European Development days Project Lab : The Roots of Democracy and Sustainable Development - Europe’s Engagement with Civil Society in External Relations

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This session will present the new policy of the European Union towards civil society throughout the world. The policy is summed up in the new Communi­cation ‘The Roots of and Sustainable Development: Europe’s Engagement with Civil Society in External Relations’. The Communication, which was adopted in September, outlines an enhanced and more strategic approach to the EU’s engagement with local CSOs in developing, neighbourhood and enlargement countries, emphasising the role of CSOs in policy making and domestic accountability. Drawing on concrete experiences, the session will consider the opportunities and challenges for implementing the new policy.

Panellists

-Kristian Schmidt, Director, Human Development Department, Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation, EuropeAid, European Commission