e-zine nEUws, 67th edition

E-zine nEUws, 67th edition
24 May 2006

• Call for Proposals
• EU News
• Upcoming Events

Calls for Proposals

These budget lines normally can be used for organizations interested in SRHR.

Decentralised Demand Driven Actions component of the Rural Poverty Reduction Programme (RPRP) in Namibia

30 June 2006 – deadline DDDA's must have an expected impact in terms of rural poverty reduction and mainstream sound environmental, HIV/AIDS or gender related practices. The budget is € 15.000.000.
Please see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

Decentralized Co-operation
This Call supports actions creating an environment for the diversification and reinforcement of civil society and grassroots democracy in:
- Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan until 14 July 2006; – Angola until 17 July 2006;
- Guatemala until 18 July 2006.
Please see: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

EIDHR projects
These Calls for proposals aim at maximising the effectiveness, impact and visibility of actions undertaken in support of the protection and promotion of human rights and democratisation in:
- Egypt until 02 July 2006, Budget: € 800.000;
- Armenia to especially foster a culture of human rights until 17 July 2006,
Budget: € 590.000;
- Armenia to especially promote the democratic process until 17 July 2006,
Budget: € 975.000;
- Ukraine to especially promote the democratic process until 24 July 2006,
Budget: € 1.210.000.
See: http://ec.europa.eu/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

EU News

DCECI: Parliamentarians influence EU Aid Plans
19 May 2006
The European Parliament has adopted MEP Gay Mitchell's report reaffirming the EP's intent to retain its powers as co-legislator in the strategic priorities of EU geographical and thematic development cooperation assistance programmes within the 2007-2013 multi-annual financial framework; and removing economic cooperation from the development cooperation instrument. For more information: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/030-8236-138-05-20-903-20060512IPR08071-18-05-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm

EP agree on Financial Framework
17 May 2006
Although the European Parliament wants to set different priorities than the European Commission, the EP has approved the EU's overall spending for 2007-2013, formally ending more than a year of hard negotiations. See more here: http://euobserver.com/9/21629/?rk=1. Under the agreement, the EU's overall budget is €4 billion more than what EU leaders agreed in December. See where the extra money goes:  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/034-7022-093-04-14-905-20060404IPR07021-03-04-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm.

European Commission (EC) releases draft 2007 budget

The EC's preliminary draft budget for 2007 can now be found online: 
http://ec.europa.eu/budget/documents/annual_budgets_reports_accounts_en.htm#budget_2007

Launch of Health-EU Portal
11 May 2006
The EC has launched a new Health-EU Portal to assist the estimated one-third of the EU population searching for health information. Six thematic health areas address 47 health topics, including the SRH of young people, family planning, use of condoms and EU actions concerning SRH in developing countries. See: http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/new-eu-portal-health-launched/article-155178

European Parliament urged to focus on health in development
19 – 20 May
In light of the disconnect between ACP countries' policy commitments to health and recent policy decisions by the European Commission to reduce or eliminate funds for SRH and other health issues, DSW joined 11 colleague organizations in urging the EP to establish regular Development Committee debates on health needs in developing countries.  Copies of the letter can be made available upon request.

Upcoming Events

2006 UNGASS on HIV/AIDS
31 May – 02 June 2006
The United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in New York will focus on reviewing progress in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, considering recommendations on how the targets set in the Declaration may be reached and how to renew political commitment. See: http://www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2006/

DSW Kenya representative to speak on children affected by HIV/AIDS
26 May 2006
Emma Odegi, from the DSW Country Office in Kenya, will speak at the European Foundation Centre's Annual General Meeting in Brussels about the policy environment in developing countries and daily challenges faced by children and youth affected by HIV/AIDS. See http:// www.efc.be/aga/aga2006/sessionsummaries.htm#TI_SIG for details and contact Jane Hartman (Jane.Hartman@bvleerf.nl) to attend.