Oxfam International’s European Union office in Brussels works to influence decision-makers in the EU institutions and member states to ensure that European policies affecting developing and crisis-hit countries have a positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of those in need.
For decades, the European Union has been a major political force globally that has promoted peace, democracy and shared prosperity in its foreign policy. However, recent years have seen the EU turn inwards, implementing policies that respond to short-term political agendas within Europe rather than supporting human rights and sustainable development to the benefit of all people.
As countries around the world struggle to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, Europe can lead in the fight to contain the pandemic with visionary political leadership, and to use the recovery as an opportunity to make the world a better place. Oxfam believes that the EU can develop policy based on its founding values of human dignity and equality of opportunity, which work for both its members and its global partners.European politicians must act now to meet the commitments of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Grand Bargain on Humanitarian Action.
Concretely, Oxfam is asking the European Parliament, the governments of EU member states and the European Commission to address four key priorities in the years 2019 to 2024:
The EU must fight the rising inequality between rich and poor, between women and men, which now threatens the progress made on poverty eradication in Europe and beyond.
The EU must commit to becoming a zero-carbon economy by 2050 and increase its funding for international action to fight the climate emergency which is the greatest threat to our planet and people.
The EU and its member states must uphold the rights of people seeking asylum in Europe, and work with partner countries to ensure all women, men and children who are displaced have access to the protection they need and are kept safe from exploitation.
EU countries must abandon plans to include migration cooperation as a condition for trade benefits with third countries. Read our joint letter signed by 20 NGOs.
The primary purposes of EU aid must be poverty eradication and a principled humanitarian response. Rights-based, sustainable development should be the overarching priority for the EU’s external action agenda.
The European Union has a crucial opportunity to lead the way with ambitious political action to overcome the virus and an economic recovery in Europe and beyond that is green, fair and builds global resilience to future crises.
June
1 June – Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Rules – Media Brief and Reaction: The European Parliament will vote on new rules to make business accountable. Oxfam has published a media brief ahead of the vote and will publish a media reaction afterward. Oxfam EU economic justice expert, Marc-Olivier Herman, is available for comment.
5 June – Climate Crisis – Press Release: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will host the Bonn Climate Change Conference from 5 to 15 June. Oxfam will publish a report and press release on climate finance.
7 June – EU’s agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean – Comment: The European Commission will publish the updated EU agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Oxfam EU-LAC expert, Hernan Saenz, is available for comment.
8 to 9 June – EU Migration – Comment: EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers will try to reach an agreement on two key migration files on EU asylum rules. Oxfam EU migration expert, Stephanie Pope, is available for comment.
9 June – Spanish and Belgian EU Presidency – Event: Oxfam will host an event to discuss the priorities of the Spanish and Belgian presidencies with EU representatives. Please reach out if you wish to attend. Oxfam experts are available for comment.
14 to 15 June – Brussels-Syria pledging conference – Media Reaction: The EU will host a high-level pledging conference for Syria and neighbouring countries. Oxfam will publish a media reaction and Oxfam experts are available for comment.
15 June – Windfall Taxes – Press Release: Oxfam will publish a press release on global windfall taxes. Please reach out for an embargoed copy.
22 to 23 June – Summit on a New Financing Pact – Media Reaction: France will host an international summit for a new financial pact between rich and poor countries. They will address issues like the climate crisis, the debt crisis and international taxation. Oxfam will publish a media reaction and Oxfam experts are available for comment.
28 June – European Commission Proposal on EU withholding tax – Comment: The European Commission will present its proposal to introduce a common EU-wide system for withholding tax on dividend and interest payments within the EU. Oxfam EU tax expert, Chiara Putaturo, is available for comment.
30 June – AU-EU Agriculture Ministers Conference – Comment: The EU and AU Agriculture ministers will meet in Rome to discuss resilient food systems and sustainable agriculture. Oxfam EU food security expert, Hanna Saarinen, is available for comment.
Read the full monthly media advisory for June and July here.
Contact information
Oxfam International Advocacy, Brussels
Mundo Madou - Avenue des Arts 7 - 8, 1210 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 329 01 50
For general enquiries: eu@oxfam.org
For media enquiries: eumedia@oxfam.org
Twitter: @OxfamEU
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oxfam-international-eu-advocacy/