On 29-30 November 2016, ECAS will host in Brussels a conference to launch the Triple A for Citizens European Network,  “Access to justice in the EU and Beyond: What role for Civil Society?”

The event will gather around 100 representatives from EU institutions, civil society organisations from the Western Balkans and Turkey, academics and active citizens around different panels:

• The first day will focus on citizens’ access to justice in times of crisis and the role that civil society organisations can play in that regard.

The last panel will be followed by a cocktail to officially launch the Triple A pan-European Network.

• The second day will be devoted to the achievements of the Triple A project and future activities of the Network. Quality standards for providers of free legal aid will be presented by the project partners, together with other project outcomes.

We look forward to hosting you and count on your active participation to make this event a success!

About the Network

The Triple A Network is currently in the process of being developed, and will launch in early 2016. The European network of Triple A service providers is open to all European organisations who provide free advice services to citizens. The network will be established in the scope the Triple A project and performs an important role in several aspects:

• Setting of common Quality Standards in the provision of information, advice and active help to citizens. This is the prime objective of the network and its distinctive feature in comparison to other networks. This will ensure the professionalisation, increased efficiency and sustainability of the service and ensure accountability towards all actors.
• Exchange of best practices. There are always multiple ways to tackle the same set of problems, and some of them are more efficient than others. Presentations of different strategies developed to fight for reforms, get an amendment passed in the Parliament or use limited resources more efficiently allows the members of the network to grow and try out new approaches.
• Transfer of know-how from the EU countries to the EU candidate and potential candidate states. By defining the network as European with the possibility for organisations from all over Europe to join the network, a platform for exchange and transfer of know-how is created
• Facilitation of the development of European and regional projects. Membership of the same network is often the key to successful and efficient EU projects. The grouping of like-minded and similar organisations with a common set of goals allows for a better definition of priorities and targeted CSO action.

Mission

The project Triple A for citizens – Access to information, Advice and Active help – is implemented in the framework of the European Commission’s Partnership programme for Civil Society organizations. The project targets the Western Balkans and Turkey and it is based on the principle that everyone has the right to be informed about their rights and find remedies for their enforcement.

Vision

A democratic Europe of open societies that are based on the rule of law, where citizens are aware of their rights and well informed of the means for their enforcement.

Values

The Triple A network Code of Ethics, principles and values:

Impartiality, Confidentiality and Accesibility – Our services are secure, easy to access and available to everyone.

Human rights and justice – We respect everyone’s rights and dignity.

Non-discrimination on grounds of sex, gender, race, colour, language, sexuality, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

Quality and high standards – We provide clear, accurate and up-to-date information and commit ourselves to high professional standards in service provision and when cooperating with others.

Sustainability – We empower our members and the communities they serve by ensuring the local ownership of our work.

Cooperation and partnership – We endeavour to create a shared voice, working together in a manner that enables us to achieve our shared goals and live our shared values. We encourage cooperation among stakeholders in order to achieve our mission and vision.

Transparency and accountability – We advocate for improved public services and hold institutions and governments accountable to citizens.

Independence – We are non-partisan and independent organisations.