The Portuguese NGDO platform organised a civil society forum on 15-17 November in Lisbon, within its Presidency Project. This event aimed at opening and broadening the dialogue between the European and African continents. The forum produced a political declaration to be presented at the Lisbon Summit of Heads of State and Governments on 8-9 December. It also formulated recommendations to policy makers as well as civil society organisations.
The political declaration acknowledges the new context of the Africa-Europe relationship and asks that the guiding principles agreed upon by all actors will be respected and implemented. This includes mutual accountability, based on honest political dialogue; trust, which can be reached by delivering on promises made; and striving for an equal balance of power. The declaration further requires that new resources be made available to deliver on the partnership, and challenges the officials to truly making it a people-centred partnership. In conclusion it declares that the civil society organisations present at the forum are willing to be a partner in the new relationship, on condition that the requests expressed are delivered upon.
Download the declaration – pdf
View report by the Portuguese NGDO platform (point 1 in the newsletter).
View a report by ECDPM – doc ; pdf
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