Resolution of the conference on

The enlargement of the EU and the role of NGDOs
Vienna, 18–20 November 1998

In the first such conference since the start of the debate on the enlargement of the European Union, for the past three days some 150 representatives of non-government development organizations (NGDOs) from Eastern, Central and Western Europe, and the developing world have been meeting in Vienna — an event that marks the birth of a new dialogue on intercontinental cooperation.

In the past decade the end of the Cold War and European integration have shifted the focus of European geopolitical interests away from the South. The Austrian Presidency of the Council has set itself the objective of "rapid progress with the enlargement process" and has assigned a high priority to "further strengthening of the social dimension in Europe."

At a time of globalization and a widening gulf between rich and poor, strengthening of the social dimension should not be restricted to the continent of Europe, but should be viewed from a global perspective.

The European Parliament has already twice passed resolutions referring to the impact of enlargement on development aid. A resolution of 4 December 1997 calls on the Commission and Council to ensure that enlargement does not result in a reduction in resources for assistance to the "traditional" developing countries, and that resources permitting, the new member states are also involved in EU development assistance policies and assistance. A resolution of 18 December 1997 states that: "the development aid policy implemented by the European Union, in particular by means of the Lomé Convention, is one of the Union’s permanent features which must be perpetuated and which the countries applying for accession will be required to accept."

This demand was supported by the participants at the Vienna conference. A strong Europe cannot escape its duty to promote economic, social, democratic and sustainable development in Africa, Asia and Latin America — and to contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The reactions of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as some industrialized countries, to the catastrophic effects of hurricane Mitch in Central America have shown that the cancellation of the foreign debts of the poorest countries by Western and Eastern donors is possible. Do we have to wait for further disasters before other countries, too, are relieved of the burden of these debts in order that they may, at last, invest their export earnings in their own development?

In consultation with the Liaison Committee in Brussels, the national platforms of the non-government development organizations (NGDOs) of the current holder of the Presidency and those countries which will hold it next year (Austria, Finland and Germany) have expressed their support for the following priorities:

• Particular efforts to promote an East-West network for partnership and cooperation with the South;
• EU enlargement, the Lomé negotiations and the Union’s financial framework for the 2000–2006 period.

As development cooperation forms part of the EU Treaties which will also apply to the new member states, steps must be taken to ensure that the development aid budget is not reduced.

As European integration progresses, so the South is increasingly disappearing from the media and from public awareness. Public relations and educational campaigns are thus of vital importance, and the Commission should therefore take steps to put campaigns for promotion of "global learning" in place.

For the above reasons the delegates to the first West-East-South NGDO Conference appeal to the Council meeting to be held in Vienna on 11–12 December to ensure:

• That financial resources earmarked for development cooperation in the future EU financial framework are not traded off against those assigned to the candidates for accession;
• That the possible imposition of a ceiling on EU expenditure (proposed by the Austrian Minister of Finance, Rudolf Edlinger, on 17 November 1998) does not lead to cutbacks in spending on assistance either to membership candidates or to the South, as the brunt of budget consolidation measures should not be borne by the poorest;
• That funding is available for campaigns to promote public awareness of global interrelationships (development education campaigns), including activities undertaken in cooperation with NGOs in candidate countries (and not merely in current EU member states);
• That the EU supports activities of the civil society in the Middle and East European Countries and establishes addiditional programs to enable central and east european organisations to unfold their capacities, to run awareness work on development issues and to cooperate with organisations in the South.

The delegates to the first West-East-South NGDO Conference are aware that in future a common European path will not be possible without mutual understanding. In this spirit they appeal to the entire NGDO community in East and West:

• To intensify the exchanges of information, ideas and initiatives which have now been launched; and
• To step up efforts to create a functioning network of NGDOs in Eastern and Western Europe.

Only on the basis of common interests and a joint commitment will we make progress towards the goal of a world built on justice, equality, democracy and freedom.