Accessibility Features
Accessibility | Skip to Start of Article | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Themes | Skip to Regions | Skip to Members Sign InAccessibility Features
Accessibility | Skip to Start of Article | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Themes | Skip to Regions | Skip to Members Sign In
In the aftermath of the European Council, where EU leaders reached an agreement on the revision of the EU Treaties, European social NGOs are cautious in welcoming the outcome.
In the aftermath of the European Council, where EU leaders reached an agreement on the revision of the EU Treaties, European social NGOs are cautious in welcoming the outcome.
Social Platform president, Fintan Farrell said:
"Yes we have a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights, yes we have the horizontal social clauses, yes we have the provisions on participatory democracy, we also have an additional protocol on services of general interest, but it’s not a done deal. The Treaty will be formally agreed in December, we will not lower the guard as of yet."
As civil society organisations, representing large segments of the population, European Social NGOs have fought to promote a more democratic Union, based on fundamental rights and social objectives.
Weeks before the June European Council, social NGOs launched a wide campaign to mobilise national and regional NGOs to send and open letter to EU heads of state and governments asking to keep the social provisions stated in the European Constitutional Treaty.
The mandate given to the Intergovernmental conference, which is supposed to draft as soon as possible the so-called Reform Treaty, includes all the social provisions the Social Platform called for in its open letter. But the Treaty is not finalised yet and social NGOs feel it is too early to claim victory.
Indeed, the process is reverting to a “closed door” method with no public involvement.
Fintan Farrell said:
“Transparency and democracy is the only way for people to feel confident that the Europe which is built today will not serve short term narrow national interests but rather the interests for a European Union for all,”
Farrell ended by noting that the drafting of the Reform Treaty could shy away thousands of people because of the technical nature of the exercise.
“The great challenge now is to keep citizens well informed so that we don’t widen the gap between Europeans and the European project,”
Footer
NICVA | 61 Duncairn Gardens | Belfast | BT15 2GB
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action is registered as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland (No 1792) and is registered as a charity for tax purposes with the Inland Revenue