Trade unions respond to the EU consultations on the role of CSOs in development

The current consultation process run by the European Commission in preparation of a Communication on the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Development was one of the main topics of the TUDCN Working Group on EU Policy and Instruments meeting that took place in Brussels on April 16th and 17th. The Working Group analysed also the EESC Explanatory Opinion on the Civil society involvement in the EU’s development policies and in development cooperation and prepared for the first meeting of the new EU Policy Forum on Development, which took place last week in Brussels. The Policy Forum is a follow up of the EU Structured Dialogue For an efficient partnership in development.

In respect to the CSOs’ role in development, trade unions stressed the importance of the ILO Conventions, especially Convention 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and the closely linked Convention 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, as crucial prerequisites for a healthy civil society and an enabling environment. ITUC referred also to the principles recommended by the Multi-Stakeholder Task Team on CSO Development Effectiveness, incl. freedom of expression, association and right to assembly; legal status recognition of CSOs; the right to operate free from unwarranted state interference; the right to communicate and cooperate; the right to seek and secure funding.

When it comes to the CSOs’ own accountability and commitment to increase effectiveness, ITUC referred to the Principles and Guidelines on Trade Union Development Effectiveness (and the accompanying TUDEP tool), that came out of the wider process of the CSO Open Forum that led to the elaboration of the Istanbul Principles on CSO Development Effectiveness. Trade unions committed also to engaging with the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, which came out of the Busan High Level Forum.

Apart from elaborating on the wider role of CSO in development, ITUC pointed out the specificity of trade union as development actors. It stressed that the existence and functioning of social dialogue structures/mechanisms is an indicator of an enabling environment, as social dialogue contributes to and strengthens democracy, as it improves participation of various key groups in society in decision-making on basic elements of economic and social development.
In the consultations form trade unions provided a number of detailed proposals and recommendations on how to practically and effectively support CSOs both in the South and in the North for a more effective development work.

Read the full submission:
ITUC contribution to the EC consultations on CSOs in Development