UK Civil Society Participation in EU decision-making 7 th October 2011 Oli Henman Head of EU & International Team

The estimates in this slide pack refer to the voluntary sector only – based on the general charities definition

Sector and Coalition Government: Key Infrastructure Compact Code Renewed as shorter document (Dec 2010) Office for Civil Society (OCS) re-brand Reductions in Strategic Partners- from 40 to 14 Lower funding for Charity Commission Review of bureaucratic burden, including tax Potential increase in social investment- Big Society Capital

EU Participation – UK Govt OCS- EU work stream in Strategic Partners plan FCO- Stakeholder groups attend Foreign Office briefings on EU Strategy DWP- Key Programme Monitoring Committee on ESF Consultation with EC and EP at Europe House in London

Key Westminster Parliamentary targets Cross-party to reach all parts of debate EU Scrutiny Committee as the point of in- depth analysis in Parliament Minister for Civil Society

EU Participation- Wales High level of engagement with Welsh Assembly Government Regular dialogue on use of ESF, progressive use of volunteering as match funding Participation in wide range of projects with partners across Europe Direct engagement from Wales in EU decision- making

EU Participation- Wales European Structural Funds, response to the appropriate level of Government: 1.EC Response on the 5th Cohesion Report and Regulation; 2.UK Govt on the National Reform Programme 3.The Welsh Assembly Government on the Operational Programmes

EU Participation- Local EU funding often aimed at supporting projects in specific local area, eg. Merseyside NCVO’s new Network for Effective European Funding (formerly TSEN) to provide advice to civil society on access to ESF across the country Real opportunity to share knowledge with similar localities in other parts of Europe

EU policy change and advocacy work Lisbon Treaty discussions with all major parties and clear link across FCO, MEPs and No 10 Importance of working together with key civil society partners Delivery of participation with EU in UK: link between OCS and EC at Europe House Direct link to advocacy in Brussels through ENNA

Major trends for sector Engagement and the future of participation in democracy Public service reform and levels of spending, linked to EU budget review Social finance as way to rebalance funding model Economic downturn means renewed need to define civil society as sustainable, equitable basis of services

Oli Henman Head of EU & International Team NCVO