What is CONCORD …

1. What is CONCORD … CONCORD was founded on 30 January 2003 CONCORD is the European NGO confederation for relief and development. CONCORD represents about 1600 NGDOs CONCORD is explicitly member-led • National Platforms • European Networks

2. … What is CONCORD … • The main objective of the Confederation is to enhance the impact of European development NGOs vis-à-vis the European Institutions by combining expertise and accountability. • The added value of CONCORD is: • its ability to adopt common positions, combining expertise, quality and representativity; • the sharing of knowledge, and the capacity to deal with major issues relating to European development policy.

3. … The Malta situation … • The Maltese NGDO Platform was set up in June 2000 on the initiative of Kopin (Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali – Malta), after a need was felt to bring together all NGOs operating in the development sector, to work together on a common front. • The vision of the Maltese NGDO Platform is to contribute, through the cooperative efforts of our Members, to a just world where basic needs are met, where people are empowered, where there is equity in the management and distribution of resources and where human rights are respected.

4. EU Responsibilities towards achieving the MDGsCivil society declaration to European Ministers • … CONCORD emphasises that in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, sustainable development, creation of decent work and social progress all require the respect of fundamental human rights including children's rights, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights.

5. Working Group Enlargement • Some priorities are: • To analyse the impact of enlargement on development cooperation and policy. • To ensure a debate on development cooperation objectives, priorities and concepts between old and new members (TRIALOG II foresees a conference devoted entirely to this issue) • To build alliances between like-minded NGOs amongst CONCORD membership and between other stakeholders in order to build “real partnerships”

6. Some characteristics of NMS • Little history of organisation and support to civil society (Civil society is still young) • Some confusion about poor countries and often see themselves as should benefit from assistance from their richer EU partners • Focus mainly on neighbouring countries • Democracy and Human Rights *

7. Situation • Enlargement has introduced new social and political opinions … • …leading to a change in balance of social values and national policies eg. Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta … • Sound integration of national policies into EU policy is needed • NMS has not exercise any views that counters existing policy within EC development scene re. SRHR * • LGBT * • Effect on ENPI* • Debate on Cotonou is low in NMS

8. WGE • IPPF • WIDE • Riga Jan 23-24 Meeting • Karat • Presidencies • Presence of some SRHR organisations in central trainings …

9. Future 1 • Presidency Fund • Trialog and Training • - One needs a certain level of organisational development and institutional coherence • DE Call • WGE 20-21 June • Look at health system issues and further emphasise the basics of public health in achieving MDGs • Slovenia Presidency • Proactive (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Turkey …)

10. Future 2 • Methodology to prepare for paper • Do not polarise the debate* • Work Sensitively • Raise profile of SRHR both locally and abroad especially at grassroots level and with grassroots NGOS