European Citizens Summit
What?
A two-day European Citizens’ Summit to meet and discuss major European issues in the run up to the European elections. The aim is to bring together Belgian and European civil society to forge links and strengthen synergies on cross-cutting issues.
Register HERE to participate
PROGRAMME (Full version: EN – FR)
The summit will begin with an opening plenary session at which leading figures from European and international civil society will address the major issues of ecological and social transformation and international solidarity for Europe. Their contributions will set the tone for the Forum, which will continue with workshops on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, focusing on 6 central themes :
- Global challenges and international solidarity
- Climate and planetary boundaries
- Transforming our economy
- Migration justice
- Peace and human security
- Democracy and civic space
as well as on other topics suggested by participants. A media action will be organised on Thursday 21 March in the late afternoon, aimed at EU Member States representatives present at the Council of the EU. Finally, the Summit will close with a plenary session at which the Brussels Declaration will be adopted by participants and handed over to the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (TBC).
CIDSE will be present in two workshops:
Thursday 21 March, 3.10 PM
“Civil society as a catalyst for European commitment in UN Treaty negotiations on business and human rights” (Language: EN)
Drawing from analyses of corporate abuses, we’ll delve into the critical role the EU must assume in human rights and business negotiations in Geneva. We’ll inquire into ways civil society can expand its influence and garner broader support for this European commitment.
Moderation: Susana Hernandez, Corporate Regulation Officer, CIDSE (hernandez(at)cidse.org)
Organised by the EU Treaty Alliance
Friday 22 March, 11:15 AM
“EU actions towards realising the right to food in partner countries: What international finance and governance are needed?” (Language: EN)
Despite a commitment to support sustainable agriculture and food security in its development operations, the EU has failed to fully translate these commitments into a coherent and comprehensive set of financing instruments and conclusive influence strategies over international governance mechanisms. In line with Concord’s Task Force on Food Security 2024 workplan, this workshop will be an opportunity for CSOs to share perspectives and strategies around the need for the EU to shift its development funding away from intensive industrial agriculture and act in international governance fora accordingly. It will build on the various work undertaken by the coalition, to build common understanding and strategies of influence, notably ahead of the new European political cycle. The event will take the form of a participative workshop whereby participants will have the chance to share perspective and experiences as well as to strengthen synergies and common strategies for future collective actions.
Co-organised by :ActionAid International, Action Against Hunger, Alliance 2015, Broederlijk Delen, CIDSE, Humundi, Terra Nuova
Speaker: Suzy Serneels, Broederlijk Delen
CIDSE contact: Manny Yap, Food and Land Officer (yap(at)cidse.org)