Civil dialogue and social policy in an enlarged EU
General Secretary Doris Bingley represented NCW at a conference organised by the European Union in Budapest on June 23 and 24, through the Platform of European Social NGOs and the Hungarian authorities. Hungary was chosen, as it is one of the candidate...
General Secretary Doris Bingley represented NCW at a conference organised by the European Union in Budapest on June 23 and 24, through the Platform of European Social NGOs and the Hungarian authorities. Hungary was chosen, as it is one of the candidate countries with very strong credentials and commitment to civil society.
"Civil dialogue - the role of NGOs in building a social Europe" was the opening session's theme. Odile Quintin, director-general for Employment and Social Affairs, European Commission (who had meetings with government and constituted bodies in Malta only a few week ago) told the participants that DG Employment and Social Affairs has a long history of involving NGOs both in consultation processes and in implementing policies.
This conference was organised to provide an opportunity for the NGOs to extend their networks and contacts with each other, with specific time set aside for networking.
Workshops looked in detail at the main European policies in the social field. This was particularly important in the context of the opening up of the various programmes to new member states such as gender equality, anti-discrimination, social inclusion, as well as the equal community initiative and the main European Social Fund.
Ms Quintin hoped that the conference would contribute to the capacity building of NGOs in the accession countries, so that they would be able to play a full and active role in the civil dialogue process. The conference reinforces the Commission's commitment to ensure that participative NGO representation continues to be supported and strengthened, at national level, in all EU member states and accession countries.
The role of NGOs in Malta, in particular NCW, representing the female population in Malta, should be more actively involved in the consultation and decision-making process by government and the MCESD to ensure that no opportunities are lost.
A full report of the conference will be carried in our next issue of Il-Mara