Zagranica publishes Memorandum for Polish Presidency

On 1st of July 2011, Poland took over the presidency of the EU Council, which means that it is going to give political direction to the EU, host most EU events, and play key role in all areas of the EU activity, including development cooperation. Zagranica Group, the association of Polish non-governmental development organizations, presents a memorandum with objectives in the area of development cooperation, on which the Polish government should focus in this strategic period. Poland may and should strengthen its activities, especially in the context of involvement in the Eastern Partnership countries, developing countries of the Global South, and in North Africa.

In the memorandum, Zagranica Group calls for the Polish government to advance and implement several objectives during the Presidency of the EU Council. These are to increase the level of development cooperation financing; to initiate international dialogue regarding democratization objectives; to implement the recommendations regarding aid effectiveness; to provide for transparency of actions and financing in Polish aid; to increase the participation of civil society in programming and implementing development cooperation; to strengthen and promote global education and awareness raising on development issues.

Zagranica Group says it is open for cooperation on searching for the best solutions for Polish and European development policy. Polish national media start to be interested in the topic of development cooperation, thanks to information spread by Zagranica Group. The time of the Polish Presidency will show, whether Polish CSOs are invited to debate on global issues, or not. Anyway, Polish NGDOs will watch carefully, how the Polish government acts as a host of the European Union’s events.

Read the full Memorandum to the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union here.

For more information contact: Monika Matus, Policy Officer of Zagranica Group, monika.matus@zagranica.org.pl; Magdalena Trojanek, Communication Officer, magdalena.trojanek@zagranica.org.pl

Information provided by Magdalena Trojanek, Zagranica