Third Sector snubbed by MEP candidates

Vita Europe partner, Euclid Network, sent out questionnaires to 100 MEP candidates and 75 national parties across Europe fielding candidates in the upcoming European elections and less than 5 % responded, with 5 out of 100 individual candidates responding, and only 2 out of the 75 main pan-European national parties giving a reply.

Rita Bulusu, the researcher for Euclid Network responsible for carrying out the inquest, said Wednesday, one day before Britons go to the polls, that although she was aware that candidates and parties were in the middle of a stressful election campaign, she was “disappointed” at the lack of interest shown towards the third sector, although she was “not surprised”. 

“We sent out the questionnaires and requests just over a month ago.  I realise this was very close to election time, and candidates could have been frightened by certain specific issues related to the third sector which they are unfamiliar with, but still, surely these people have teams who can help them out.”

Questions included:

“What will your party do to support civil society during the recession, particularly with regard to EU funding and procedures?”

“How will you ensure that the Social Economy is taken into account when drafting economic laws and regulations?”

Bulusu went on to say that of those few candidates who actually responded, many stated that they could not express a personal opinion, being bound to the party line.  She suggested that this could have been a reason for the lack of response as individuals were frightened of missteps, especially when it came to the specifics of a sector they knew very little about.

Euclid Network issued the following statement associated to the mishap.

The results of the questionnaire illustrated two main issues, a lack of specific third sector related party policy and the general ignorance of MEPs towards the third sector.

Many candidates expressed a fear that they did not know enough about civil society issues to complete the questionnaire. Although worrying in itself, this also highlights the lack of status that the third sector has in the minds’ of politicians. It would certainly not be as acceptable for an MEP candidate to announce that they did not know ‘enough about the economy’ or even ‘enough about climate change’ without being ridiculed by the media and the public.

Why is it ok to demonstrate such ignorance towards the third sector when it makes up 5-7% of employment in the OECD?

We cannot, however, blame politicians entirely for this mindset. This apparent lack of status is based on a misunderstanding by the public both, of the current role and potential of the third sector, in delivering services and as lobbyists. MEPs in particular fail to be able to connect their understanding of the work national organisations, to the potential of what civil society can achieve working cross-border or even pan-European. This lack of vision must be healed by the combined effort of Commission and third sector initiatives to demonstrate the reality of international, sustainable and effective third sector.

Interestingly the UK Independence party, a single-issue party campaigning to remove the UK from the EU completely, had the highest response rate, voicing their disgust for the institution as a whole. Thus, not the most worthy candidates for civil society wanting to collaborate with EU institutions.   

Parties in the ALDE group and the Greens are most aware of the third sector and campaign actively on to enhance the participation of the third sector within the EU. In contrast, the larger groups within the parliament the EPP and the Socialists, had the lowest response rate and also have manifestos least focussed specifically on civil society related issues. This correlation is no doubt a reflection of the general position that the Greens and Liberals have towards supporting minority groups and issues into the mainstream.

 

Go to Euclid website:

www.euclidnetwork.eu