Member to Member

ISSUE 12/10 2006 Member to Member De Membre à Membre This document summarizes the information that CONCORD members wish to communicate to the other members but that are not specifically related to CONCORD’s work. The announcements are written by the members themselves mainly in French or English. Ce document présente de façon synthétique des informations que les membres de CONCORD souhaitent faire connaître aux autres membres. Elles sont écrites directement par les membres principalement en français ou en anglais et sont envoyées périodiquement. Actions 11.11.11 : Call to Sign-on Declaration on negotiations CAN-EU . So far, 24 organizations have signed on but we consider that before presenting it to the relevant institutions of the EU Commission, we should do a last major effort to collect more signatures. The problem is that we don‟t have much time left. The EC‟s Directorate General for External Relations and the Directorate General for Trade are working on the directives for negotiations between CAN and EU, which will be approved between October and November. So, it is really important that we present the Declaration as a pressure measure before the directives‟ approval. An extra-factor to take into account, and which reinforces the need to exert large pressure, is the fact that Bolivia has presented a document with baseline positions for the negotiation, but these are not necessarily supported by the rest of CAN members. Bolivia has pushed strongly so the EU would accept the negotiation according to the Bolivian terms. Up to now, informal conversations tell that the EU accepts the differentiated terms proposed by the Morales Government and that during the negotiation with the bloc, they will give some exceptions, according to the Bolivian proposal. That seems to be a good sign, which will create a new situation to install a different debate about trade, because if Bolivia has a special relationship inside the bloc, people from the rest of CAN countries will have the chance to criticize their governments over a real basis, to finally set up strong limits to the free-trade arguments. Attached we send you the "Declaration by Civil Society Movements and Organisations of Latin America and the Caribbean and the EU regarding negotiation of a CAN -EU Association Agreement" in its Spanish, English and French version. 3rd October was the deadline to send your support to the Declaration but all new signatures are still very welcome Please, send your sign-on to the document to ceciliaolivet@tni.org Declaration in English, French, Spanish 16/10/2006 : European Youth Forum event to stand against poverty Before going to work on Monday the 16th of October come and beat a world record at the European Youth Forum office! We will serve breakfast from 9 o‟clock and at 10.15 we will take part in the global attempt in breaking a world record of people standing up at the same time. All over the world people will stand up against poverty as a way to show the importance they give to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Everyone is welcome so don‟t forget to bring your friends! If you wish to come or have any questions please write ludvig.hubendick@youthforum.org and please, let us know if you are coming by Thursday 12th. For more information about the Stand Up campaign please visit: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/ The 2006 European Microfinance Award On behalf of the Luxembourg Round Table on Microfinance and the European Microfinance Week, we are pleased to launch the 2006 European Microfinance Award. This annual Award will be granted for the first time during the European Microfinance Week, on 30 November 2006 in Luxembourg. The fist year's topic is " Innovation for Rural Outreach". Your partners involved in Microfinance can compete for this Award! The three finalists will be invited to the European Microfinance Week and will present themselves at the workshop: "Innovation for Rural Outreach", during the conference. The winner will be granted an award of EUR 100.000 The objective of the first European Microfinance Award "Innovation for Outreach" is to highlight and stimulate Microfinance initiatives that represent breakthroughs in deepening or broadening rural outreach. 1 The award will consist of a prize of 100.000 EUR to be rewarded to an institution working in Microfinance (various types of organisations will be considered: MFIs, Cooperatives, MFI Networks, Investment Funds etc...) and who is contributing to enhance Innovation for rural outreach. In order to participate, they need to describe their innovative approach and its results so far. Not more than 5 pages: Innovation for Rural Outreach is about different methodologies, institutional structures, technologies and distribution channels, which aim to achieve deeper outreach. Current experiences and lessons, what did work and what did not work, should allow for more adapted methodologies in the future. More people living in rural areas in developing countries should be included in the Microfinance services. Selection criteria : The candidates will be screened on the basis of: 1/ Organisational performance (Section A of application form): 30% 2/ Results & Performance of the initiative (Section B3 + B1+ B2): 40% 3/ Qualitative responses to key questions (Section B4+ B5): 30% Please see the attached application form in English. Contact the e-MFP Secretariat for more details or the application form at : contact@microfinance-platform.eu. Deadline to send applications is the 27th of October 2006 (only organisations from developing countries are allowed to participate) Conferences / Seminar 09/11/2006: Microfinance and Added Value of Multiculturality in Business Creation, EMN* & NCN (Nettverkskreditt BA) have the pleasure of inviting you to join a conference in Oslo that will focus on Microfinance and the Added Value of Multiculturality in Business Creation. The conference will be the opportunity to share experience gathered on enterprise creation for immigrants, relating to business support for micro and small enterprises, access to finance, policy measures. We will put forward practical examples of how to use microfinance and business creation in a multicultural context. More * the European Microfinance Network (EMN) is a NGO launched by its founding members (Adie-France, nef-UK and E&JGermany) in April 2003 Press release - Positions - Communiqués de presse 11.11.11. Mandelson tombe le masque européen du Développement et lance l’assaut final contre le modèle social européen ! Depuis toujours, le CNCD-11.11.11 suit les évolutions du commerce au niveau international (agenda de Doha pour le développement de l‟OMC), comme au niveau européen (accords avec les pays Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique) au regard des préoccupations de développement des pays du Sud. Depuis un an, le CNCD-11.11.11 - avec notamment son homologue néerlandophone 11.11.11 au sein du réseau européen “Seattle to Brussels*” – analyse la gestation du projet de communication de la Commission européenne concernant “external competitivness agenda”. Aujourd‟hui, le CNCD-11.11.11 tire le signal d‟alarme face à la communication présentée ce midi par le Commissaire européen au Commerce, Peter Mandelson : ce n‟est ni plus ni moins qu‟une nouvelle couleuvre que la Commission fait avaler au reste du monde ! L‟objet n‟est autre que d‟une part, annihiler toute perspective de solidarité internationale ou de véritable agenda de développement en faveur des pays du Sud et d‟autre part, que briser tout espoir de construction d‟un agenda positif pour une Europe sociale. Cette communication intervient à un moment on ne peut plus suspect : parenthèse réflexive ? sur quels lendemains donner au traité instituant une Constitution pour l‟Europe, retour du débat sur la deuxième version « allégée » de la directive « Bolkestein » et suspension des négociations du cycle de Doha à l‟OMC. Depuis juillet, le cycle de Doha est suspendu. Mais des démarches plurilatérales continuent à l‟OMC, comme celle de l‟UE et des EU à l‟égard de certains pays émergents. D‟autres, de type bilatérales, continuent en dehors de l‟OMC, comme l‟UE avec les espaces commerciaux potentiellement attractifs, tels que des blocs régionaux (aujourd‟hui MERCOSUD, demain l‟ASEAN), ou des Etats (aujourd‟hui la Russie, demain la Chine). Ainsi pour le CNCD-11.11.11, derrière l‟appui rhétorique de l‟UE au cycle de Doha, à sa relance et à l‟OMC, la Commission confirme aujourd‟hui sa volonté de développer des accords bilatéraux : cette communication est clairement une balise postDoha, voire post-OMC ! Libéralisation des services et des investissements, ouverture des marchés publics, meilleur accès aux matières premières, renforcement de la propriété intellectuelle: telle est la recette du cocktail molotov de la Commission. Obstacles à l‟expansion des firmes européennes, barrières aux exportations et investissements européens, tels sont ses ennemis. On retrouve potentiellement dans cette communication tout ce qui ne passe pas ailleurs ! Le CNCD-11.11.11 dénonce fermement la direction donnée à l‟Europe par la Commission via cette communication dont les effets seront notamment, sous couvert d‟accroître la compétition, de mettre à mal tout véritable agenda de coopération au 2 développement en faveur des pays du Sud que ce soit au niveau européen ou international. Comme les stratégies internationales et européennes de libéralisation à tours de force ont suffisamment démontré leur innocuité quant au développement du Sud et questionnent le modèle de développement du Nord, le CNCD -11.11.11 enjoint donc la Commission de lancer une véritable consultation de la société civile européenne au sujet de ladite communication. Il en appelle à un sursaut salutaire des gouvernements et des partis progressistes de l‟Europe et demande aussi au gouvernement belge d‟être des plus attentifs au texte en question au vu de sa dangerosité tant interne qu‟externe et d‟organiser de toute urgence un débat au niveau belge sur ses contenu et objectifs. *The Seattle to Brussels Network est un réseau pan-européen qui dénonce le “corporate-driven agenda” de l‟Union européenne et de certains de ses Etats membres en vue de poursuivre la libéralisation du commerce et des investissements internationaux. Contact CNCD-11.11.11 : Alexandre SERON (0478/293185) 3/10/2006- ActionAid -The EU must act to prevent the rise of violence in Haiti The European Union must play a larger part in preventing violence in Haiti, currently affecting the poorest people most, says a new report launched the 3 October by the international development NGO ActionAid International. The security situation on the island has entered a critical phase with an escalation of urban violence, the spread of kidnappings and an increase in the number of rapes, says the report based on discussions with ActionAid‟s partners, civil society actors, government officials and international donors. People living in the poorest areas are more frequently the victims of urban gang violence and police transgressions, sexual attacks against girls and women and kidnappings, reveals the development agency which has worked in Haiti since 1996. “It is all the more important for the EU to act now in order to take advantage of the political momentum created by the elections of a new government last February. Futher opportunity comes from the renewal of the mandate of the UN peace keeping force in Haiti (Minustah) in August which has announced an alternative conflict management strategy focusing on the fight against urban gangs and involving civil society.” said Raphael Yves Pierre, ActionAid‟s Country Director in Haiti. The report alerts the EU to the current situation before the next international donor‟s conference on Haiti to take place in Madrid at the end of November. It is also keen to influence the EU ahead of its adoption of a new policy on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) before the end of the year. “The EU is currently putting money into local development and economic regeneration as a way of bringing about long term stability but it also needs to tackle the deteriorating situation and work more closely with Haitian civil society and poor communities” Raphael Yves Pierre, added. “The European Union needs to define an alternative peace building policy to be adopted before the end of the EU Finish presidency in December if its work is to be really effective,” said Jean Louis Lambeau, ActionAid Americas Emergency and Human Security Advisor. Contact: Alexandre Polack alexandre.polack@actionaid.org , download the report in English, in French OXFAM : Unequal Partners: How EU–ACP Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) could harm the development prospects of many of the world’s poorest countries The Doha „Development‟ Round of trade talks has stalled, but the world‟s poorest countries remain under pressure to open up their markets with potentially disastrous consequences. The EU wants to forge new free trade agreements with 74 of its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific (ACP). These imbalanced negotiations of „Economic Partnership Agreements‟ (EPAs) between the two regions, pit some of the world‟s most advanced industrial economies against some of the poorest nations on earth. The EU has an opportunity to develop fairer trading relations with ACP countries, but such extreme disparities in negotiating power could all too easily produce unfair results. The proposed EPAs are a serious threat to the future development prospects of ACP countries, and the forthcoming review of the EPA negotiations must be used to force a radical rethink. OXFAM note IPPF : adoption of a new target in the MDGs- achieving access to reproductive health by 2015 United Nations General Assembly adopts “universal access” target for reproductive health in the MDG framework. IPPF welcomes the adoption of a new target in the MDGs- achieving access to reproductive health by 2015.This new target is seen as a consequence of relentless work by the reproductive health community to stress the importance of the link between sexual and reproductive health and the reduction of global poverty. “Hard fought campaign to include reproductive health in the Millennium Development Goals wins global recognition London, 06 October 2006 -- The adoption of a new target, “to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015”, under Millennium Development Goal 5, to reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio, by the United Nations General Assembly is being hailed as the culmination of a tireless campaign by the global reproductive health community. The new target ensures the centrality of universal access to reproductive health in improving maternal and infant health and reducing poverty in the MDGs. The importance of reproductive health to maternal and infant health, addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, gender equality, human rights and poverty reduction has been recognised by the global community since the International Conference on Population and Development at Cairo in 1994, where 179 countries agreed to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health by 2015. Yet when the MDGs were adopted in 2000 these logical and intimate links were ignored; nowhere did the MDGs set targets for universal access to reproductive health. Fortunately, many governments, NGOs and other organizations recognized this 3 omission, and began to call for increased commitment – political and financial – to reproductive health services, culminating in the General Assembly‟s adoption of the universal access target this week. Dr. Gill Greer, Director General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said, “Sexual and reproductive health is one of the most important aspects of health policy in general and is crucially important in the reduction of global poverty. Despite continued opposition from some governments, including the United States, the UN General Assembly has made a decision that will save the lives and reduce the suffering of millions of women worldwide – especially the poorest women in the poorest countries, who bear a disproportionate level of maternal death and ill health.” Dr. Greer continued, “500,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth every year, the vast majority of whom live in the poorest countries on the planet; the lifetime risk of dying from complications in pregnancy or childbirth in Africa is a staggering 1 in 20, in Niger this is as high as 1 in every 7 women dying during pregnancy or childbirth. In Sweden this figure falls to 1 in 29,800. Millions more women will suffer illness, injury or disability.” “If this global catastrophe is to be halted, the international community must act now to provide the political will and funding they promised for reproductive health over a decade ago in Cairo. Presently they are missing the mark by 50 per cent.” The eight MDGs form the global framework for poverty reduction, with most of the 18 specific targets which comprise the MDGs to be met by 2015. Progress is measurable by 48 different indicators. The UN General Assembly has agreed to adopt 4 new targets, including universal access to reproductive health.” Contact: Paul Bell, Tel. + 44 (0) 207 939 8233 Email: pbell@ippf.org Suite du Séminaire Coordination – Sud Carnegie Endowment for International Peace en Sept 2006 Au lendemain de la suspension des négociations à l'OMC (Organisation Mondiale du Commerce), Coordination SUD et le Carnegie Endowment for international Peace (CEIP) ont organisé un séminaire les 5 et 6 septembre derniers à Washington DC avec le soutien de l'Agence Française de développement. Intitulé "Le cycle de Doha et le commerce des produits agricoles : « Qui sont les perdants et quels peuvent être leurs avenirs ? »", le séminaire a accueilli une centaine de participants parmi lesquels des intervenants issus des plates-formes nationales d'ONG d'Inde, du Sénégal et du Brésil, des mouvements paysans américains, asiatiques et africains, des représentants de la Commission européenne, du département d'Etat au commerce américain et de la Banque mondiale ainsi que des chercheurs européens et américains. Les participants ont d'une part tenté d'identifier les perdants d'une libéralisation accrue des échanges agricoles et interroger la pertinence des modèles économétriques les plus courants à la base des positionnements des Etats et des institutions internationales. Puis, les participants ont tenté de mesurer l'impact des mesures de sauvegarde envisagées dans le cadre des négociations à l'OMC pour protéger les paysannerie s familiales et les perdants d'une libéralisation accrue des échanges pour enfin promouvoir des instruments de régulation des échanges. Plus Seminar syntesis in english Contact : Fabrice Ferrier, ferrier@coordinationsud.org Publications EURODAD Finnish and German EU Presidencies 2006-2007 Implementation of Aid Commitment This report summarises what is on the development policy agenda for Finland and German EU presidencies 2006 -2007 focussing in particular on development aid quality. Second half of 2006 Finland took the lead of European Union and presented its presidency agenda elaborated together with former EU presidency Austria. In the same way, after the Finnish presidency, Germany will continue where Finnish presidency ended. In fact, the presidency agendas on development will aim to consolidate previous commitments with little entirely new. In particular the Presidencies will concentrate strongly on quality, highlighting Aid Effectiveness and Policy Coherence for Development and concentrating on Sub-Saharan Africa within the framework of EU Strategy for Africa. This report summarises what is on the development policy agenda for Finland and German EU presidencies 2006-2007 and what relevant events will take place during the presidencies. It also highlights Civil Society demands in these countries and events being organized by national Civil Society Groups. The paper is aimed to facilitate Civil Society organisations‟ advocacy and campaign work. It excludes other important areas such as trade and human rights, since it concentrates only on Eurodad‟s priorities. Report The 3rd EU presidency newsletter published by the Finnish NGDO Platform to the EU (KEHYS). http://www.kehys.fi/Newsletter The newsletter is published once a month and it features news related to the Call for Coherence campaign. More news on www.kehys.fi/eupresidency CONGDE : AOD hoy : discurso y realidad Con esta publicación la CONGDE quiere ofrecer un recurso que permita que las personas interesadas por estos temas, especialmente las propias bases sociales de nuestras organizaciones miembro,puedan hacerse una idea más amplia y más clara de qué es la AOD, qué componentes tiene, qué compromisos ha hecho al respecto la comunidad internacional, cómo está evolucionando la AOD española en cantidad y calidad, etc. Pensamos que puede ser un subsidio adecuado para fundamentar y fortalecer el compromiso respecto a las campañas de sensibilización e incidencia que las ONGD venimos impulsando, y puede ayudar a nuestras bases a entender con mayor precisión la propuesta, lanzada por la CONGDE a comienzos de 2006 en el marco de la Campaña Pobreza Cero, para alcanzar un Pacto de Estado contra la 4 Pobreza, iniciativa que tendrá también concreciones en los niveles autonómico y local a través del trabajo de las Coordinadoras Autonómicas. Publicacion Jobs ActionAid International : Crisis Action: Head of Brussels Office Salary: 40- 45,000 Euros gross (or by negotiation) Stopping Deadly Conflict Crisis Action has begun to change the world. We are now looking for a creative, strategic and dynamic person to launch our presence in Brussels. Our job is to tackle the causes and consequences of conflict head on. We work behind the scenes to create and support strategic coalitions to avert unnecessary conflicts and ensure the protection of civilians where conflict exists. Darfur or Iran, Lebanon or Iraq, you'll be on the front line of global advocacy. As head of Crisis Action's Brussels office you'll lead our European work focussing on key member states and EU institutions.We're looking for someone with a strategic brain and a track record of delivering results. You should have a good knowledge of foreign policy and high level experience of campaigning or lobbying. If you like routine, relish bureaucracy or are looking to put your feet up, this job isn't for you. If you're hungry for a challenge, have limitless energy and think you can help us and our partners convince some of the world's most powerful people, then go to www.crisisaction.org.uk for an application pack. Deadline: Applications must be submitted by email by 0900GMT 19th October 2006 Contact : Brendan Cox Director Crisis Action The Grayston Centre 28 Charles Square London N1 6HT Tel: + 44 (0)20 7324 4747 Mob: + 44 (0)7957 120 853 Email: brendan.cox@crisisaction.org.uk What's new on the CONCORD Extranet Home: - A&A Discussion for a now open :A set of proposals is presented and a internet consultation will be open until October 22nd.You are kindly asked to get your inputs by 15 th October. - Letter from the CONCORD & Eurostep Presidents on the DCI - October 2006 - Letter from the President - September 2006 Lobby Section 16-17 October GAERC- Lobby Action Dossiers worked on by the institutions updated Calendar of Activities of CONCORD and of the European institutions NB : for information regarding European Affairs personnel changes within member NGOs, please consult the CONCORD Flash - NB : pour des informations sur les changements dans le personnel des ONG s’occupant des affaires européennes, voir le CONCORD Flash. How to publish an ad? Send a document with the summarised information, web link and contact person that can provide more information to to Mireille Miège (mmiege@concordeurope.org). You can write either in French and/or English which are the two languages of the confederation. Please, note that no translation will be done by the secretariat. This publication is to be published around the 1st and/or the 15th of each month (less often during the holidays). Mode d’emploi des petites annonces Envoyez à to Mireille Miège (mmiege@concordeurope.org) un résumé mentionnant votre site web ou un contact e-mail pour plus d’information. Vous pouvez écrire en français et/ou en anglais selon la langue dans laquelle vous voulez voir l’information publiée (le secrétariat n’effectuera pas de traduction). Ce document paraît vers le 1er et/ou 15 du mois sauf en période de vacances. http://www.concordeurope.org secretariat@concordeurope.org 10 sq. Ambiorix - Tel. + 322 743 87 60 1000 Brussels - Fax+ 322 732 19 34 5