Joint Open Letter to EU Authorities RE: Multiannual Financial Framework 2021

Joint Open Letter by the Brussels-based networks HRDN, of which OMCT is a member organisation, CONCORD, EPLO and VOICE.
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DearEU heads of state and government,

Re. Multiannual Financial Framework2021

19 February2018

Weare writing to you in advance of your informal meeting on Friday 23 Februaryand the ministerial conference on the next Multiannual Financial Framework(MFF) on Friday 9 March.

Wehope that you will find time during your upcoming discussions on the next MFFto reflect on the various commitments on development, humanitarian assistance,peacebuilding, gender equality, rule of law, human rights and democracy, whichthe EU has made in recent years, including in the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment, the World Humanitarian Summit, the Global Strategy for the EU’sForeign and Security Policy, and the European Consensus on Development.

Westrongly believe that the decisions you make in the coming months about thesize and scope of the next MFF will be central to ensuring that the EU is ableto translate those laudable ambitions into concrete actions. In this context,we urge you to consider the following recommendations:

1. Includea strong external budget focused on EU values

TheEU’s external actions should be based on its values as set out in Article 21 ofthe Lisbon Treaty. These values have led to a number of internationalcommitments on development, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, genderequality, rule of law, human rights and democracy, which the EU cannot fulfilunless it has the financial means to do so.

Thiswill require an increase in the amount of funding which the EU allocates toexternal actions (current Heading 4 plus the European Development Fund (EDF))and for this funding to remain distinct from that which is allocated in pursuitof other objectives (e.g. under current Heading 3). It should have a clearexternal focus and should, therefore, not be used to fund activities aimed atsecuring the EU’s borders. Similarly, it should not be used to support militaryactivities either inside the EU or in partner countries.

2. Maintainseparate external financing instruments for humanitarian assistance, humanrights and democracy, and peacebuilding

TheEU’s humanitarian aid must be delivered in a timely manner, in accordance withthe humanitarian principles and based on needs, as enshrined in the Treaty andthe European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid. Therefore, a separate instrumentfor humanitarian aid must be maintained. Similarly, the EU should demonstrateits continued commitment to promoting human rights and democracy and tobuilding peace in partner countries by maintaining separate thematicinstruments dedicated to these topics. In the current political context, in whichcivil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) are underthreat globally, it is paramount that the EU ensures adequate, independent andimpartial funding to individuals and organisations working on human rights,democracy and peacebuilding issues.

3. Increasesupport for civil society

Civilsociety actors play a key role in helping the EU to achieve its external actionobjectives in the areas of development, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding,gender equality, rule of law, human rights and democracy. It is, therefore,essential that the EU continues to support CSOs to fulfil this important role.All future external financing instruments should be as accessible as possibleto a diverse range of CSOs, and this should be reflected in the rules whichgovern them.

Inaddition to providing financial support to civil society actors, the EU shouldalso try to use its political weight to ensure that they are able to fulfiltheir various roles unhindered, especially in those countries where civilsociety activities are curtailed and/or are at risk.

4. InvolveCSOs in the MFF process

Byinvolving CSOs working on development, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding,human rights and democracy in dialogue at the different steps ofdecision-making processes, the EU can maximise the effectiveness of itsexternal actions. The EU institutions and EU Member States should involve CSOsat the highest level in the ongoing discussions about the next MFF in order toensure that EU decision-makers hear as diverse a range of views as possible.

Wewish you fruitful discussions in the coming weeks and we look forward toengaging with you on these and other issues as the negotiations on the next MFFprogress.

Yourssincerely,

JohannesTrimmel President CONCORD

TinatinTsertsvadze Troika member HRDN

SonyaReines-Djivanides Executive Director EPLO

KathrinSchick Director VOICE

cc.


MrDonald Tusk, President of the European Council

MrJean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission


MsFederica Mogherini, High Representative Union for Foreign Affairs and SecurityPolicy / Vice-President of the European Commission


MrGünther Oettinger, Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources


MrNeven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development


MrChristos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management


MrJohannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and EnlargementNegotiations


MrDimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs andCitizenship


MrJulian King, Commissioner for Security Union

CONCORDis the European NGO confederation for Relief and Development. With the supportof our 51 members, our confederation, representing over 2,600 NGOs, is the maininterlocutor with the EU institutions on development policy. Since 2003, wework towards a world where people enjoy their right to live free of poverty andexploitation as well as their right to enjoy wellbeing and equality.

TheEuropean Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) is the independent civil societyplatform of European NGOs, networks of NGOs and think tanks which are committedto peacebuilding and the prevention of violent conflict. EPLO aims to influencethe EU so that it promotes and implements measures which lead to sustainablepeace between states and within states and peoples, and which transform andresolve conflicts non-violently.

TheHuman Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN) is an informal grouping of NGOsoperating at the EU level in the broader areas of human rights, democracy andpeace. HRDN’s vision is that human rights and democracy are placed at the heartof the EU’s internal and external policy agenda. This vision should manifestitself in an EU which effectively protects human rights at home and is a forcefor positive change in the world. In pursuit of this vision, HRDN aims toinfluence EU and EU Member States’ human rights policies and the programming oftheir funding instruments to promote democracy, human rights and peace.

VOICE(Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies) is a networkrepresenting 84 European NGOs active in humanitarian aid worldwide. VOICE isthe main NGO interlocutor with the European Union on emergency aid and disasterrisk reduction and it promotes the values of humanitarian NGOs.