If any of you has ever doubted about the networking god- you will burn you on the spot. The past week in Brussels has been nothing less than glorious. I feel like the liberator of the European third sector!
I was one of the privileged few who attended the conference for the midterm review of the EU budget. Everybody was there… including myself. I won’t get into the boring details but just make public the Commissioner together with the representatives of the Parliament and Council admitted it’s time for change – hopes there is a global crisis! – and we need to reform budget and funding procedures. The Commissioner – a very assertive lady from the Baltic – stressed a special look will be given to NGOs and small grants!
This is a real revolution and we should thank Paul (The Centre) to have worked behind the curtains for months. As a chair of the final session he raised the issue of funding procedures – Make the EU work for its citizens! – turning another boring a ceremonial event in Brussels is a starting point for a revolution in Brussels.
I will do my bit. i spoke to the guys of the commissioner to work together on some concrete steps forward for the sector. We will collect recommendations from the sector to make improvements for working together with European officials and MEPs. However, the financial legislation can’t be changed before 2013. We can just play within the interpretation of the pending rules. We will do our best as usual.
For more info see http://ec.europa.eu/budget/reform/conference/index_en.htm and write to me if you have any recommendations..
I also attended the European active civil society forum. The guys at the commission are doing their best to make a difference. They are some of the best in dealing with the third sector even if they made a huge mistake this time: They didn’t invite me to speak!!!! They must be crazy..
Anyway, they are forgiven this time. Aleast i had fun making one of my sounding statements about the legitimacy of the European institutions. ‘It can’t be based just on participation of citizens when it’s impact can’t be assessed and communicated clearly, and, on the other side, is based on good-will accountability of the institutions’. All the audience clapped at the end.
it’s an interesting process that might become a leading programme of the EU – There won’t be any European citizens without realising that there is a crucial challenge for the future of the European project! – if it is open to more innovation and experimentalism. Naturally, they need me to make it successful!
For more info see http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.htm and contact Cecile or Risto on my behalf. they are good guys and very helpful.
By the way, i updated the entry on the marathon. Don’t miss it.
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