The support of the European Union to and through Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) amounted to at least €1.2 billion a year on average during the period 2021–2023, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen informed today at the second plenary meeting of the Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Advisory Platform. During the previous EU Multiannual Financial Framework, this amount was estimated at €1.1 billion on average.
Commissioner Urpilainen said: “Civil society and local authorities are crucial partners in ensuring that Global Gateway investments address the needs of people and communities in a manner that is accountable and as impactful as possible. They often participate in the implementation of actions and have valuable knowledge on the local conditions. As my mandate draws to a close, I want to express my gratitude to them for having rallied the EU to champion human development.”
Commissioner Urpilainen highlighted the strong commitment of the Commission to involve stakeholders in both the formulation of key policies and programmes and their implementation. In the past three years, the number and substance of consultations held with civil society organisations at EU delegation level has been significantly enhanced, with all delegations holding consultations with civil society organisations in 2023.
Consultations specifically on Global Gateway initiatives were held by 69 delegations, and the Commission expects that number to continue to grow in the years to come. The Commission is also piloting multistakeholder platforms on Global Gateway flagships, with the Delegation in Kenya hosting the first meeting by the end of the year. The expectation is to roll out such platforms in all delegations.
The plenary meeting kicked off work on selected case studies involving digital and green Global Gateway flagships and cooperation on critical raw materials. Through these case studies, the Civil Society and Local Authorities Advisory Platform will produce recommendations for the design and creation of new Global Gateway flagships.
Background
The Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Advisory Platform (GG CSO/LA Platform) has as its mission to assist the European Commission in ensuring that the Global Gateway strategy delivers on its goals in line with its principles, values and standards, such as transparency, high environmental standards, gender equality, benefits for local communities, and the creation of high-quality jobs.
The second plenary meeting, held on 10–11 October, brought together representatives of global and regional organisations and networks from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as representatives of European institutions, including the European Commission, European External Action Service, Committee of the Regions, European Economic and Social Committee, and the European Investment Bank. The event was also the occasion to confirm the continued strong EU support to civil society in its external action.
Related links
Global Gateway: Commission launches Civil Society and Local Authorities Dialogue Platform – European Commission (europa.eu)
Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Advisory Platform – European Commission (europa.eu)
Global Gateway CSO-LA Advisory Platform | Capacity4dev (europa.eu)
‘Civil Society Consultations in Partner Countries – 2023 Report on EU Delegations’ Engagement with Civil Society’
The EU Global Gateway strategy: Giving local authorities a voice – ECDPM
