Communiqué commun dont la LDH est signataire
Version de travail en français, faite par la LDH
Madame la Présidente,
Nous, organisations de la société civile agissant au niveau local, national et européen, demandons à la Commission européenne d’inclure dans le programme de travail de 2023 une proposition de Stratégie européenne pour la société civile.
Les organisations de la société civile, telles que les associations, les ONG et les fondations d’utilité publique, ainsi que les défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, contribuent à rendre effectives au quotidien les valeurs inscrites à l’article 2 du traité sur l’Union européenne et les droits proclamés par la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’UE, tant au niveau européen que national.
Notre action vise à ne laisser personne de côté et est cruciale dans les domaines de la culture, de l’aide sociale, de l’éducation, de la santé, de la lutte contre la corruption, de la protection de l’environnement, de la lutte contre les discriminations et bien d’autres.
Nous intervenons comme des anticorps en défense de la démocratie, des droits, et l’État de droit lorsqu’ils sont attaqués.
Notre rôle est essentiel pour la construction de l’espace public, pour développer la démocratie participative et organiser la participation des citoyens.
Nos mobilisations rapides et nos recommandations ont été et sont essentielles dans le contexte des crises aux multiples facettes qui affectent nos sociétés et qui accentuent à chaque fois les nombreuses vulnérabilités auxquelles les gens sont confrontés, comme la crise financière du début des années 2010, la pandémie du Covid-19, la crise humanitaire résultant de l’invasion de l’Ukraine par la Russie ou les catastrophes environnementales résultant de la situation climatique.
Malheureusement, les faits qui remontent du terrain montrent des obstacles et des attaques croissants qui affectent la capacité de la société civile à agir pleinement et en toute indépendance, comme le confirment nombres d’études et les conclusions du rapport de la Commission européenne sur l’État de droit. Du fait de ces attaques, notre avenir européen collectif est mis en danger.
Jusqu’à présent, les mesures prises au niveau européen et les actions en cours pour soutenir les activités des acteurs civiques ont été pour la plupart limitées dans leur portée et leur impact. Il est désormais urgent d’apporter une réponse globale pour combler les lacunes des politiques existantes et généraliser les pratiques positives.
L’appel à une Stratégie européenne pour la société civile est une demande de longue date portée par les organisations de la société civiles au niveau européen et national. Cette demande est désormais soutenue par une résolution du Parlement européen portant sur le rétrécissement de l’espace de la société civile en Europe (2021/2103(INI)) votée à une large majorité, le 8 mars 2022, et par la recommandation 36.8 du rapport final de la Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe.
Nous demandons instamment à la Commission européenne de prendre tout cela en considération et, en conséquence, avant la fin du mandat actuel de cinq ans, de (1) donner substance au mandat de la Vice-présidente de la Commission européenne en charge des valeurs et de la transparence, (2) affecter les ressources nécessaires pour mener un dialogue civil régulier, ouvert et transparent – conformément à la disposition de l’article 11 du Traité – et (3) prendre les mesures permettant la sauvegarde de l’espace civique en développant, en coopération avec les OSC et les défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, une Stratégie européenne globale pour la société civile.
Nous restons à votre disposition pour discuter de l’ensemble du contenu d’une telle stratégie, et des mesures à prendre immédiatement.
Paris, le 21 juin 2022
European Commission work programme 2023 : the need to include the development of a European Civil Society Strategy
Honourable President,
We, civil society organisations acting at local, national and European level, call on the European Commission to include in the work programme of 2023 a proposal for a European Civil Society Strategy.
Civil society organisations, such as citizens’ associations, NGOs and public benefits foundations, and human rights defenders are instrumental to make effective the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and the rights proclaimed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, on a daily basis, both at European and national level.
Our action strives to leave no one behind and is crucial in the area of culture, social care, education, health, anti-corruption, environment, anti-discrimination and much more.
We intervene as democratic antibodies when rights, democracy and the rule of law are under attack.
Our role is key to build public spaces, upscale participatory democracy and channel citizens’ participation.
Our rapid mobilisations and recommendations have been and are essential in the context of the multifaceted crises affecting our societies which each time exacerbate the many vulnerabilities people are confronted with, such as the financial crisis in the early 2010s, the COVID-19 pandemic, the humanitarian crisis following the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the environmental catastrophes resulting from the climate emergency.
Unfortunately, evidence from the field shows growing obstacles and attacks affecting 2 civil society’s ability to act in full capacities and independence, as research and the findings of the European Commission rule of law report confirm. As a result of these attacks, our collective European future is jeopardised.
The ongoing measures and actions taken at the European level in support of civic actors’ activities have mostly been limited in scope and impact. It is now urgent to provide an overarching solution to fill the gaps of existing policies and mainstream positive practices.
The call for a civil society strategy has been a long-term demand of CSOs at European and national level. This demand is now supported by a European Parliament resolution on the shrinking space for civil society in Europe (2021/2103(INI)) voted with a large majority on 8 March 2022, and recommendation 36.8 of final report of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
We urge the European Commission to consider all this, and in consequence to give substance to the mandate of the Vice President of the European Commission for values and transparency and resources for carrying out a regular, open and transparent civil dialogue – along the provision of Article 11 of the Treaty – and safeguard civil society space by developing, in cooperation with CSOs and human rights defenders, a comprehensive European civil society strategy before the end of the current five-years term.
We remain at your disposal to discuss the overall content of such a strategy, and the steps to be started immediately.
Paris, 21 juin 2022
Initial signatories
European organisations and networks : Amnesty International, Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l’Europe (AEGEE), Centre for European Volunteering (CEV), Civil Liberties Union for Europe, CIVICUS, CONCORD Europe, Culture Action Europe, Eurochild, Eurodiaconia, Eurogroup for Animals, European Alliance for Responsible RD and Affordable Medicines, European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), European Association of Service Providers for People with Disabilities (EASPD), European Citizen Action Network (ECAS), European Civic Forum, European Council of Associations of General Interest (Comité européen des associations d’intérêt général – CEDAG), European Disability Forum, European Federation of Elderly and Retired People, European Federation for Intercultural Learning, European Forum of Muslim Women (EFOMW), European Humanist Federation, European Network Against Racism (ENAR), European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP), European Network on Religion Belief, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), European Patients’ Forum, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), European Students’ Union (ESU), European Women’s Lobby, European Youth Forum, EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe, EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), Green 10, Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN), EU Internal Human Rights Policy Working Group, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), JEUNE – Young Entrepreneurs Organization of European Union, Lifelong Learning Platform, New Europeans, Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association, RECLAIM (reclaiming.eu), Revibra Europa, SMES – Europa (Santé Mentale Exclusion Sociale), Social Platform, SOLIDAR Foundation, Transparency International EU, Young European Federalists (JEF Europe), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Volonteurope Austria, Global Responsibility – Austrian Platform for Development and Humanitarian Aid (Globale Verantwortung – Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Entwicklung und Humanitäre Hilfe), Interest Group of Public Benefit Organisations (IGO – Die Stimme der Gemeinnützigen), RED NOSES – Clowndoctors International, South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Belgium : Association for Ethics in Fundraising (VEF-AERF – Vereniging voor Ethiek in de Fondsenwerving – Association pour une Éthique dans les Récoltes de Fonds), Belgian Federation of Philanthropic Foundations (lesfondations.be – stichtingen.be), De Verenigde Verenigingen, Kif Kif, Pour la Solidarité (PLS)
Bulgaria : Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL), Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI), Citizen Participation Forum (CPF), European Institute Foundation
Croatia : Association Terra, Center for Cultural Activities, Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights – Osijek, Centre for Peace Studies – Croatia (CMS), Civil Rights Project – Sisak, Community Foundation Slagalica, Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity (CROSOL), Croatian Youth Network (Mreža mladih Hrvatske), Croatian Union of Associations for Autism (SUZAH), DKolektiv – organizacija za društveni razvoj (Organisation for social development), Europska civilna inicijativa Zagreb, Gong, Human Rights House Zagreb, Institute for Social Research in Zagreb (ISRZ), ISKORAK, Kurziv – Platforma za pitanja kulture, medija i društva (Platform for Matters of Culture, Media and Society), ODRAZ – Održivi razvoj zajednice, Parents in Action (RODA), Rehabilitation Center for Stress and Trauma (RCT Zagreb), SOLIDARNA Foundation *
Cyprus : Civil Society Advocates
Czech Republic, Asociace NNO Libereckého kraje, ZO ČSOP Armillaria, Association for International Affairs (AMO), Aufori, o.p.s., Centrum Kašpar, z.s., ClimaCare, z. s., Mendel University in Brno, Czech Environmental Partnership
Foundation, Czech Helsinki Committee, Czech High School Students’ Union (CSU), DEMAS – Association for Democracy Assistance and Human Rights, Evropský Institut Renaissance, Glopolis, Independent Social Ecological Movement (NESEHNUTI), Nadace na ochranu zvířat, Nadační fond proti korupci, Okrašlovací spolek čelákovický, Open Society Fund Prague, Platform for Citizen’s Assemblies, RADKA z.s., Reconstruction of the State, Spiralis – Platform for NGO´s Development, Systemický institut, s.r.o., Zakroužkuj ženu, z.s., EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy
Denmark : Fairplay, ENAR-Denmark Ethnic Debate Forum, Nyt Europa
Estonia : Estonian Human Rights Centre, Network of Estonian Non-profit Organizations
Finland : Anti-Racist Forum, The Central Union for Child Welfare, Migrant Tales
France : Animafac, Association France Palestine Solidarité, CAP MAGELLAN, Collectif des Associations Citoyennes, CRID (Centre de Recherche et
d’Information pour le Développement), Fédération Française des Maisons de l’Europe, La Coalition pour les Libertés Associatives, La ligue de l’enseignement, Le Mouvement Associatif, Les Francas, Ligue des droits de l’Homme, Maison de l’Europe – Paris, Parlement Européen des Jeunes France, Pas Sans Nous, Tous Migrants, VoxPublic, International Federation of ACAT (FIACAT)
Germany : #mybrainmychoice Initiative, Aktionsgemeinschaft Solidarische Welt e.V., Allianz Kulturstiftung, Allianz “Rechtssicherheit für politische Willensbildung”, Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, Association of German Foundations, Bewegungsstiftung in Verden, BBE – Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (National Network for Civil Society), Campact e.V., Collective Leadership Institute, Democracy international e.V., Deutsch-Bulgarische Elterninitiative “Jan Bibijan” e.V., EuropaNova Germany, Forschungs- und Dokumentationszentrum Chile-Lateinamerika e.V. (FDCL), Forum Menschenrechte, Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V., German Fundraising, Grundrechte Komitee, Guatemalagruppe Nürnberg e. V., Guerrilla Foundation, innn.it e.V., Interessenvertretung Selbstbestimmt Leben in Deutschland e.V. – ISL, issa e.V., Maecenata Foundation, MENSCHENRECHTE 3000 e.V., Society for Threatened Peoples (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker), TERRE DES FEMMES e.V., Wartesaal – Kultur in Besigheim e.V., We are Europe! e.V., Whistleblower-Netzwerk (WBN), YES Forum
Greece : ANTIGONE – Information and Documentation Centre on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non Violence, Consumer Association the Quality of Life-EKPIZO, Greek Forum of Migrants, Greek Forum of Refugees, Ivorian Community Of Greece, Solidarity Now
Hungary : European House, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Nyomtass te is!, Ökotárs – Hungarian Environmental Partnership Foundation
Ireland : Africa Solidarity Centre Ireland, Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, One Family, Outhouse – LGBT+ Community Centre, The Wheel, Waterford Integration Services, Intersex Ireland
Italy : A Buon Diritto, Àltera, ARCI, Associazione Antigone, Babylon Couleur, Coordinamento di Iniziative Popolari di Solidarieta Internazionale, European movement Italy (Movimento Europeo), LIBERA Onlus
Latvia : Association “Papardes zieds”, Civic Alliance Latvia, Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation LAPAS, Latvijas Vacu savieniba, Riga German Culture Society, Kandava branch
Lithuania : Center for Equality Advancement, National Coalition of non-governmental Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisation Information and Support Centre (NISC)
Luxembourg : Alzheimer Europe Malta, SOS Malta, Migrant Women Association Malta
Netherlands : Association of Charitable Funds in The Netherlands (FIN), Dutch Association of Volunteer Organizations (Vereniging NOV), European Network for Citizen Initiatives in Global Solidarity, Goede Doelen Nederland, Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Netwerk Democratie
Poland : “Blue Line” Institute of Health Psychology, Association for Legal Intervention, Citizens Network Watchdog Poland, Civic Movement Citizens for Education, Committee for the Defence of Democracy (Komitet Obrony Demokracji), Foundation for Polish Science, Fundacja Centrum im. prof. Bronisława Geremka, Fundacja Collegium Polonicum, Fundacja Dokładam Się, Fundacja Edukacji Parlamentarnej, Fundacja Nowej Kultury Bęc Zmiana, Fundacja Ośrodka KARTA, Fundacja Rozwoju Demokracji Lokalnej im. Jerzego Regulskiego, Greenways Poland Association, Helsinki Foundation for Human
Rights, IDEALNA GMINA FOUNDATION, In.Europa Institute, Information Society Development Foundation, Inicjatywa 30. Rok Wolności, Institute of Public Affairs (Instytut Spraw Publicznych), Klub Inteligencji Katolickiej w Warszawie, LIBERAL CULTURE (KULTURA LIBERALNA), National Federation of Polish NGOs (OFOP), Open Republic – Association against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia, Panoptykon Foundation, Parents in Education Association (Stowarzyszenie Rodzice w Edukacji), Partnership Fund, Polish Donors Forum, Polish Women’s Strike (Ogolnopolski Strajk Kobiet), Polska Fundacja im. Roberta Schumana, Polish Janusz Korczak Associaton (Polskie Stowarzyszenie im. Janusza Korczaka), School with Class Foundation (Fundacja Szkoła z Klasą), Shipyard Foundation (Fundacja Stocznia), Stefan Batory Foundation (Batorego Fundacja), The Field of Dialogue Foundation (Fundacja Pole Dialogu)
Portugal : Academia Cidadã – Citizenship Academy, Djass- Association of, Afrodescendants, Plataforma PAJE, Portuguese NGDO Platform (Plataforma Portuguesa das ONGD), Transparency International Portugal Romania, APADOR-CH, Civil Society Development Foundation (Fundatia pentru Dezvoltarea Societatii Civile – FDSC), Environmental Partnership Foundation, Expert Forum Association
Slovakia : Association for Culture, Education and Communication (ACEC), Association of social services providers in the Slovak Republic, Carpathian Foundation Slovakia (Karpatská nadácia), Center for Community Organizing, Center for Environmental Activities (Centrum environmentálnych aktivít), Centre for Philanthropy (Centrum pre filantropiu n.o.), Cvernovka Foundation, Donio n.f., Ekopolis Foundation, Friends of the Earth-CEPA, Iniciatíva Inakosť,n Institute for Public Affairs Slovakia (IVO), Open Society Foundation (Nadácia otvorenej spoločnosti Bratislava NOS-OSF), Nadacia Rafael, PDCS, People in Need Slovakia, Post Bellum Slovakia, Slovak humanitarian council, Slovak Mountain Rescue Team Mala Fatra Region, SOSNA, Platform of Volunteer Centers and Organizations
Slovenia : Association for culture and education PiNA, Asssociation SOS Helpline for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Centre for Information Service, Co-operation and Development of NGOs (CNVOS), Društvo Ekologi brez meja, Focus Association for Sustainable Development, Humanitas – Centre for Global Learning and Cooperation, Institute Circle, LRF za Pomurje, Peace Institute, Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (PIC), REgionalno sticisce Novus, Slovenian NGO platform for development, global education and humanitarian aid (SLOGA), Umanotera, The Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development, Zavod Dobra druzba, Zavod PIP, Zavod TRI, ZLHT
Spain : Asociación Nacional Presencia Gitana, Calala Women’s Fund, Fundacion CIVES, Irídia, Centre per la Defensa dels Drets Humans, Liga Española de la Educación, NOVACT – International Institute for Nonviolent Action, Òmnium Cultural
Non-EU countries : Agora Association, Turkey, ALFA Centre Niksic, Montenegro, Community Development institute – CDI, North Macedonia, ENORB, United Kingdom, Initiative for Development and cooperation (IDC) Serbia, Ministarstvo Prostora, Serbia, Trend of Evolution for Ukraine, Switzerland