The ACT Alliance EU Annual Report for 2017 highlights the challenges facing EU development advocacy, with concerns about a shift towards self-interest over global solidarity. It emphasises the importance of maintaining focus on poverty eradication and Agenda 2030 – the UN’s sustainable development goals – amidst pressures from security concerns and economic interests. Collaboration and advocacy efforts remain crucial.
Highlights
ACT Alliance EU’s Annual Report 2017 outlines key objectives and achievements in the following areas:
EU development policy and practice
- Encouraged EU policy alignment with the UN sustainable development goals.
- Engaged in discussions and meetings with top officials to address concerns about shrinking Civil Society space within the European Parliament and at the Abidjan EU-AU Summit.
- Provided analysis and recommendations on the New EU Consensus on Development, emphasising principles of development cooperation and civil society involvement.
- Participated in preparations for the Abidjan EU-AU Summit, offering recommendations on EU-Africa partnership areas such as human development, migration, and investments.
- Engaged in the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement process to influence EU negotiating mandates.
- Conducted advocacy campaigns at the European Parliament on issues such as the European Fund for Sustainable Development and the mid-term review of EC cooperation instruments.
- Monitored and advocated for a future EU budget that remains focused on Agenda 2030 and EU development policy objectives.
- Responded to attacks on Civil Society advocacy within the European Parliament, contributing to reports and recommendations on maintaining open spaces for Civil Society engagement.
- Provided input to Council conclusions on EU engagement with Civil Society and worked within CONCORD to promote civic space and dialogue mechanisms in future EU agreements.
Food security
- Advocated for land rights in Cambodia and Myanmar, including hosting delegations, sending lobby letters, and commissioning studies on investment agreements’ impacts on land rights.
- Focused on promoting indigenous peoples’ rights and Free Prior and Informed Consent in EU trade policies, engaging with DG Trade and MEPs.
- Led efforts to address shrinking Civil Society space in Cambodia, urging the EU to uphold human rights commitments.
- Participated in advocacy regarding the Bayer-Monsanto merger’s implications for global food security and equitable food systems.
- Engaged in COP23 events, highlighting the importance of climate-resilient agriculture and advocating for enhanced human rights monitoring in trade schemes.
- Played a leading role in CONCORD’s work on CAP reform. Coordinated networking and coalition-building efforts to influence EU trade and investment policies.
Climate Justice
- Pushed for comprehensive approaches to address climate loss and damage, highlighting non-economic impacts and the limitations of financial solutions like climate risk insurance.
- Promoted climate resilience and low carbon development at the European Development Days (EDDs) and emphasised the importance of renewable energy and low carbon policies.
- Organised workshops and developed research papers on climate adaptation finance accounting rules, aiming to improve transparency and accuracy in climate finance.
- Developed a position on climate, agriculture, and land use for COP23, influencing decisions on loss and damage, gender and indigenous people’s rights, and climate aid transparency.
- Successfully lobbied for the European Commission’s constructive participation in the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) and stressed the economic opportunities of renewable energy investments.
- Contributed to positive changes in the financial sector, including better climate change risk integration and divestment from fossil fuel assets, through advocacy efforts and participation in events like the One Planet Summit.
The EU and the Middle East
In 2017, we focused our efforts on ensuring that EU diplomatic and humanitarian actions contributed to the prevention of internal forcible transfers of Palestinian populations. We also challenged Israeli policies, practices and laws that are paving the way for the annexation of vast expanses of the West Bank.
- Provided specific input on international humanitarian law (IHL) for the review of the EU’s “Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy”.
- Helped to secure a plenary debate on Israeli settlements in the European Parliament.
- Brought legislation and cases of local partners to the attention of decision-makers in the European External Action Service and member states, to protect and safeguard civil society and democratic values.
- Ensured cross-party support for calls on the EU and member states to grant public recognition to affected human rights NGOs and human rights defenders in Israel/Palestine.
- Advocated to ensure a broad diplomatic presence at the hearing and public condemnation
of human rights defender Issa Amro.
The EU and Central America
- Highlighted pressing issues such as inequality, human rights defenders’ situation, and climate justice.
- Contributed to the implementation of the EU-Central America Association Agreement (EU-CA AA) ensuring sustainable development commitments.
- Played a key role in defending the rights of indigenous peoples, including hosting advocacy events and supporting the Guardians of the Forest coalition.
- Facilitated civil society participation and engagement with EU Delegations in Central America, which helped lead to resolutions on human rights defenders and civil society space.
European Refugee Crisis
- Advocacy focused on improving refugee reception policies and practices in Europe.
- Highlighted poor reception conditions, delays in asylum procedures, and impact on migrants’ mental health.
- Criticised Italy’s role in restricting rescue missions and EU support for Libyan coastguards
- Participated in EU migration discussion groups, meetings with MEPs, and coordinated with coalitions.
- Advocated for EU migration policies based on solidarity, fair responsibility-sharing, and accountability for human rights violations.
- Endorsed statements and calls to EU leaders, participated in EU Trust Fund for Africa advocacy and engaged in parliamentary questions regarding migration funding.