Overview
The European Commission has launched consultation with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders on the future policy of the EU with regard to support to CSOs in partner countries in the field of development cooperation. This policy will be announced later in 2012. Deadline for receiving replies is set for 07 May 2012.
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/how/public-consultations/6405_en.htm
The EU and human rights in Russia
The European Union and human rights in Russia
Russia and the EU agree that human rights are an essential element of their dialogue. This is reflected in the concept of the four Common Spaces and the Common Space for Freedom, Security and Justice in particular.
The EU believes that human rights form an important principle common to all democratic systems, regardless of regional, cultural and historic differences.
Since November 2004, the EU and Russia have held regular consultations on human rights every six months and the EU is involved in numerous human rights projects in Russia. These include sending observation missions to certain trials and the organisation of conferences and seminars.
The EU actively supports international human rights initiatives in Russia in partnership with the United Nations and the Council of Europe, whereby it monitors the observance of human rights and the conditions under which human rights organisations operate. Russian human rights organisations receive support from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights programme.
The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
In many countries around the world, non-governmental actors are working with dedication and bravery, often in difficult conditions, to help ensure the effective protection of human rights and the advancement of democracy. Direct work with such organisations is a priority for the European Union.
The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights was created by the European Parliament in 1994 to support both the activities of civil society working for human rights and democracy and the efforts of international organisations. It was renamed the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in December 2006.
Since its launch in Russia in 1997, the EIDHR has supported over 250 projects.
The European Commission, through the EIDHR, provides funding for projects, not for organisations.
For more information, please see: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/human-rights/index_en.htm
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The ‘added value’ of the EIDHR in Russia:
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EIDHR projects
What are EIDHR projects?EIDHR project funding in Russia is divided into two schemes: micro and macro projects:
1. EIDHR micro projects support small-scale activities and are designed to deepen support for local civil society activities and to reinforce their contribution to democracy. They are implemented by Russian non-governmental, non-profit-making organisations. The European Commission allocates between 30,000 EUR and 150,000 EUR to each project, depending on its size. However, the organisation must part-finance at least 20% of the project costs from its own funds or from another grant. Micro projects have duration of between 10 and 24 months.
2. EIDHR macro projects can be implemented by Russian non-governmental organisations, by European non-governmental organisations, or by higher educational institutions. These projects are larger in size, with a minimum budget of 150,000 EUR and a maximum budget of 1,000,000 EUR. Macro projects have duration of between 12 and 36 months
How EIDHR projects are selected?Projects are selected following regular calls for proposals by the Delegation of the European Commission to Russia, which are announced and advertised on the Delegation’s website.Each time a call for proposals is issued, priority topics and areas of work are indicated. Any non-governmental organisations that want to carry out a project in these areas are invited to apply. The Delegation selects the applicants based on objective and transparent criteria, which are also published on its website.
Macro projects are selected by the European Commission in Brussels and managed by the Delegation of the European Commission to Russia.For the past two years, the EIDHR has focused on the following global thematic campaigns:
- Promoting justice and rule of law
- Fostering a culture of human rights
- Promoting democratic processes
- Advancing equality, tolerance and peace
The European Union remains committed to the protection of human rights and the promotion of democratic values in its relations with other countries, and in December 2006, the European Union agreed to continue the EIDHR programme for at least another seven years. Funding between 2007 and 2013 will stand at approximately 130 million EUR per year.
The EIDHR has the following aims:
- To enhance respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms where they are most at risk and to provide support and solidarity to victims of repression and abuse;
- To strengthen the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reform, developing political participation and representation, and supporting conflict prevention;
- To support the international framework for the protection of human rights , the rule of law and the promotion of democracy;
- To build confidence in democratic electoral processes through the further development of electoral observation and assistance.