Berlin Agenda

of European Civil Society
towards the European Elections 2019 and beyond

WE, CIVIC ACTORS, share the vision and believe that Europe is our common future, but another Europe is necessary, urgent and possible:[1]

WE call upon citizens all across Europe to reclaim and practice together, by raising our voices and strengthening our alliances and common work, equality, solidarity and inclusion, which should be at the core of the debate on the future of Europe and our societies. We need an innovative and courageous plan for Europe in common. A Europe based on democracy and freedom, rights and equality, social and climate justice, solidarity and inclusiveness, peace and environmental sustainability![2]

WE will engage in debate with political leaders, the institutions responsible for designing Europe’s future and the media ahead of the EU 2019 elections.[3]

To do so, this agenda has been elaborated in the frame of the European Conference “Not without Us!” on 22 March 2019 in Berlin. The Berlin Agendacompiles positions, proposals and demands previously adopted and published by numerous civil society networks, associations, foundations and think tanks, sorted under our core common issues: A more democratic Europe, with a vital Civic Spaceand based upon the paradigms of Sustainability and Social Equality.

The Berlin Agendais not intended to be a new position paper replacing existing ones,but to serve as a reference document to be used by civil society campaigns and initiatives towards the upcoming European Elections in May 2019 and beyond. Its intention is not to prioritise certain positions but to show how our visions and ideas for the future of Europe can be transferred into concrete political implementation. It shall serve as an open document to be elaborated further and beyond the 2019 European Election, keeping track of its implementation.

1. European Democracy

Reforming representative democracy:

Within the current institutional and legal framework, more political weight should be given to the European Parliament, the sole European institution directly elected by European citizens. Transnational lists should be established so as to promote the image of the European Parliament as an institution that makes decisions for the European common good and to give more substance to EU democratic and political life.[4]

Ensure equal representation of women and men in political decision-making as a 50/50 representation of each sex in any EU decision-making body, including the EU “top jobs”[5]

Make it easier for young people to vote in elections, and to run as candidates. Support the lowering of the voting age to 16, combined with advocacy for comprehensive and political, economic and citizenship education in schools. Encourage political parties to promote youth within their own structures and to field young candidates. Make laws that ensure transparency in political campaign funding and spending. Reform European and national electoral laws to ensure every vote counts, and elected seats match the votes they received.[6]

Promoting participative democracy:

Time has come to deepen democracy alongside the electoral process with citizens’ participation for the effective implementation of political and social rights. A truly democratic society needs open and responsive institutions and a strong and recognized civic society. People power and informed citizens are key to the democratic functioning of our societies.[7]

The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union has introduced a major innovation: the concept of citizens’ participation through its Article 11. Yet, 10 years after ist adoption, ist provisions have failed to beimplemented apart from the European Citizens Initiative although with limited results. The ability of citizens to be part of decisions beyond voting in elections is still very limited resulting in a double dissatisfaction with the policies themselves and with the lack of possibilities to influence decisions.

The EU must put in place a clear and structured framework for European civil dialogue allowing for a permanent and transversal dialogue with citizens and their representative associations. Civil dialogue should be implemented by all relevant EU and national institutions at all levels of decision-making. In order to restore confidence, it is important that citizens have on one hand easy access to information concerning the decision-process both at EU level and through their elected representatives and their government, but on the other hand they should also be able to take part in a meaningful way in such decisions.[8]

New and effective civil society participation and active citizenship must be prioritised to improve democracy (including at the workplace), transparency, access to fundamental rights for all and trust of EU citizens in building a just and sustainable Europe. Youth and children should be engaged as active citizens and encouraged to meaningfully participate in European political processes.[9]

We propose a European fund for democracy, human rights and values within the EU, equipped with an ambitious budget and directly open to CSOs across Europe, including human rights defenders aiming to promote and protect the EU’s fundamental values. The fund should cover operational costs as well as litigation and watchdog activities, and be managed independently similarly to the European Endowment for Democracy[10]

Civic Education:

Support and encourage reforms to education systems to help young people become active citizens and ensure we can contribute to societal progress. While recognising degrees in formal education, in addition to employability, set a focus on providing quality citizenship education for all, so that young people develop critical thinking and enhance political and media literacy.[11]

Support and encourage reforming education systems so that volunteering, activism and non-formal education experiences provided by CSO are recognised for their educational and societal value. Support a better recognition of the contributions of youth work, volunteering and non-formal education to young people’s lives and to society more broadly.[12]

Improving Transparency and Accountability

The EU must guarantee the right to information, participation and justice for all. It must end its noncompliance with the Aarhus Convention by improving access to justice. The EU must ensure greater transparency in EU decision-making and lobbying activities, and improve restrictions on ‘revolving door’ practices.[13]

2. Civic Space

Protect Civic Rights and Civic Space

Protect young people’s civil society and civic space in Europe. Increase the funding available for youth organisations in European programmes, such as Erasmus+ and its successor, and prevent and penalise any attempts to restrict their activities and capacity to operate.[14]

Ensure that tax evasion, money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules are proportionate to the risks they seek to address and do not unduly restrict legitimate charitable activities.[15]

The EU institutions should act proactively and more assertively against national breaches of the rule of law and fundamental rights, including establishing a rule of law monitoring mechanism with strong enforcement instruments and isolating countries or political parties that do not abide by the European values[16]

The EU should continue to consolidate and monitor progress towards democracy and promote an enabling environment in the countries benefiting from the Instrument for Pre-Accession. The role of civil society should be more clearly defined in the context of technical assistance as well as in relation to the monitoring process. The existing civil society guidelines should continue to be the reference framework for monitoring candidate countries and guide to the establishment of sustainable co-operation mechanisms between civil society and local authorities.[17]

Fostering a European Civic Space

There is also a pressing need to resume discussions on a statute for European associations — proposed by the Commission in 1992 — together with a statute for European foundations. This would promote recognition of CSOs and cooperation between them at European level, complementing the European Company Statute adopted in 2004[18]

Introduce better recognition of philanthropy as part of civil society and its important role in supporting civil society and European values and policy aims in the EU Treaty[19]

Acknowledge the free flow of capital and ensure meaningful application of the non-discrimination principle to facilitate tax-effective cross-border philanthropy: Work towards mutual recognition of legal entity and charity status also for tax purposes. Enable cross-border mergers and move of seats for institutional philanthropy within the EU. [20]

Supporting and Funding of Civil Society

Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a crucial role in promoting active citizenship in Europe. Participatory democracy needs intermediary bodies if it is to involve the public and encourage them to express their views in all civic spaces. A robust, independent and diversified organised civil society is underpinned by adequate public financing.[21]

The new European Commission and Parliament must support citizens and civil society organisations, and use their legal and budgetary powers to ensure all EU governments respect the rule of law.[22]

In a revision of the Financial Regulation the hours spent by volunteers should be taken into account as eligible expenses and the inclusion of contributions in kind as co-financing.[23]

The European Commission should react promptly with relevant measures, including infringement procedures against Member States, when national administrative or legal provisions restrict the access of national civil society organisations to EU funds, including when funding conditions are imposed that restrict their advocacy.[24]

Introduce financial instruments that act as a catalyst for co-granting with philanthropy. Stimulate co-investments by de-risking mission-related investments of foundations. [25]

Strengthening civil society also means improving access to financing for the smallest organisations and the most disadvantaged sectors of society. With this in mind, the Commission should provide for a variety of financing arrangements and further simplify administrative formalities, providing training and guidelines on the implementation of contracts and financial obligations, while ensuring consistent interpretation by its departments of the Regulation on the financial rules.[26] 

3. Sustainability and Social Equality

A sustainable Europe of the Future

The new European Parliament should mandate a Commission President to be in charge of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, which should serve as the overarching framework for the EU’s development up to 2030. That President must work in tandem with Vice-Presidents for Climate Action and Natural Resources to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.[27]

The Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality priorities should be mainstreamed in the future MFF.[28]

The next budget must be in line with international commitments on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development, with a clearly defined, mandatory spending target of 50% for climate change and nature across all budget instruments, while excluding fossil fuels from all programmes. In addition, funding for the EU’s LIFE programme should be at least 1% of the total budget.[29]

In order to deliver on the environmental aspects of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that Europe lives within its ecological means, the EU must deliver an ambitious 8th Environmental Action Programme. Europe urgently needs new economic policies that create well-being for all, within the limits of the ecosystems that sustain life. It must prevent the costs of environmental pollution from being passed onto future generations.[30]

We request €7 bn. for non-violent conflict transformation and peacebuilding and €3 bn. for the promotion of human rights and democracy in the next EU financial framework (2021-2027).[31]

Equality and Human Rights

Public policies and legislative measures should ensure that, in line with European and international human rights law, all European citizens and residents enjoy the same level of protection and can exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms, allowing them to live according to their own convictions under the principles of self determination and human dignity, free from discrimination. The EU must improve its policies and actions to ensure gender equality, in addition to guaranteeing that all people facing multiple discrimination have equal opportunities in society.[32]

Effective and coordinated taxation measures should ensure that all companies pay their fair share of taxes and contribute to national and European public budgets for access to socio-economic rights and wellbeing. The EU must commit to effectively fight tax evasion worldwide and shut down European tax havens.[33]

Prioritise the wellbeing of people, future generations and the planet in all decisions and policies. Promote the comprehensive and integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement as a priority within the EU. Look beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and economic growth when measuring progress.[34]

A robust political strategy on Equality between women and men – covering the span of the European political mandate 2019 – 2024, and reflecting the EU’s obligation to ensure equality between women and me[35]

Adopt a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in all the institutions and Parliaments in Europe.[36]

Adopt a ‘care guarantee’ to address care needs throughout the life-cycle, as a valuable part of the functioning of society and invest in the care economy by directing investments in the EU budget in this area.[37]

Adopt European targets for care infrastructures for dependent, elderly and disabled persons[38]

Defend young people's social rights and access to social protection. Ensure that every young person has access to adequate housing, to quality standards of living, to state-provided welfare, and to health.[39]

EU action on Employment will take a life-course perspective to create inclusive labour markets that meet the needs of today’s European ageing workforces[40]

At EU level, the Intergroup on Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations is re-established after the elections for MEPs and citizens to be able to debate how to best tackle Europe’s demographic challenge.[41]

The creation of a European Parliament Intergroup on Volunteering is necessary to ensure an on-going commitment of the European Parliament towards the further development of a comprehensive EU agenda on volunteering. A cross-cutting issue as volunteering, needs an official and structured intergroup, in order to have the financial resources to facilitate the activities. The intergroup will be a crucial cross-party and cross-Committee framework for ensuring the good implementation of the European Solidarity & Voluntary Service (European  Solidarity Corps).[42]

A strong Social Europe

The European Social Model should provide full and fair protection to all citizens, while alleviating poverty and providing opportunities for everyone to thrive. Decent incomes should narrow the gap between the wealthy and disadvantaged and ensure quality living. Everyone should benefit from decent work standards, equality, improved wellbeing and decreased health disparities within and between countries and across generations. Social inclusion and protection, decent work, gender equality, public health and health care, access to affordable and quality housing, environmental justice, quality education and equal access to culture, must be the main principles driving national and European political agendas.[43]

Support measures that ensure a quality school-to-work transition. Invest strongly in the Youth Guarantee and in improving its effectiveness, so that it can offer a future for all young people, in particular the most vulnerable. Support rules on decent working conditions that apply to all forms of employment, including non-standards forms of employment, taking into account the changing nature of work[44]

We call on the EU political leaders to adopt a European Disability Strategy 2020-2030. The Strategy should become the driving force of a new Disability Rights Agenda 2020-2030. It should include 2021 as the next European Year of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the CRPD by the EU. Central to the strategy, should be the establishment of a structured dialogue with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations with an independent budget line. This will allow for meaningful consultation and participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, including women, girls and boys with disabilities, as enshrined in articles 4.3 and 33.3 of the CRPD.[45]

References

• European Civic Forum (ECF): #MEGA – Make Europe great for All. Manifesto
• European Women’s Lobby (EWL): 50:50 Women for Europe. A NEW KIND OF LEADERSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY European Women’s Lobby Manifesto for the 2019 European elections
• European Youth Forum (YFJ): #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS. Policy Paper
• European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN): The Future of Europe. Position Paper 2018
• AGE: The Europe we want is for all ages! Manifesto
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTION: HOW ANTI-EUROPEANS PLAN TO WRECK EUROPE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP IT. Scorecard
• European Volunteer Centre (CEV): Vote Volunteer Vision. Template
• Civil Society Europe (CSE): Civic Space in Europe. 2017 Report
• SDG Watch: Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe for its Citizens
• European Economic and Social Committee (EESC): Opinion on ‘Financing of civil society organisations by the EU’ 2017
• Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE): 4 Key Asks for a Single Market for Philanthropy, 2018
• Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst: Save the European Peace Project. Appeal
• European Disability Forum: On the European Elections 2019. Manifesto
• Green10: European Election Manifesto

[1]ECF: MAKE EUROPE GREAT FOR ALL Manifesto
[2]ECF: MAKE EUROPE GREAT FOR ALL Manifesto
[3]ECF: MAKE EUROPE GREAT FOR ALL Manifesto
[4]EYCA recommendations “It’s about us, it’s about Europe!”
[5]EWL: 50:50 Women for Europe
[6]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[7]ECF: MAKE EUROPE GREAT FOR ALL Manifesto
[8]Civil Society Europe
[9]SDG Watch: Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe
[10]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[11]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[12]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[13]Green10: European Election Manifesto
[14]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[15]DAFNE: EU Single Market or Philanthropy
[16]CSE: Civic Space in Europe
[17]CSE: Civic Space in Europe
[18]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[19]DAFNE: EU Single Market or Philanthropy
[20]DAFNE: EU Single Market or Philanthropy
[21]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[22]Green10: European Election Manifesto
[23]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[24]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[25]DAFNE: EU Single Market or Philanthropy
[26]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[27]Green10: European Election Manifesto
[28]EESC: Financing of civil society organisations by the EU
[29]Green10: European Election Manifesto
[30]Green10: European Election Manifesto
[31]Appeal: Save the European Peace Project
[32]SDG Watch: Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe
[33]SDG Watch: Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe
[34]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[35]EWL: 50:50 Women for Europe
[36]EWL: 50:50 Women for Europe
[37]EWL: 50:50 Women for Europe
[38]EWL: 50:50 Women for Europe
[39]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[40]AGE: The Europe we want is for all ages!
[41]AGE: The Europe we want is for all ages!
[42]CEV: Vote Volunteer Vision
[43]SDG Watch: Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe
[44]YFJ: #YOUTHUP THE 2019 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
[45]EDF: Manifesto on the European Elections 2019