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http://www.redcross-eu.net

PERCO General MeetingOslo, 26-27 April 2007

Presentation by

Rickard Olseke

Red Cross / EU Office


Advocacy – EU Red Cross “identity cards” – role of National Societies!

Future of the Common European Asylum System – forthcoming European Commission Green Paper – call for contributions!

RC / EU Campaign on diversity & non-discrimination – reminder!


Advocacy Advocacy is an action that aims to influence the policy of institutions/individuals in order to increase the acceptance and impact of RC action.

Lobbying is an action taken for advocacy purposes as it refers to communication with which people seek to persuade those in power. Communication, media relations and campaigning are all part of advocacy.

OBJECTIVES : To enhance the reputation of the EUNS and the Red Cross/Red Crescent within the EU institutions; To reduce the gap between what the RC/RC does and what is known about it; To influence the EU to enable the RC/RC to take action to meet the needs of vulnerable people both within and outside the EU. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS : Number of Red Cross positions that are taken into account in EU policy documents in areas of key priorities - Funding of RC/RC programmes and projects (success rate of applications) - Number of statements/common positions produced with the inputs of networks/reference centres - Advocacy strategies developed for key areas of EU specific topics. (advocacy calendar) - Coverage of RC issues/positions in EU media and EU institutions publications, including websites – Level of participation/attendance of events, meetings organised and attended to present global Federation policies and activities (World Disaster Report, Appeals, etc.) – Annual event of NS with their national MEPs to be organised either in the capital or in Brussels.

RC/EU Office EU National Societies RC/RC Networks Federation Secretariat ICRC Brussels

- Coordinate EU advocacy - Initiate, facilitate common

positions - Promote common positions

with EU institutions - Early alerts on EU

developments - Support EUNS in national

‘lobby’ work - Involve networks/centers - Represent the International

Federation to EU, NGO/UN - Coordinate with ICRC

Brussels - Promote common Movement

positions

- Support RC/EU Office in EU advocacy meetings

- Initiate/Contribute to

common positions - Promote common positions

at national level and within the NS

- Inform RC/EU Office on

national developments relevant to EU work

- Promote common Movement

positions - Keep contacts with Members

of European Parliament and Permanent Representations


- Contribute to common

positions



positions - Promote common positions

with EC delegations / missions

- Promote common

Movement positions

- Develops with RC/EU Office EU advocacy strategy


positions when appropriate - Promote common

Movement positions


“The Red Cross underline the necessity to create a truly common European asylum system with a common procedure and a uniform asylum and subsidiary protection status. This would mean a true harmonisation of the asylum policies of the member states and possibly the creation of an EU institution with the mandate to follow and influence the policies of the member states.”

A Common European Asylum System (CEAS)


Asking specific questions, but also welcomes “free thinking” about the future of the CEAS

To be adopted 6 June, deadline for replies 30 August, public hearing 18 October

Resulting in a CEAS “Policy Plan”, to be adopted February-March 2008

Proposals for “second phase” legislative instruments during 2008…

European Commission Green Paper


Legislative instruments – How can the “first phase” instruments be improved? Where are the gaps?

Implementation/practical cooperation – Do we need common guidelines? A “European Support Office”?

Solidarity/responsibility sharing – Financial support mechanism? Improving/complementing the Dublin system?

External dimension – How to strengthen protection in third countries? Encourage and facilitate resettlement?

European Commission Green Paper


Start thinking now! – What do we mean by a “common procedure”? A “uniform asylum and subsidiary protection status”? What is “true harmonisation of asylum policies”?

Read the Green Paper in June! Provide your input to the RC/EU Office no later

than Monday 2 July! Adoption latest end of August and submission to

the European Commission…

EU Red Cross Common Position


In 2005 the RC/EU Office Coordination Group decided to strengthen the work of EUNS in the field of diversity & non-discrimination

This was welcomed by the EUNS Directors of National Operations meeting in September 2005 and confirmed by the 2005 Annual Meeting – a preparatory group of EUNS representatives was created

The preparatory group developed a framework in early 2006, followed by the appointment of Frederike de Graaf as a staff-on-loan at the RC/EU Office in October last year

RC/EU Campaign on diversity & non-discrimination


In January 2007 a concept note was developed for a joint RC/EU campaign with the aim of providing EUNS with a “menu” of activities based on good practices

The concept note was sent to EUNS on 20 March with a request to identify a contact person – at the moment eight contact persons have been identified

It would be great if you could assist us in raising this number!




Please contact:

Frederike de Graaf

Desk Officer Non-discrimination & promotion of Humanitarian Values

[email protected]

Tel.: +32 (0)2 235 09 13


Thank you!

http:// perco general meeting oslo, 26-27 april 2007 presentation by rickard olseke red cross / eu...

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