The Civil EU Presidency has started!
Civil society organisations have launched a week-long series of events to address issues that were left out of the official programme of the Hungarian EU Presidency. Their priorities are democracy, solidarity, and green transition.
Each event will focus on an important social issue, and during the semester they will also discuss the state of our forests, the resilience of our waters, a just green transition, the national and EU battery strategies, Roma inclusion, women's participation in public life and civic space in Hungary and the EU.
The series of events is jointly organised by the Great Lakes and Wetlands Association and the Civilisation Coalition, in parallel with, but independently of, the Hungarian EU Presidency.
Words of Zoltán Kun, President of the Great Lakes and Wetlands Association:
"The Civil EU Presidency aims to amplify the voice of civil society. The EU Presidency is an opportunity for Hungary, which we should take advantage of, and by presenting their professional views and scientific results, civil society organisations want to ensure that well thought-out, well-developed strategies are developed at both national and EU level".
Several events will be organised on environmental issues:
Zoltán Kun pointed out that Hungary is no longer a water superpower, and the state of our waters is deteriorating across the EU, to reverse the trends, we need to develop strategies and change our approach, realise good practices and take scientific results into account. Turning to the state of our forests, he said that only 14% of the EU's protected forests are in good condition, that we need to improve the natural state of our forests, that we need new legislation and that we need to stop exploiting our forests.
Andrea Szaszkó Töplerné from the Göd-Ért and Akárteis Association spoke about the downsides of battery production, from economic viability, air, soil, water and noise pollution, waste management to social impacts, and the many problems caused by the domestic and EU battery production strategy.
Jutka Bari, representative of the Green Legal Platform, pointed out that the solutions to the climate crisis often exacerbate social inequalities, and underprivileged people are the most affected by the rising food and energy prices, rising housing costs and more expensive public services. The European Green Deal must address these challenges, too, to ensure a just green transition.
In addition to environmental issues, events on women's rights, inclusion of Roma and civic space will also take place during the Civil EU Presidency:
Edina Hanjal, representing the MENŐK Association, spoke about the fact that in Hungary the proportion of women MEPs has been around 10% for decades, while Hungary is one of the few countries - together with Yemen and Saudi Arabia - where there are no women in the government. Therefore the task is to promote women's participation in public life and to strengthen their communities. Women need to be able to engage in politics prepared and informed and ensure democratic representation of women, taking into account their true interests.
András Nun, director of the Autonomy Foundation, representing the EGALIPE Network for Roma Equality, said that all EU countries should update their Roma strategy by 2026. This work must start this year, so they are organising a joint event with Romanian, Czech and Bulgarian Roma networks and respective ministries to identify good practices and make proposals to strengthen dialogue between Roma organisations and governments.
Veronika Móra, Director of the Ökotárs Foundation, stressed the importance of strengthening civil society. She said that although many important EU initiatives have been launched in recent years, they cannot counterbalance the increasingly widespread anti-civil society measures in some member states. There is a need for joint civil society action to ensure stronger protection for civil society actors across the EU through legislation at EU level.
The diversity of issues is linked by the fact that none of them can be solved in isolation, the weakening of European democracies, the breakdown of social cohesion and the environmental crisis need to be tackled together, with complex solutions and interlocking strategies. The representatives of civil society organisations underlined:
"A society cannot function well if the environment around it is unlivable. And the environment can only be protected in a democratic, solidarity-based and sustainable society."
The events will take place between early September and mid-December in Budapest, with international experts, civil society professionals and EU officials, and are open to professionals and representatives of civil society organisations active in the field. Each event will also produce a package of recommendations to EU leaders and national governments on the issue.
For further questions, please contact:
Bálint Farkas, Communications Coordinator
Civilisation Coalition
civilizacio.kommunikacio@gmail.com
Tibor Horányi
Vice President
Great Lakes Association
nagytavak@gmail.com
