Towards setting-up the Policy Forum on Development Results of the consultation

1. Towards setting-up the Policy Forum on Development Results of the consultation 1st Interim Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development Brussels, 10-11 May 2012

2. Background information • SD Follow-up meeting organised in November 2011 to discuss the way forward. • PF working document circulated in February 2012 among relevant stakeholders for comments on 3 building blocks • Goals and objectives • Working modalities • Membership • 7 European platforms + EESC + 6 SD Ambassadors sent their contributions by 23rd March 2012 Set-up of the Policy forum, among other SD follow-up initiatives, to institutionalise dialogue at global level

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4. About PF Goals & Objectives Recall of what was proposed in the Working Document From the Working document circulated for comments: The overarching goal of the Policy Forum on Development is to provide CSOs and LAs from the EU and partner countries with a space for multi-stakeholder dialogue at the EC Headquarters level, to ensure their effective consultation and contribution to the EU development policies and programmes. Priority will be given to policy discussions relating to DEVCO's mandate, aligned to its Work Programme, including discussions in the preparation of High Level events. The Policy Forum should not overlap with existing institutional consultations, practices and bilateral discussions, where, among others, programmatic issues are being discussed. The specific objectives are: (i) To enhance knowledge on crucial development issues at stake, including the EU development policies and programmes, through timely meetings; (ii) To take stock from initiatives relating to the implementation of the SD and reflexions emerging from national and regional levels; (iii) To improve mutual understanding and communication amongst relevant actors engaged in development.

5. About PF Goals & Objectives Reactions • The PF should not become the “only entry point” for CSOs and LAs and should not replace existing institutional consultations, practices and bilateral discussions, where among others, programmatic issues are being discussed, like: • The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, the ACP-EU Follow-up Committee, the Latin America Civil society meetings, the Euromed Summits, etc • The PF must remain flexible – CSO will continue to approach the EC for bilateral or pan-CSO meetings and will continue to expect the EC to include them in specific thematic process. • The PF on development should address cross-cutting issues, issues of priority and coherence and issues directly related to the role of CSOs & LAs.

6. About PF Goals & Objectives • The PF should not just be an instrument for spreading information. Communication should flow in both directions (principle of reciprocity) • The PF should be a multi-stakeholder space and build on the added value & complementarities brought by the different actors, in their capacity to contribute to analysis and design of policy, and act as watchdog • A systematic exchange of information between the different levels (country, regional and global) should be foreseen which would allow feedback and input through the various levels 6

7. About PF Goals & Objectives Questions arising • What should the PF scope be? • Should the PF be strictly linked to DEVCO mandate and work-plan or should it go beyond DEVCO’s work and include other global topics like G20, new challenges in Busan Partnership, New Deal for fragile and conflict states, etc and/or priorities which emerge by CSOs/LAs on all levels? • Should the PF also cover technical issues such as the financing instruments and the aid modalities? • What room for follow-up on SD recommendations? • How to ensure EU Policy Coherence? What representation from EU institutions? What role for EEAS?

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9. About PF Working Modalities • Recall of what was proposed in the Working Document • From the Working document circulated for comments: • DEVCO is in charge of the overall organisation of the Forum; DEVCO Unit D2 will coordinate the secretariat and the smooth undertaking of planned activities; • The Forum may involve high level meetings (two seminars/sessions per year at the level of Commissioner/Director General) and technical sessions; • A yearly agenda will be agreed based on DEVCO Work Plan and calendar of international events; a call for ideas may be organised on a yearly basis; • Working groups may be set up to prepare thematic discussions (to ensure active participation of members); • No financial support is foreseen for participants besides refund of logistical costs; • Active participation and commitment from all members are fundamental for such an initiative; • The Forum should work in a flexible mode. After the first year of activities, working • modalities may be revised.

10. About PF Working Modalities Reactions • Transparent and inclusive way of Agenda setting (on a yearly basis)/ Preliminary and joint preparation to ensure collective ownership • CSOs & LAs have to be equal partners to feed back and ensure that the agenda continues to meet the needs of all stakeholders • The PF may involve high level meetings and technical sessions. Working groups can also be set up to prepare thematic discussions ensuring the active participation of all members • The Forum should work in a flexible mode and allow for the revision of modalities

11. About PF Working Modalities Questions arising • What size should the core group have to strike a balance between participation & inclusiveness, on the one hand, and quality of debates and manageability, on the other hand ? • Further clarification is required from the EC on the issue of financial support 11

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13. About PF membership Recall of what was proposed in the Working Document From the Working document circulated for comments: About Representative Regional Networks/Platforms: - The Policy Forum on development should ensure a balanced representation by region andtype of actor (where relevant) and avoid double representation. - The type of actors currently identified include: (i) Development NGOs, (ii) Trade Unions, (iii) Cooperatives, (iv) Foundations and philanthropies, (v) Local Authorities, (vi) Chambers of Commerce, (vii) Human Rights Organisations, (viii) Relief/Humanitarian Organisations, (ix) Environment Organisations and (x) Youth Organisations; - The Forum may open up to thematic participation when relevant and invite representatives from the academia, think tank or from the media; - Ensure participation of all regions where EC cooperation programmes exist: European Neighbourhood Region, Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean; - The Forum will consider participation from sub-regional networks of actors, if there is no issue of double representation; - The membership of the Forum will be limited to a maximum number of participants (to be defined) to guarantee quality of debates and participation; - To allow transparency and rotation of members, the EC intends to launch a call for expression of interest every 2/3 years to select participating networks (starting in 2013);

14. About PF membership Recall of what was proposed in the Working Document From the Working document circulated for comments: EU institutions: • European Commission: according to the themes, DEVCO from Thematic and GeographicDirectorates; • European Parliament: according to the theme, Secretariats of Development, Foreign Affairsand Human Rights Committees; • Council and Member States; Other EU services and bodies: • European External Action Services (EEAS); • European Economic and Social Committee (EESC); • Committee of the Regions (CoR); • European Investment Bank (EIB).

15. About PF MembershipReactions About membership in general • Proper links need to be established between the global –regional and national levels • The PF should always consider the possibility of open invitations per topic, to additional CSO, as well as to academia, think thanks or the media • Stakeholders should be able to participate in discussions related to their expertise About EU institutions • Participation of MS and EP representatives together with EC as a condition for a real engagement with the three EU institutions. • Participation of all relevant DEVCO DGs will need to be ensured according to the themes About regional platforms /networks • All participants should participate in the definition of the membership criteria selection

16. About PF MembershipActor based

17. Networks of Cooperatives

18. Networks of Foundations 18

19. Networks of Chambers of Commerce

20. Networks of Local Authorities

21. Networks of Trade Unions

22. Networks of NGOs 22

23. About PF membership Questions arising About membership criteria • What representation from EU institutions? What role for EEAS? • Should the membership criteria allow for good balance between representativity and expertise? • How to strike a balance between thematic and geographic representation? • Who should do the selection of participants? • What criteria should be used as a basis for the Call of interest? • Should it be an open or targeted call? • Should the PF have permanent members or a rotating system? 23

24. About PF membership Questions arising About the global – regional – local links • What links should be established with the Secretariat for development effectiveness and CSO mechanism on Development effectiveness? • What links should be established with regional institutions like the ACP secretariat, etc? • How can links be established between the global-regional and national levels? • What mechanisms need to be established to ensure adequate information flows and downward accountability? 24

25. In conclusion 3 Building blocks