Group III Programme 2019: Strengthening European Collaboration and Values
The year 2019 marked a significant period of transition and changes in the EU, including Brexit, European elections, and the establishment of a new Commission. Group III aimed to promote European core values, defend rights, enhance communication, and ensure a fair migration policy. Empowering civil society organizations (CSOs) was a key focus, with efforts to engage citizens, facilitate dialogue, and monitor the civic space in Member States. Various actions were taken to support European collaboration and unity amidst uncertain times.
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GROUP III PROGRAMME 2019 1
The General context in 2019 The coming year will be a year of transition and changes at EU level: BREXIT, the European elections and the installation of a new Commission. Furthermore, the effects of the results of national elections in several member states where anti-European political forces have gained power and influence are expected to become more and more visible. This opens the way to an increasing uncertainty around the capacity of Member States and European institutions to act on a common front to preserve, consolidate and even improve the degree of European collaboration and interpretation. The EESC and Group III want to increase the efforts to reach out CSOs and citizens to advertise for the advantages of European core values and European integration that are at stake. Group III as guardian of diversity in Europe wants to reveal the destructive effects of populistic approaches and their proposals for Europe. Better information, better solutions are at stake. We are part of it. 2
Main Group III actions On 20 July 2018 Group III called for a European New Deal to be built on 7 priorities: 1. 2. 3. 4. Defending European values, fundamental rights and the rule of law Actively listening to European citizens Effectively communicating Europe via direct contacts with national CSOs Promoting civil society in diversity and unity in all fields of European activities Promoting a Europe that cares for and protects its citizens Creating a common and just and fair European migration policy Ensuring a Single Market that benefits all citizens in a sustainable way 5. 6. 7. 3
Main Group III actions Group III will therefore act within this framework aiming at Empowering CSOs to fully play their intermediary role: Favour Group and Bureau meetings at regional and local level Engage in direct dialogue with participants via a more interactive organisation of the debates, especially with youngsters Maintain contacts with Brussels based CSOs networks Develop regular exchanges with the European Parliament and other Institutions Carry on contacts EU Agencies and specialised institutes Investigate the real situation of CSOs in particular Member States where civic space is at risk and follow-up on the results of such investigations Set-up of consequent communication strategy 4
Ordinary Group III meetings The following themes will be tackled: Trade (January) Disabled and mental health (March) European Elections (May) Agriculture environment, rural development and cultural heritage Working programme of the European Commission Internal market New forms of work Digitalisation Crafts, small and one-person enterprises 5
Extraordinary meetings of Group III Group III could hold 4 extraordinary meetings: Romania on 7 + 8 May on A Europe of Shared Values and Civil Society Finland 2 days in September on SMEs in the framework of agriculture, tourism, environment Brussels 1 day in the second half of the year on a new European role model for women and men collaborating in European CS. Event with a new interactive format (e.g. parallel round table discussions) Possible topics for another event: Development aid and Tourism as part of world trade and appropriate instruments 6
Extraordinary meetings of the Bureau of Group III 5 extraordinary meetings of the Bureau: Ireland 15 February on the evaluation of the BREXIT process since the meeting in Dundalk in 2017 in the light of the results of the negotiations with the particular aim of monitoring the effects on the population and on the relations with UK CSOs. All UK and IRL Group III Members will be invited Two in Brussels on the governance and the working strategy of the Group in July and December Possibility to organise 2 additional events, dealing with subjects in and outside the EU 7
Studies This year the idea is to concentrate the whole budget on one big study. This would allow to provide more consistent resources and to avoid spreading efforts and budget on several smaller projects. One possible issue to be tackled is Finding a new consensus on European civil society values and their evaluation The study launched in 2018 on Societies outside Metropolises The role of CSOs in facing populism will be completed in early January and presented in February The second study launched in the end of last year Youngsters and the EU: Perceptions, Knowledge and Expectations Europewill be completed in mid- April A working group composed of staff and Members will be set-up for the follow-up of the implementation of studies 8
Thematic activities Own-initiative opinion proposal to be submitted to EESC Bureau in January on Shaping the EU agenda for disability rights 2020-2030: a contribution from the European Economic and Social Committee Own-initiaitve opinion on Trade and Tourism A Global Agenda for Sustainable Development Protect democracy by advanced competition law and enforcement in times of Civil Society 4.0 Several proposals from Group III are in breeding process 9
Categories Given the scarcity of the budget allocated to the increasing number of categories Group III requested to double the budget for 2019 to obtain security for minimum 3 annual meetings. The EESC Bureau responded with a positive vote to the number The financial aspect remained open on the initiative of the EESC President. There are now two ways to realise the Bureau decision: 1) The budget line is included in the flexibility mechanism or 2) Consensus is reached in negotiations between the Groups Assessment of work carried out by categories under the monitoring of the Group III Vice-President in charge and regular reporting on categories activities in Group meetings 10
Communication Members as multipliers Members are the best communication channel & link to the European citizen directly or via their organisations Members shall deliver messages to Brussels, and from Brussels back home: What EU does concretely & why it matters What is the EESC & what do members do here The EU elections we can steer a positive candidature by explaining the proper developments, achievements to our country fellow citizens 11
Communication TARGET AUDIENCE People surrounding your civil society organization (stakeholders, partner organisations, colleagues from other CSO etc.) The civil society organization you represent Family, friends, children, schools 12
Communication INSTRUMENTS Report to your organization on a monthly basis what you do here in Brussels (example: TELEGRAMM) Try to publish in the Group III newsletter and forward this to your organisations Use Group III article you wrote to publish it in your own organisation s instruments Make more use of common instruments of organisation Promote Group III activities in particular 13
Communication CHANNELS Be on social media Go to schools and other institutions and talk about the EU Get in touch with local press 14
Communication COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR YOU! Seminar on 6/7 December will help you communicate back home Translations Drafting articles Making interviews Helping shooting video Multiply your message via social media Provide press relations JUST.ASK 15
Communication Aim to publish more articles written by our members in other newsletters such as: Other institutions(EP Magazine, Commission en Direct, etc.) Members organisations newsletter Other CSO newsletters 16
Communication Main messages this year: Each citizen counts European Elections GO VOTE Group III is campaigning! Members are active! Promote pro-European views There is no bigger multiplier than Group 3 we are the largest diverse bundle of civil society organizations 17
DRAFT CALENDAR OF GROUP III and CATEGORIES FOR 2019 January February March April May June 22. Presidency of Group III Extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of Group III on BREXIT 19. Presidency of Group III 6. Presidency of Group III (tbc) 18. Presidency of Group III 23. Group III thematic debate on Trade 19. Presidency of Group III 20. Group III thematic debate on Disabled 14. Presidency of Group III 15. Group III thematic debate on European elections 7 + 8 Extraordinary meeting of Group III in Romania A Europe of Shared Values and Civil Society July August September October November December 16. Presidency of Group III Extraordinary meeting of Group III In Finland 14. Presidency of Group III (tbc) 10. Presidency of Group III + Extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of Group III (Brussels) 24. Presidency of Group III 29. Presidency of Group III + Extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of Group III (Brussels) 18
