Seminar: Europe - Connecting with Citizens, 21 April 2008

How can the EU work with civil society to develop a European response to global issues?

The Delivering Global Europe seminar series is intended to encourage a British and European conversation about how we can ensure the EU delivers real value for UK and EU citizens.

 

 

Europe - Connecting with Citizens

Date: 21 April 2008
Venue: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
Speakers:

  • Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe
  • Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector
  • Theo Sowa, UK Charity Commission
  • Tamara Flanagan, Community Service Volunteers
  • Stuart Etherington, NCVO (National Council of Voluntary Organisations)
  • Julien Adda, CPCA (Conférence Permanente des Coordinations Associatives)

The seminar was attended by representatives from a range of UK and European civil society groups including NSPCC, Salvation Army, Royal National Institute of Blind People and Samaritans.

Discussions in the seminar

Subjects raised in the seminar included:

  • the implications of the Lisbon Treaty for civil society groups across Europe
  • the growth of EU-wide civil society networks and opportunities for co-operation
  • the role of civil society on issues of democratic engagement within the EU
  • a framework for the relationship between the EU and civil society organisations
  • the involvement of civil society in the development of EU policies
  • the variety of approaches across EU member states to working with civil society
  • a  model for co-operation that takes account of national differences

Related documents

Europe: Connecting with citizens - speech by Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe

Europe: Connecting with citizens - speech by Stuart Etherington, CEO National Council of Voluntary Organisations

Europe: Connecting with citizens - speech by Julien Adda, Director, CPCA (Conférence Permanente des Coordinations Associatives)