natural or man-made disasters; The Union shall ensure consistency between the different areas of its external action and between these and its other policies.

Lisbon Treaty – Development Cooperation & Social Policy Development Cooperation: Art. 208, TEUF: (…) Union development cooperation policy shall have as its primary objective the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty. The Union shall take account of the objectives of development cooperation in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries. Social Policy: Art. 152, TEUF: The Union recognises and promotes the role of the social partners at its level, taking into account the diversity of national systems. It shall facilitate dialogue between the social partners, respecting their autonomy. The Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment shall contribute to social dialogue.

Functions of EU diplomacy in Development ? High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy –EEAS Development Commissioner –DevCo: EuropeAid Development & Cooperation –New: Responsible of formulating development policy for all developing countries Division of responsibilities between EEAS and DevCo????? Development on paper: –Overall responsibility: Ashton (EEAS) –Formal responsibility, development (DCI & EDF): Piebalgs (DevCo) –Programming, strategy papers: Ashton & Piebalgs –Implementation: DevCo Permanent EU’s delegations (embassies) are part of EEAS –but may also receive instructions from the Commissioners in areas such as trade and development policy and from the President of the European Council.

Trade Union movement and EU Trade Union Development Cooperation Network – TUDCN (funded by EU, 2 x 1 mio. Euro) Two objectives 1) Joint information sharing as well as strategies, methodologies etc in development cooperation among TU actors 2) Increased dialogue with EU and international organisations on development policies and practices, TU contribution to international development cooperation

Trade Union Development Cooperation Network –Coordinated and steered by ITUC & the TUDCNetwork –However a new FSG (Facilitation and Steering Group) is in place as of yesterday to make it more operational! –Composed of ITUC (including its regional offices), the TUSSOs and in principle the GUFs (!) –4 Working Groups (Policy dialogue, EU, Aid effectiveness and Capacity building) –Seminars

Some examples of work of TUDCN Participation in Policy dialogue processes –Open Forum on Aid Effectiveness (Paris, AAA, Istanbul, Busan (November 2011)) –MDG conferences –Better Aid platforms on development effectiveness –Following international trends (e.g. the ”private turn”) –EU development – structured contribution to the EU Green Paper on Development Revision of EU’s role in Development Actor –The Structured Dialogue process (Cisoch homepage)

Structured Dialogue (1) Dialogue with EU Commission, Parliament, Member States and Civil Society (11 platforms (ITUC and Concord most dynamic)) This SD aims at increasing effectiveness of all stakeholders involved by –(i) building consensus on the role to be played by CSOs & LAs, –(ii) finding ways to improve the effectiveness of CSO & LA involved in EC cooperation and (iii) exploring ways to adapt EC programmes.

Structured Dialogue (2) An important element of: –The Open Forum on effectiveness process, leading to Busan –Revision of EU procedures and DCI financial instruments for next Budget ( ) –Revision of the European Consensus on Development Process started in May 2010 and end in May 2011 (Budapest) Good process – but what is the final outcome?? Follow the SD:

Structured dialogue – some statements from the EU EU has to recognise that CSO’s need space for dialogue EU needs to change its culture to focus more on impact/outcome and less on activities and strict monitoring EU should allow for a multi-stakeholder and rights-based approach and allowing for funding to capacity building, gaining of knowledge and research CSO’s Right to Initiative is a “given” for future EU funding EU cannot “orquestrate” the CSO, who has their own life. This does however imply increased CSO responsibility in showing results and effectiveness. There is a need to identify other better mechanisms than the Call for Proposal system!!. Framework agreements and programme financing

Seeking EU funds – some hints The Call for Proposal – a difficult animal Prioritise and focus as early as possible (elaborate proposal early) Select partner organisations with capacity Timely PADOR registration, also of partner organisation Decentralise as much as possible (90 % of “calls” will be decentralised) Seek only Calls, which thematic and geographic encompasses into existing programmes Ensure systemic contact and dialogue with the local EU delegations

Seeking EU funds – some hints (2) Ensure systematic overview of the relevant policy documents from the EU Focus on local calls and restricted calls (with a concept note) Analyse the reasons for rejections of applications Make the application tangible and a ”write- off”. Don’t be ashamed of copying the text of the call. Avoid TU terminology (Social Dialogue an example)

Potential scenarios? Increased decentralization – EU embassies in developing countries! Will EU become the only funding agencies (including for all EU members)? One single framework agreement with ITUC for TU work? The role of northern SSOs decreasing/discussion of added-value of northern SSOs? A new European Consensus – for the better or the worse? Financial crisis - Diminishing resources for development!? The private turn – Where will it lead to? We will know more in December 2011

Thank You!