Source: Concord Flash, nr. 56, November/December 2008The French presidency invited CONCORD and other civil society organisations (CSO) to a dialogue session with the Africa Working Group (COAFR) of the Council of the European Union in November, on the state of play of the implementation of the Strategy and the involvement of CSO. This meeting was a follow-up to a previous meeting with the French Presidency to discuss the modalities of involvement of CSO in the implementation of the Strategy. Concrete proposals worked out by CONCORD and other organisations were presented at that meeting.
In November, CSO presentations focused on the pending issue of the participation of the civil society in the Strategy process and in the Joint Experts Groups (JEGs) in particular. The JEGs have a particular responsibility in ensuring the implementation of the 8 Partnerships of the Strategy. They are made up of European and African Union (AU) Member States and institution
representatives.
The main outcomes of the meeting were that there would be better and more timely information available for CSOs on the participants in the JEGs and the CSO would also communicate to the institutions the focal points for each JEG.
For further information: Romain Philippe- ActionAid (romain.philippe@actionaid.org)
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