CONCORD

CONCORD is the European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development. It was founded in 2003, and is the main NGO interlocutor with the EU institutions on development policy. it had 28 national associations, 18 international networks and 2 associate member representing 1,800 NGOs, supported by millions of citizens across Europe. Its members are national NGO platforms and international NGO networks. Its secretariat is based in Brussels. The stated goal of the Confederation is to enhance the impact of European development NGOs by combining expertise and accountability. Since 2003, CONCORD has reviewed and protested the EU's policies and practices relation to overseas aid and its commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals, policy coherence for development and funding issues. EU Development Policy The EU and its member states are the world's biggest donors of official development assistance. A major area of work for EU development policy operates within the Cotonou agreement which establishes a relationship between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific states related to development policy. EU action in the field of development is based on the European Consensus on Development, signed on 20 December 2005, whereby EU Member States, the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission agreed to a common EU vision of development. EU partnerships and dialogue with developing countries promote respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, peace, democracy, good governance, and gender equality, the rule of law, solidarity and justice through global education. The European Community's contribution is focused on certain areas of intervention, responding to the needs of partner countries.