WRITTEN QUESTION E-4115/97 by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission (16 January 1998)

Subject: Involving civil society more closely in the EU's partnership with the ACP countries

What policy and actions does the Commission propose to pursue to encourage the participation of civil society in the ACP countries, given that civil society does not consist solely of NGOs but embraces all sectors, both public and private, where the organized population participates in the operation of society as a whole?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (9 February 1998)

Over the last 15 months the Commission has engaged in an intensive public debate on the challenges and options for a new partnership between the Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states with a view to the next settlement of the revised Lome IV Convention. Resulting from this debate, the emphasis lies on the strengthening of the participation of civil society by making 'accessibility' a basic principle of the new partnership, allowing actors of the state and of civil society to be included in the dialogue on policies as well as in the participation in cooperation actions.

There is an emphasis on the political dimension of the new partnership with the respect of human rights, democratic principles, rule of law and good governance as essential elements, to allow citizens full participation in all aspects of society; to defend their interests, participate in decision making and public resource management and to develop an active and organized civil society. Widening the partnership should go beyond the current provisions of the Lome Convention to a participative partnership in decision making.

Responsibilization of the actors in decision making and management of cooperation and the strengthening of their capacities are two major Community objectives for all domains of cooperation. An accent will be put on the strengthening of democratic and participative structures and in general on the organization of economic, social and civil society's actors at the national, local or regional level.

Support will be provided for the elaboration and implementation of growth and employment strategies by the ACP states with active participation of the economic and social actors concerned. Support for the strengthening of human resources and the encouragement of dialogue between the government, business organizations and social and other organizations of civil society and the strengthening of participation and the development of a social dialogue in a more focused way between the social partners is envisaged.

The organisations of civil society and the existing social actors will be supported by strengthening socio-economic institutions, free and independent medias, putting into place a legal and regulatory environment favourable to private initiative, reinforcing political pluralism, and supporting the existence and efficiency of institutions defending human rights and programmes of civic education. Institutional support and the development of capacities and skills of the actors of partnership is envisaged in a systematic manner, particularly with regard to the representation of economic and social actors and the concertation of civil society, the training of decision makers of civil society and the establishment of training capacities.