Civil dialogue at the informal EPSCO: principle vs practice?
Social Platform is preparing to participate in the informal EPSCO meeting that will take place on 21-22 April in Riga, under the auspices of the Latvian EU Presidency. Our President and Director will attend to remind policy-makers of article 11 of the EU Treaty that recognises participatory democracy as a fundamental democratic principle and calls for the organisation of meaningful and structured dialogue with civil society. Such dialogue will strengthen the relationship between decision-makers and civil society organisations (CSO) and the people they represent.
We are grateful that the Latvian Presidency wants to associate us fully in the meeting and asked us to give a broader view of the role of civil dialogue in improving policy decisions and outcomes. However, we would have liked to have seen civil dialogue more explicitly present on the agenda; whereas ministers will have the opportunity to participate in four different sessions, their titles only refer to social dialogue. We fully support social dialogue and advocate for meaningful and structured involvement of civil society next to and complementing the involvement of social partners. We respect the different competences of social partners and CSOs, but want to ensure the creation of an appropriate space for both.
We are concerned that there is a widening gap between the principle of an engaged civil dialogue and what happens in practice. While involving civil society in policy-making has been recognised to support and reinforce the legitimacy, accountability and adequacy of policies, this involvement has been put under increasing pressure and reduced in recent years. Currently, the involvement of civil society in policy-making is disappointing; if CSOs are consulted, the processes are too often poorly designed and lacking quality engagement, and CSOs’ opinions are rarely taken up by those making the final decisions. What is also gravely worrying is how social NGOs are attacked in their capacity to support people. While public authorities are increasingly reliant on them to provide services to people who need them, their functioning has been put under heavy pressure by a lack of financial means.
To bring the practice closer to the principle again, we have formulated several recommendations for working towards meaningful and structured civil dialogue for both EU institutions and member states. This implies working together in full partnership – a cooperation that goes beyond mere consultation – in developing, implementing and evaluating policies at all levels and at all stages of the policy-making process.
I hope to see our President and Director coming back from Riga with the genuine support of and commitment to such a civil dialogue by the other participants in the informal EPSCO, including the European Commission, member states, the European Parliament and the social partners so we can all truly continue (or in some cases, start) working together to achieve inclusive growth and solve the democratic deficit in policy-making.
Read our full written contributions to the Informal EPSCO:
