The EU agenda for action on democracy support in EU external relations: Challenges to achieve more coherence and effectiveness in EU democracy upport

ENOP Open Conference, Brussels, 1st December 2009, 9:30 – 12:30 h

Following the joint working paper of Council and Commission, and the resolution by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union adopted on November 17th the Conclusions on Democracy Support in the EU’s External Relations. In the absence of any coherent strategy for democracy promotion, the EU agenda for action on democracy support provides for the first time a framework that stipulates a more coherent and coordinated use of the available mix of instruments and highlights the needs for country-specific approaches. Particularly the further involvement of legislative bodies, political actors and civil society are recommended to the implementing bodies of the EU. Moreover, it also calls on the EU institutions to implement a new coherent approach in a limited number of pilot countries which will be determined in the future. Political parties and groups are highlighted as important interlocutors and possible target groups for cooperation.

The European Network of Political Foundations has been engaged in the promotion of democracy by its members for decades and covers not only the young democracies of the European Neighbourhood but also accompanies the democratisation processes in developing countries. ENoP strongly encourages a more coherent and coordinated approach but also would like to draw attention to the challenges and shortcomings that come along with the EU Agenda for Action on Democracy Support. ENoP and its members are prominently placed not only to accompany the implementation process of the agenda in pilot countries and beyond but also to render its experiences and expertise on political processes and actors sur-place in order to contribute to a successful implementation of the EU agenda on democracy support.

After a presentation of the council conclusions on democracy support by Balthasar Benz, DG Relex, the floor will be open for a discussion amongst political stakeholders, implementing agencies, representatives of Political Foundations in Europe and other actors in the field taking into consideration their experiences and suggestions for implementation.

ENOP Open Conference

Date: Tuesday, 1. Dez. 2009
Time: 9:30 - 12:30
Venue: Residence Palace, Centre de presse International, Rue de la loi 155, 1040 Bruxelles

Contact: M. Gensler