Civil society agenda

20 May 2016

The Lisbon-Treaty made a significant step forward through its article 11 on civil dialogue. After more than 20 years of acting on the European level as an interlocutor and advocate for different issues of general interest, there is now a legal framework. This has still not been understood by everyone within the European institutions, as civil dialogue is still often misinterpreted as communication and consultation. Broad consultations have a democratic element thanks to their scope and framework, but responses are all assessed at the same level, regardless of the representativeness and legitimacy of the network or individual replying.

The fact that the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) agreed on two important opinions by the end of last year on consultation and better regulation shows how far these are linked. The consultation on the pillar of social rights will show whether progress in the practice of civil dialogue is being made.

While our work representing Civil Society in Europe is mostly to do with legislation and policy making processes at the European level, it is often forgotten that our networks, like SOLIDAR, organise citizens and activities based on the generous commitment of professionals and volunteers. Two important upcoming events will be an opportunity, not only for SOLIDAR, to underline these links and realities: On 31 May and 1 June the 2016 Civil Society Days will take place in the EESC around the urgent agenda of how to live together in our Europe? Then on 14 June we will dedicate this year’s SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards to outstanding organisations and individuals representing four courageous political choices and highly sensitive and very current political issues such as press freedom, decent work, women’s rights and access to education for all. The message is that the progressive and the political go hand in hand in a network like ours which has a longstanding history of dedicated member organisations doing valuable work on the ground without which the political and societal landscape in Europe would be poorer. Sometimes it must surely be right to take pride in what we do?

Civil dialogue is not an aim as such, it is the process of bringing social, environmental, economic and human rights issues to the European agenda. More than lobbying it is about advocacy – for the good cause!

SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards – Join us on 14 June

19:00 – 21:00 | MEP Restaurant | European Parliament, Brussels

In a world of rapid changing political and social circumstances, growing conflicts and inequalities, progressive politics to ensure social justice and global solidarity are more important than ever. The 2016 edition of the SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards presents four courageous political choices with four awardees working on highly sensitive and late-breaking political issues

As for the past 14 editions the ceremony will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels. The ceremony brings together a wide audience of like-minded individuals with backgrounds in civil society, trade union and politics, for a very much needed and timely celebration of global solidarity and progressive engagement. The SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards is made possible with the support the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and the Party of European Socialists (PES) and with the media support of EurActiv.

Is it just another prize – one of many? By no means! Read here how SOLIDAR’s Secretary General Conny Reuter describes it.

If you would like to join us for this evening to honour our four awardees, you can find more information and the online registration here.

Together for Social Europe

SOLIDAR study visit and Festival Sabir at Pozzallo: Together for a better Europe

19 May 2016

Last week more than 20 members of SOLIDAR from all over Europe got together in Pozzallo, Italy, one of the EU hotpots for migrants and refugees arriving via the Mediterranean route, for a study visit organised in collaboration with our member ARCI. The visit was an opportunity to learn about and discuss the main challenges faced by ARCI and its regional and local branches involved in providing first aid and assisting integration for migrants in Sicily and was attended by members from Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Greece and chaired by SOLIDAR president, Francisca Sauquillo.

Raffaella Bolini (ARCI, international relations and Board member of SOLIDAR) and Sara Prestianni (ARCI Migration) gave a presentation of the situation in Italy and the main activities run by ARCI to counteract the EU’s security based approach and Italian migration policies, to denounce the externalisation of border management as well as to combat increasing racism, xenophobia and hate speech in Italian society fostered by the use of fear and the logic of “invasion” by conservative and right-wing politicians to justify restrictive immigration policies and discriminatory measures. In addition, Ahmed Echi and Cristina Moscuzza (ARCI Siracusa) explained in detail the process that goes from the arrival of migrants by boat on the coast of Pozzallo, to their fingerprinting and registration in the hotspot, and finally their transfer to integration centres located all over Sicily. They highlighted the main difficulties faced by humanitarian organisations in providing legal assistance to migrants during the process of registration and opening their requests for asylum. The visitors were also able to visit the surroundings of the hotspot in Pozzallo, to which neither ARCI nor other NGOs had previously been allowed to enter. A detailed report of the visit will be published shortly.
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Organising International Solidarity

Mobilising for Social Justice in the Middle East at the ILO conference

19 May 2016

From 30 May until 3 June 2016, SOLIDAR will attend the 105th edition of the International Labour Conference in Geneva. This year, on the agenda of the different Committees there will be a discussion on Decent Work in the Global Supply Chain, on the revision of ILO Recommendation 71 “Employment and Decent Work for the Transition from War to Peace”, and the review of the impact of the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for Fair Globalisation.

Also during the conference, Jordan and Lebanon are among the shortlisted countries that might come under scrutiny in the Committee on the Application of Standards, respectively regarding ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, and ILO Convention 81 on Labour Inspection.

In light of SOLIDAR’s ongoing regional programme in the Middle East and North Africa, to promote freedom of association, decent work and social protection and mobilising for social justice, SOLIDAR will attend the meetings of the different committees with partners from Jordan and Lebanon to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges related to decent work and social protection.
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