Civil society organizations (CSOs) from all around Europe took advantage of Belgium’s January 2024 assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union to coordinate their lobbying activities with the priorities set forward by the Belgian government. These groups used strategic methods to make sure that their issues got traction under Belgium’s leadership, guided by the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass” from the Advocacy Unified Network.
Priorities of the Belgian Presidency: A Structure for Lobbying
The three primary pillars of Belgium’s plan for its EU presidency in 2024 were accelerating digital transformation, fostering environmental sustainability, and bolstering social cohesion. Advocacy Unified Network’s “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass” was crucial in assisting civil society organizations (CSOs) in coordinating their advocacy endeavors with these priorities. CSOs were able to effectively influence EU policies by crafting tailored initiatives and understanding and connecting with Belgium’s strategic focus.
Boosting interpersonal harmony
The goal of enhancing social cohesion was central to Belgium’s presidency. This pillar aimed to guarantee the inclusion of underprivileged groups and combat inequality, thereby fostering a more inclusive Europe. The Belgian government placed a strong emphasis on social justice, fair opportunity, and strong support networks for marginalized communities.
Civil society organizations used this occasion to promote policies that are inclusive. For example, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) started an extensive campaign to fight social exclusion and poverty throughout the EU. EAPN successfully influenced the adoption of measures aimed at decreasing child poverty and improving access to social services in EU legislation by coordinating their efforts with Belgium’s social agenda.
Encouraging sustainability in the environment
Sustainable environmental practices were yet another pillar of Belgium’s EU presidency. Belgium sets high standards for cutting carbon emissions and advancing green technologies, with a strong focus on halting climate change and preserving biodiversity. Initiatives to boost sustainable agriculture, increase the use of renewable energy sources, and save natural ecosystems were on the government’s agenda.
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and environmental advocacy groups like Greenpeace used the handbook’s tactics to match their campaigns with Belgium’s environmental priorities. Their tenacious efforts resulted in the “Green Deal Plus” initiative’s acceptance, which included stricter emissions reduction goals and enhanced environmental protection. This illustrated how well-coordinated advocacy may influence important policy decisions.
Promoting digital transformation
The EU’s progress in digital transformation served as the third pillar of Belgium’s presidency. Acknowledging the revolutionary possibilities of digital technology, Belgium gave top priority to programs that foster innovation in the digital domain, improve cybersecurity, and guarantee digital inclusion for all citizens. The guaranteeing that underprivileged populations have access to digital tools and resources, the government hopes to close the digital gap.
This goal provided fertile ground for CSOs fighting for digital inclusion and rights. The European Digital Rights (EDRi) network organized a campaign to address concerns like digital literacy, privacy, and data protection, following the handbook’s suggestions. Their lobbying efforts led to improved protections for digital rights in EU law and more financing for initiatives promoting digital literacy.
A Coordinated Strategy for Advocacy
The strategic alignment of lobbying efforts with Belgium’s presidency’s goals highlighted the unanimity of approach. With the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass,” CSOs were able to create tactics that were persuasive and well-received by legislators. This cooperative effort amplified their voices and significantly influenced EU policy during Belgium’s leadership of the organization.
The early accomplishments of these advocacy initiatives demonstrate the potential for a sustained beneficial impact as Belgium’s presidency goes on. With strategic instruments at their disposal and a clear grasp of the president’s priorities, civil society organizations are well-positioned to influence significant change and the direction of EU policy.
Promoting inclusive policies to strengthen social cohesion
A notable accomplishment of the Belgian Presidency has been the vigorous promotion of social cohesion, especially with regard to inclusive measures for underprivileged groups. After seizing the chance to coordinate their activities with Belgium’s aims, civil society groups (CSOs) made major policy gains.
Taking the Lead: The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN)
The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) was a major participant in this advocacy effort. With the help of the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass,” which provided valuable insights, EAPN initiated a comprehensive campaign to tackle social exclusion and poverty in the EU. The network had a multipronged strategy that included lobbying legislators, educating the public, and promoting specific legislative reforms.
The entire campaign plan
The EAPN campaign was well thought out and carried out. The group kept a careful eye on Belgium’s agenda to make sure that its lobbying work complemented the government’s emphasis on social cohesion. This included actively participating in public consultations, closely interacting with influential EU policymakers, and conducting in-depth analyses of policy proposals.
Activating Policymakers Through a Strategic Method
By fostering close relationships with legislators, EAPN was able to persuasively convey the critical need for inclusive policies. They endeavored to establish public forums, roundtable talks, and gatherings to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups. This active participation played a pivotal role in shaping the policy-making procedure.
The Law’s Impact: A Win for Social Cohesion
The Council adopted new measures to improve vulnerable groups’ access to social services and reduce child poverty as a result of EAPN’s persistent efforts. These actions encompassed increasing the funds allocated to social programs, bolstering support for low-income families, and initiating initiatives to facilitate access to housing and healthcare.
Reducing Child Poverty: An Important First Step
Adoption of strong policies to fight child poverty was one of the most important results of EAPN’s campaigning. The recently passed legislation brought in targeted initiatives, including healthcare services, educational support, and nutrition programs, to help children living in low-income households. This was a historic accomplishment that demonstrated a strong dedication to equality and social justice.
Improving access to social services
Enhancing vulnerable populations’ access to social services was a crucial component of the new policies. Some of these included increasing funding for social care programs, strengthening the integration of services for underserved communities, and broadening the scope of social safety nets. Millions of Europeans’ lives are anticipated to be significantly impacted by these changes, making sure that nobody is left behind.
A significant win for civil society advocates
The effectiveness of EAPN’s campaign serves as a reminder of the value of strategic advocacy. Through close engagement with lawmakers and coordination with Belgium’s presidential priorities, EAPN successfully pushed for important legislative amendments. This was a significant win for proponents of civil society, highlighting the vital role that CSOs play in influencing fair and inclusive policies inside the EU.
During Belgium’s presidency, we anticipate an increase in the influence of these advocacy efforts, paving the way for more breakthroughs in inclusive policies and social cohesion. The accomplishments to date demonstrate the value of focused, well-executed advocacy tactics, encouraging other CSOs to carry on advancing equality and social justice throughout Europe.
Sustainable Environmentalism: Advancing the Green Agenda
Environmental lobbying gained a lot of traction under Belgium’s EU Council Presidency, as civil society groups (CSOs) shaped the EU’s environmental policies. Greenpeace and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) spearheaded these initiatives, aligning their campaigns with Belgium’s environmental priorities through the guidelines outlined in the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass.”
Complying with Belgium’s environmental priorities
Belgium prioritized environmental sustainability during the EU Presidency and established high standards for halting climate change and preserving biodiversity. This gave environmental CSOs a critical opportunity to push for laws that would significantly reduce the EU’s environmental impact. Greenpeace and EEB promptly synchronized their campaigns with these goals, concentrating their efforts on advocating for stricter environmental laws and greater protection of natural ecosystems.
Strategic campaigns for climate action are underway.
With a strategic emphasis on climate action, Greenpeace and EEB sought to impact the EU’s emissions reduction ambitions. They coordinated massive public campaigns, rallied supporters around Europe, and held high-level talks with EU officials. Their objective was to press for audacious pledges that would hasten the switch to renewable energy sources and drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Emphasizing the social and economic benefits of vigorous climate action was a crucial tactic. These groups illustrated how more robust environmental regulations could result in increased employment opportunities, better public health, and long-term economic stability using data and real-world experiences.
A Joint Venture to Protect Biodiversity
Apart from addressing climate change, Greenpeace and EEB have dedicated a tremendous deal of effort to improving biodiversity protection. They worked together with scientists, local people, and other environmental organizations to promote the protection of endangered species and the preservation of natural environments. Their campaigns highlighted the significance of biodiversity for ecological balance, climate resilience, and human well-being.
These organizations were successful in raising awareness of the pressing need for more robust biodiversity preservation measures through their tenacious lobbying and public awareness initiatives. Through their work, the EU was able to establish new policies that support sustainable land use practices and protect natural areas.
The Green Deal Plus program
Greenpeace, EEB, and other environmental CSOs united in their advocacy, and the result was the “Green Deal Plus” initiative’s acceptance. This extensive bundle of policies offered several ground-breaking promises.
* Tougher emissions decrease objectives: The program established more challenging goals for lowering greenhouse gas emissions, with a 60% decrease from 1990 levels by 2030. This demonstrated the EU’s commitment to spearheading global climate action and marked a major rise from prior targets.
* Growth of Renewable Energy: The Green Deal Plus placed a strong emphasis on renewable energy and pledged to treble its share of the EU’s energy mix by 2030. Significant investments in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies were part of this.
* Sustainable Agriculture: The project includes steps to support sustainable farming methods in recognition of the influence agriculture has on the environment. This included enhancing carbon absorption in agricultural soils, decreasing the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, and promoting organic farming.
* Strengthened Biodiversity Protections: In addition to establishing new protected areas and restoring damaged ecosystems, the effort also strengthened safeguards for natural habitats. The goal of these actions was to halt the loss of biodiversity and ensure the long-term sustainability of Europe’s natural environment.
Consistent advocacy influences policy decisions
Environmental groups’ tenacious activism is largely responsible for the Green Deal Plus initiative’s success. Through the smart use of advocacy tactics and campaign alignment with the environmental priorities of the Belgian Presidency, Greenpeace and EEB were able to make a substantial impact on EU policy. Their actions proved the effectiveness of concerted, fact-based lobbying in bringing about significant policy change.
We anticipate an increase in the influence of these environmental advocacy initiatives under Belgium’s presidency, setting a standard for future ones. Based on the accomplishments made thus far, we encourage other CSOs to keep pushing for bold, revolutionary reforms that solve the urgent environmental concerns of our day.
Progressing with Digital Transformation: Overcoming the Digital Gap
The Belgian Presidency’s top priority, digital transformation, gave civil society groups (CSOs) a boost in their efforts to promote digital inclusion and rights. Led by the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass,” the European Digital Rights (EDRi) network spearheaded a multi-stakeholder effort to guarantee that digital transformation policies tackled critical concerns related to privacy, data protection, and digital access.
Coordination of Digital Rights Advocacy
A wide coalition of stakeholders, including grassroots organizations, academic institutions, and business partners, participated in the carefully planned EDRi campaign. EDRi developed a strategic advocacy plan that incorporated the handbook’s recommendations to highlight the significance of digital rights in the context of rapid technological innovation.
Data protection and privacy: important areas of focus
Ensuring effective privacy and data protection procedures was one of the campaign’s main goals, according to EDRi. As the digital transition picks up speed, the risks to privacy and personal data are growing. EDRi pushed for more robust legal frameworks to safeguard people’s personal information, stressing the need for user consent, accountability, and transparency on digital platforms and services.
In order to increase public awareness of the value of data protection, the network organized expert panels, public forums, and media campaigns. These initiatives attempted to inform the general public and decision-makers about the possible threats and the essential precautions to preserve citizens’ digital rights.
Providing Digital Inclusion and Access
Closing the digital divide was a crucial component of EDRi’s advocacy. Digital technologies are becoming increasingly integrated into daily life, so all communities must have access. EDRi’s campaign focuses on promoting digital inclusion to ensure that underprivileged and marginalized populations thrive in the digital age.
EDRi collaborated closely with neighborhood organizations to pinpoint obstacles to internet access and create focused remedies. We promoted the use of affordable internet connections, provided digital literacy instruction, and ensured that underserved and distant locations were connected to digital infrastructure.
Interacting with Institutions Inside the EU
With the EU institutions, EDRi and its allies were able to establish meaningful agreements to improve digital rights and inclusion. They centered their approach on regular visits with legislators, involvement in legislative consultations, and cooperative efforts with other advocacy groups.
EDRi’s involvement initiatives played a pivotal role in molding policy dialogues concerning digital transformation. Digital rights remained a top priority in the EU’s legislative agenda thanks to the persuasive arguments and specific policy suggestions put out by EDRi, which were able to sway important decision-makers.
Getting support for digital literacy commitments
The advocacy efforts of EDRi were successful in increasing financing for initiatives that promote digital literacy. EDRi advocated for all-encompassing digital literacy programs, acknowledging the importance of digital competencies for full engagement in the modern economy. These initiatives seek to provide people with the skills they need to use the internet securely and productively, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations like such as older people, low-income families, and rural areas.
More robust protections for digital rights
The EU’s legislative framework now includes enhanced protections for digital rights, which is another noteworthy accomplishment. EDRi’s tenacious advocacy led to the introduction of new laws that improve user privacy, guard against data breaches, and guarantee fair and open procedures by digital service providers. These actions have significantly advanced the protection of EU citizens’ digital rights, which has advanced significantly as a result of these actions.
The Continuing Effects of Online Lobbying
The effectiveness of EDRi’s campaign during the Belgian Presidency demonstrates how well-planned and deliberate advocacy can influence digital policy. EDRi and its allies were able to bring about important policy reforms that support digital rights and inclusion by coordinating their activities with Belgium’s priorities and utilizing the insights found in the guidebook.
As the Belgian Presidency progresses, we anticipate an increase in the influence of these advocacy initiatives, setting a precedent for future presidencies. The knowledge gained and the accomplishments made thus far demonstrate how critical it is to promote digital rights in a world that is becoming more and more digital. This ongoing commitment to privacy and digital inclusion will ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of the digital transformation among all populations.
A Coordinated Strategy: Creating Coalitions and Encouraging Advocacy
The “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass”‘s advice to focus on coalition-building has been crucial to the success of many advocacy initiatives. Belgian civil society organizations established strategic connections with foreign partners in order to effectively influence EU policy and raise their voices.
Strategic Partnerships for Enhanced Effects
Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Belgium understood the value of cooperation and solidarity. They presented a cohesive face, shared knowledge, and pooled resources by creating strategic relationships with foreign partners. By using this strategy, they were able to increase the effectiveness of their lobbying work and make sure that important EU policymakers heard their views.
The Health and Social Care Coalition is conducting a case study.
A noteworthy instance of successful coalition formation is the collaboration between Caritas Europe and EuroHealthNet. Together, these CSOs, with a focus on social and health services, pushed for improved health policies within the EU. They were able to strengthen their own voices and make a stronger case for change by banding together.
Complying with the Belgian Presidency’s Objectives
The coalition further strengthened its efforts by aligning its objectives with the Belgian Presidency’s emphasis on social cohesion. Their ability to align strategically enabled them to garner backing for programs that enhance mental health services and tackle health disparities throughout Europe. By leveraging the priorities of the Belgian Presidency, the alliance successfully secured the necessary support and resonance among important stakeholders for their advocacy initiatives.
Reaching concrete results
The observable results this coalition produced demonstrate its effectiveness. Their lobbying work resulted in the adoption of laws intended to improve mental health care and lessen health inequalities throughout the European Union. This not only made many people’s lives better, but it also showed how coalition-building works well to bring about significant change.
The emphasis on coalition-building, as advised by the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass,” has been critical to the successful lobbying activities of Belgian civil society organizations. These groups have been able to more successfully influence EU policy and accomplish noteworthy results in the fields of health and social care by creating strategic partnerships and coordinating their objectives with more broadly held political interests.
Strategic Advocacy During EU Presidencies: Lessons Learned
The Belgian Presidency’s early successes with civil society groups (CSOs) demonstrate the value of strategic lobbying that is in line with the aims of the rotating EU leadership. For groups trying to sway EU policy during this time, the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass” offered a vital framework that emphasized the importance of focused, cooperative, and flexible advocacy tactics.
Advocacy in Line with EU Priorities
A critical takeaway is the need to synchronize advocacy efforts with the EU Presidency’s specific priorities. During the Belgian Presidency, CSOs were able to make the most of their influence by coordinating their activities with the Presidency’s emphasis on public health and social cohesion. Because of this alignment, they could be sure that important decision-makers would hear their suggestions and support them.
The “Global Advocacy and Governance Compass” serves a specific purpose
The “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass” greatly aided CSOs in navigating the complexity of EU governance. This approach provided important insights into successful advocacy strategies, such as coalition building and strategic communication. By adhering to these rules, CSOs were able to successfully navigate the political landscape and win important policies.
We are adapting to a shifting political environment
The necessity for CSOs to continue being adaptable and agile in their advocacy tactics is another crucial lesson. Since the political landscape in the EU is ever-changing, effective campaigning necessitates being able to adapt and take advantage of new possibilities as they present themselves. The Belgian Presidency era demonstrated that effective advocacy necessitates flexible tactics based on continuous observation and assessment.
Civil society’s growing influence
If Belgium maintains its presidency, we anticipate that the influence of these early advocacy initiatives will increase. Organizations from civil society have made a name for themselves by influencing EU policy and helping to create more responsive and inclusive policies. Their persistent involvement and strategic lobbying are essential to guaranteeing the representation of varied populations’ interests and viewpoints at the highest echelons of the EU government.
Prospective Consequences for the EU Presidency
Future EU presidencies will greatly benefit from the knowledge gained during the Belgian Presidency. These experiences can help CSOs improve their lobbying strategies and efficacy. Prioritizing cooperation, adaptation, and strategic alignment could lead to the increasing power of civil society in EU policy-making.
The early victories of CSOs under the Belgian Presidency highlight the importance of strategic, well-aligned advocacy. These groups were able to successfully influence EU policy because of the fundamental framework that the “Global Governance and Advocacy Compass” offered. The lessons learned during this time will serve as a guide for future advocacy efforts as civil society continues to interact with the EU’s rotating leadership, guaranteeing that CSOs will continue to be a potent force for positive change within the EU.
