North-South Center

The North-South Center , officially the European Center for Global Interdependence and Solidarity , is a Partial Agreement – of the Council of Europe , the oldest political organization of European states.

History

It was the outcome of a process started in 1984, when the Portuguese Parliament hosted a conference held by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly on „North-South: Europe’s role“. The Lisbon Declaration, adopted at the end of the conference, the idea of ​​a North-South interdependence and solidarity. The campaign was launched in 1988 with the support of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. It ended with a European conference of parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations (Madrid, 1-3 June 1988), which launched the Madrid Appeal. The Madrid Appeal uprooted the foundations of a dialogue between North and South, a balanced and sustainable development. The Portuguese government then proposed setting up a European Center for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, a proposal supported by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in a recommendation adopted in January 1989. The North-South Center, was established in Lisbon in May 1990 with the purpose of the dialogue between North and South, fostering solidarity and raising awareness of global interdependence. The Center fulfills the dual political role of representing „the voice of the South“ within the Council of Europe and of promoting and transmitting the values ​​of democracy and human rights to the Council of Europe’s mission in neighbouring regions. The Center strives to promotegender empowerment , youth participation and democratic consolidation through intercultural dialogue in cooperation with civil society, local authorities, governments and parliaments.
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Key dates

– 29 May 2013: Adoption of the Report on the new mission of the Center in the framework of the Council of Europe neighborhood policy
– 5 May 2011: Adoption of a new Statutory Resolution for the NSC qui ENTERED into force is June 1, 2011
– 2010 : Accession of Azerbaijan and Cape Verde, the second non-European country to become a member; Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the North-South Center
– 2009: Accession of Morocco, first no European countries to become a member – the NSC has 21 member States and 1st African University on Youth and Development (Praia)
– 2007: 1st Africa- Europe Youth Summit
– 2001: Accession of Germany – NSC has 20 member states
– 2000: Launching of the
North-South Prize of the Council of Europe (Lisbon)
– 1994: 1st meeting of the Lisbon Forum „Human Rights in North-South Dialogue“ Launching of the „Transmed Program“ (Rome)
– 1993: Existence of the North-South Center by Resolution (93) 51 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (21 October) – the NSC has 15 member States
– 1990 : Set up of the North-South Center in Lisbon
– 1989: Adoption on 16 November 1989 of the Resolution (89) 14Adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the establishment of the North-South Center following a proposal by the government of Portugal, with 10 founding countries (16 November)
– 1988: European public campaign on North-South interdependence and solidarity organized by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the European Community. It ended with a European conference of parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations (Madrid, 1-3 June 1988), which issued the Madrid Appeal
– 1984: Conference organized in Lisbon held by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the theme, “ North-South: Europe’s role and adoption of the Lisbon Declaration (9-11 April)

On May 5, 2011, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a new law resolution for the North-South Center. This crucial step has been successfully launched in November 2009 by the Parliamentary Assembly, in connection with the 20th Anniversary of the Center. Through this decision, the Member States – and indeed all the stakeholders of the North-South Center – have confirmed their relevance and importance, at a time when the Arab countries – our neighbors – are facing historical changes. The main lines of the Center’s new statute, which entered into force on June 1, 2011, are the following:
– The Center has had its present legal nature, and continues to function as an enlarged partial agreement of the Council of Europe;
– an invitation is made to all members of the Council of Europe and to the European Union to join the Center as soon as possible;
– the Center acts as an interface between the Council of Europe and the neighboring countries, which is interested in cooperating with the Organization, by providing them with a platform for structured cooperation at different levels (governments, parliamentarians, local and regional authorities, civil society) ;
– the two former instructors of the North-South Center: the role of the North-South Center,
– the relationship with the European Union has been reinforced, through the introduction of the EU Committee of Regions and a new stakeholder of the North-South Center;
The priorities of the Center are confirmed (education, youth, intercultural dialogue), with an increased focus on the promotion of the Council of Europe and beyond the European continent.
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Mission

Building on the experience, knowledge and network of contacts established over the years, the Center is an important asset of the Council of Europe and its role has been refocused to contribute to the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Neighborhood Policy. The Center for Multilateral Cooperation in the United States and the United States. The focus of many of these activities is on strengthening the civil society, in particular with regard to youth and women.
The Center works in close cooperation with the European Union in the framework of a joint management agreement between the NSC and the European Commission to raise awareness of global interdependence and solidarity through global development and youth cooperation in Europe and beyond. A key objective of the activities carried out under this agreement is to strengthen the role of youth and facilitate the development of policies and structures for youth participation, particularly in Europe and Africa.

Structure

The European Center for Global Interdependence and Solidarity, more widely known in the North-South Center, was established in November, 1989 as an „Enlarged Partial Agreement“ so that other states not members of the Council of Europe can also join. There are currently 17 members of the Council of Europe.
Management of the North-South Center is overseen by an Executive Committee which is composed of members representing each of the components of the „quadrilogue.“
The „Quadrilogue“ is a unique North-South Center concept coined to explain a partnership that brings together representatives of governments, national parliaments,
This project builds synergies between different perspectives, viewpoints and priorities, generating constructive synergies and offering a platform for structured dialogue and exchange of experience and good practice.

The Executive Council

The Executive Committee is the decision-making body of the Center.
On May 5, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a new law for the North-South Center. One of the main lines of the Center’s new statute, which has entered into force on 1 June 2011, concerns its statutory bodies. In fact, the two form the legislature of the Center merged into a new „Executive Committee“.
The Executive Committee is the decision-making body of the Center. The different components of the quadrilogue are represented as follows:
• A
parliamentarian for each member state of the Center • Four parliamentarians, 2 each from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament
•
A representative of the European Commission
• A representative of the European Commission • A representative of the European Commission • A representative of the European Commission

The Executive Committee meets twice a year, in principle in Lisbon and in Strasbourg. The current president of the Executive Council is Jean-Marie Heydt .
Composition of the Executive Committee

The Bureau

To facilitate efficient management, the Executive Committee shall elect a Bureau from among its members, ensuring the representation of each of the four components of the quadrilogue.
The Bureau monitors the preparation and execution of programs and reports to the Executive Committee. It also prepares the meetings of the Executive Committee, with the assistance of the Center’s Secretariat.
The Bureau shall also carry out any other task entrusted to it by the Executive Committee. The office meets twice a year, in principle in Lisbon and in Strasbourg.
Composition of the Bureau

Member states

Programs

Youth Co-operation

The Objective of the Youth Co-operation Program of the Center for Youth Training and Capacity Building for Young People and Youth Organizations in the framework of quadrilogue initiatives. This work should be developed in co-operation with youth organizations, the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, the EU-CoE Youth Partnership and other relevant institutions working in the youth field.
The Youth Co-operation Program is composed by 3 main dimensions:
1. A Euro-Arab and Mediterranean Dimension
2. The Network of Universities on Youth and Global Citizenship
3. The Africa-Europe Youth Co-operation activities in the framework of the Joint Management Agreement (JMA), signed with the European Commission in November 2008 and renewed until 2015.
For more information, visit our official website

Women

The „Women“ Program aims to strengthen the role of women in the development of women and men in the Mediterranean region, and to enhance women’s empowerment at all levels of governance in the region. particular attention to Morocco and Tunisia.
The program is based on the following dimensions:
– Women’s participation in politics
– Prevention of violence against women and adoption of the CoE’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)
– Women and media
– Euro-Med Women Network
– Prevention of the trafficking
The activities of the Women Program are implemented in the framework of the North-South Process for the Empowerment of Women (NSPEW) and its Euro-Med Women Network (EMWN).
North-South Process for the Empowerment of Women:
The North-South Center acts as a Secretariat and monitors the Euro-Med Women Network launched in 2012. The Euro-Med Women Network online platform, supported by a website, which will facilitate the exchange of best practices, the identification of common challenges and the sharing of experiences will contribute to the identification of projects and partnerships.
For more information, visit our official website

Other Activities

As a partial agreement of the Council of Europe, the center shares the advantages of being an institutionally integral part of Europe’s oldest political organizations. The Council of Europe is often defined as the „custodian“ of Europe’s political culture of pluralism, democracy and respect of human rights. The center is under the administrative responsibility of the Directorate of Democracy. This tutelage reinforces the intercultural dialogue, education and youth dimensions in the center’s activities.

The center is a unique confidence-building instrument that enables its partners to analyze, discuss and compare their policies and experiences so that they can share best practices, reach consensus and influence political debate.

The North-South Center is based on dialogue, partnership and solidarity. Governments, parliaments, local and regional authorities and civil society organizations constitute the partners in the quadrilogue and are involved in the center’s activities. They are also represented in the center’s statutory bodies. This approach helps to bring the different players closer to one another, thereby creating constructive synergies.

The center carries out studies and organizes debates, workshops and training courses. It acts as a catalyst from different continents and countries, working on issues of common interest and encouraging the formation of networks. Its expertise is used and recognized by its partners.

Global education activities

Strategies and Capacity Building for Global Education
The North-South Center’s objective is to develop and maintain strategies and capacity-building for global education, targeting institutions and practitioners in the field of global education in formal and non-formal sector.

Strengthening of policies, partnerships and networking of key stakeholders in the field of global education
– Joint Management Agreement between the EC and the NSC
Objectives: elaborate on the perspectives of developing a European framework for global / development education, facilitate and provide space for dialogue and networking between international and European actors, in particular new member states, and to share experiences and identify common priorities.

Promotion of Global Education Practices
Objectives: promote and promote global education practices through shared learning of global education fundamentals; support for the successful implementation of global education programs, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders in the Council of Europe (Southern Countries and Partners); Member States of the Council of Europe.

Reinforcement of capacities
Objectives: offers guidance and training courses for practitioners to understand and practice global education.
– Joint Management Agreement between the EC and the NSC
Objectives: elaborate on the perspectives of developing a European framework for global / development education, facilitate and provide the space for dialogue and networking between international and European actors, in particular in the new EU member states , and to share experiences and identify common priorities.

Promotion of Global Education Practices
Objectives: promote and promote global education practices through shared learning of global education fundamentals; support for the successful implementation of global education programs, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders in the Council of Europe (Southern Countries and Partners); Member States of the Council of Europe.

Capacity building
Objectives: offers guidelines and training courses for practitioners to understand and practice global education.

For more information, see here.

Lisbon Forum

The Lisbon Forum is a distinctive platform bringing together high – level participants from Europe, good practice and expertise.

Themes of the Forum has been closely related to the core mission of the Council of Europe: to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
In light of the events of the ‚Arab Spring‘ and of the changes in the countries of the region, recent editions of the forum have sought to address key challenges faced by Arab societies and explored possibilities for renewed cooperation with Europe.
The Lisbon Forum 2014, Building on the conclusions of the previous editions, was devoted to ‚Electoral processes and democratic consolidation in the countries of the Southern Mediterranean‘.
It is open to all participants in the process of becoming involved in the field of education.

For more information about the Lisbon Forum edition.

North-South Prize

The North-South Prize has been awarded to North-South solidarity.
The candidates, preferably a man and a woman, must be distinguished in the following areas: protection of human rights, defense of pluralist democracy, public awareness raising on issues of global interdependence and solidarity, and strengthening the North-South partnership. ^[2]

Joint management agreement

Global / development education aims at raising awareness and strengthening citizens‘ capacity to take action, advocating for their rights and taking part in the political debate at local, national and international levels for social justice and sustainable development.
Sharing this vision, the North-South Center of the Council of Europe and the European Commission have agreed to combine their efforts – as key players European in this field – to promote global / development education and youth action in Europe and beyond.
For more information

See also

• Council of Europe
• Council of Europe Development Bank
• European Audiovisual Observatory
• European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care

References