SRH Advocacy under EU Presidencies German Presidency Jan-Jul 2007

1. SRH Advocacy under EU PresidenciesGerman Presidency Jan-Jul 2007

2. The Council’s Powers • Formally holds the executive power of the EU which it confers upon the EC Together with the European Parliament (EP): • Takes decisions on a proposal from the EC; co-decision for dev. coop. • Forms the Union's legislative branch. The Council has legislative initiative in the field of dev. coop. • Is the budgetary power of the EU. The council puts together the draft budget, and has greater control than the EP over the intergovernmental areas of the EU spending and on compulsary spending (including dev. coop).

3. Structure of the „Council“ European Council (Heads of State and the President of the Commission) Council of Ministers (Different configurations; e.g. GAERC – ministers of FA) COREPER (Ambassadors in Brussels and their assistants) Committees and Working Parties (Delegates of the Members States, normally Perm. Rep. staff, CODEV)

4. The Council Presidency • Each MS on rotational basis, for 6-month period. • Trio presidency with one and a half year programme. • Council President = Head of Government of the country which holds Council Presidency. • Essential role in organising the work of the institution; promoting legislative and political decisions. • Responsible for organising and chairing all meetings, including the many working groups, and for brokering compromises.

5. DSW’s work with the Council • Work with German Perm. Rep. (Head of Dev coop); Respond to specific requests: e.g. within 24 hours provide information on Microbicides. • Coordinate with colleagues in Brussels and in ms: e.g. present advocacy opportunities to 30 Brussels based social and human dev. NGOs and work with SRHR colleagues to give consolidated input. • “Presidency Alert” newsletter: Every two weeks, sent out to over 300 NGOs, describing the latest news and upcoming events.

6. Future ??? If Irish referendum positive (in June), Lisbon Treaty will come into force 1 January 2009: • New “EU President” (chairing the European Council) for two and a half years period. • New "EU Foreign Minister” whose tenure is 5 years and who will be leading GAERC. • Other Councils will be chaired by the rotating presidencies. Trio-presidency is going to be strengthened. The order of presidencies is set till 2019 and normally is not supposed to change. • Presidencies will lose importance and prestige. Manyopen Questions: Will big summits or in-official ministerial meetings still be decided by Presidency countries?

7. German Government Responsibility and Partnership –Together against HIV/AIDS, 12/13 March 2007, Bremen • Formed the basis of the Health Council Conclusions on 30 and 31 May • DSW contributed to Bremen Declaration, e.g. on prevention, linkage between HIV/AIDS prevention and SRH „We acknowledge that a strong linkage should be established between HIV/AIDS prevention and sexual and reproductive health and rights in policies, programmes and strategies.“ (Bremen Declaration)

8. German Government • Letter to Development Minister demanding an Informal Development Minister Meeting • Letter to Development Minister on the inclusion of SRHR/HIV/Aids into the Presidency agenda • Activities within Troika between Germany, Portugal and Slovenia: Letter of German Development Minister to Slovenian Foreign Minister to stress the importance of women issues in the Slovenian EU- presidency

9. German Government • BMZ: DSW is member of BMZ`s theme team on SRHR and German Roundtable on SRHR • Others: Chancellor´s office, MOH, Ministry for Research and Education

10. German Parliamentarians • Activities with members of DSW´s Parliamentary Advisory Committee (34 members) • Participation in study tours to Africa • Watchdog on federal development budget spending on HIV/AIDS, SRH and UNFPA • G8 Parliamentarians Conference in Berlin, 30/31 May 2007

11. Collaborations • DSW is member of VENRO and Action Against Aids • VENRO EU Presidency Project • International VENRO conference on HIV/AIDS, 23/24 May 2007, Bonn • Final communiqué was passed to German Minister and to Portugal for the next EU Presidency

12. Lessons learned • Start early • Provide partners (especially in ms) at all times with up to date information and identify advocacy opportunities together • Work to increase the number of CSO networks prioritising population issues and SRH • Intensify contacts to parliamentarians, political parties and government officials • Keep the momentum for our issues! • Evaluate outcomes

13. Achievements • HIV/Aids was on the EU agenda • Health Council Conclusions on HIV/AIDS based on Bremen Declaration • GAERC conclusions on HIV – (23 April 2007): Focus on feminization and youth component of the epidemic; rights-based approach to women's sexuality; linkages to SRHR to be reflected in all national and EC development plans and budgets • GAERC Action Plan on health worker: calls to establish a code of conduct for the recruitment of health workers from third countries; strategies and actions should have a gender and HIV/AIDS perspective

14. Thank you for your attention