European and International

NCVO's European and International Office co-ordinates NCVO's international work and campaigns at European Union level on generic issues of importance to the English voluntary and community sector.

ENNA Meeting, London 11-12 March

The European Network of National Associations is meeting in London on 11 & 12 March to take forward shared priorities. This is a key meeting of existing national voluntary sector bodies and potential emerging bodies from countries as diverse as Estonia to Portugal and Germany to Malta. There will be a full day of seminars at the European Commission Office on 12 March to discuss areas including: the role of national associations; advocacy skills; and the objectives of a European Charter for Civil Society.

Further information will follow to highlight ways our members can share knowledge and skills with partners across Europe through the Participation for Change project.

EU Funding Consultation

NCVO is calling all members to contribute to the open consultation on the EU budget.

The EU is currently carrying out a consultation and review of the Financial Regulation, aiming to simplify the financial rules and procedures applicable to the EU Budget. All citizens and organisations are welcome to contribute to this consultation. Contributions are particularly sought from beneficiaries of EU funds, NGOs and private entities & public authorities at local, regional, national and/or European level.

The results of NCVO’s members’ consultation will be shared with the other national umbrella bodies across Europe at the next meeting of the Network of National Associations in Warsaw on 27 & 28 November. The final deadline is 18 December.

For further information please contact Oli Henman, UK & International Campaigns Manager oliver.henman@ncvo-vol.org.uk

Access the full consultation here

NCVO and European Umbrella Organisations come together as the European Network of National Associations (ENNA)

Fifteen European voluntary sector umbrella organisations meet for the first time ever in Brussels to discuss a range of issues affecting voluntary organisations across the European Union.

Spearheaded by NCVO, ENNA represents civil society organisations from Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, N Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland and Slovenia are represented. They will be meeting MEPs and European Economic and Social Committee to take forward their joint manifesto.

Read Stuart Etherington's speech about ENNA (PDF 37.2 KB)

Launching the European Election manifesto 20 March 2009

NCVO and the European Network of National Associations are launching their joint EU manifesto Connecting Civil Society which has been written in partnership with major national umbrella groups in 14 countries and with recommendations from NCVO members. Find out more about Connecting Civil Society

News from the European Union and the world

Our EU policy positions and campaigns

EU Treaty opens door for more civil society participation

25 January 2008 - NCVO has highlighted the role of the EU Treaty in allowing for greater civil society participation with the European institutions. The Treaty is a first step towards recognising the role of civil society in the EU, setting out the opportunity for citizens' intiatives of 1 million signatures and opening the opportunity for the creation of a European level Compact.

Download the report (PDF 23KB) of our Eurogroup meeting with Minister Jim Murphy, with members key views on the Treaty.
The importance of this change was highlighted in parliamentary debate, the Foreign Secretary recognised the value of the views of voluntary sector leaders and our call for a Euro Compact was raised by Tom Levitt MP, see debate on the 21 January 2008 in the House of Commons.
Stuart Etherington's key response in The Guardian on 22 January

Campaigns

NCVO's European and International Office campaigns at European Union level on behalf of the English Voluntary and Community Sector.

Download (PDF, 125KB): NCVO's response to the EU's Consultation on the Transparency Inititative Green Paper
Download (PDF, 125KB): NCVO's response to the EU's Consultation on the Communication White Paper
NCVO's Campaign for a Compact Style Agreement at EU level

Get Involved

Our Eurogroup network

We also run the Eurogroup, a network of voluntary sector officers interested in EU issues. As well as regular events on EU themes, Eurogroup members get monthly newsletters with EU news and information.

International membership

We have specifically developed an International Membership package to enable organisations based outside of the UK to keep up to date with the work of the NCVO and to receive news and information about the English Voluntary Sector. Join NCVO, get the international membership.