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ACT Alliance Advocacy to the European Union

ACT Alliance EU

ACT Alliance EU is a network advocating for sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and CIDSE - International Alliance of Catholic social justice organisations

4 Dec 2025 · • Israel • Occupied Palestinian Territory • Trade • Settlements

Meeting with Barry Andrews (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

4 Dec 2025 · DEVE

Meeting with Christine O'Dwyer (Cabinet of High Representative/ Vice-President Kaja Kallas) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and CIDSE - International Alliance of Catholic social justice organisations

3 Dec 2025 · Presentation of ideas for the EU to consider when discussing the possibility to ban trade with settlements

Meeting with Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib) and CIDSE - International Alliance of Catholic social justice organisations and B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories

13 Jun 2025 · • Situation in West Bank/Gaza • Humanitarian diplomacy

Meeting with Leoluca Orlando (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Jun 2025 · Humanitarian corridors

Meeting with Tena Misetic (Cabinet of Commissioner Dubravka Šuica)

11 Jun 2025 · Situation in occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel Main points

Meeting with Hildegard Bentele (Member of the European Parliament, Delegation chair) and Caritas Europa

7 Apr 2025 · Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

Meeting with Kathleen Van Brempt (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Feb 2025 · European Democracy Shield

Meeting with Matjaž Nemec (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Nov 2024 · ICJ advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories

Meeting with Mounir Satouri (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

19 Nov 2024 · Droits humains

Meeting with Dubravka Šuica (Vice-President) and Norwegian Refugee Council Europe and

24 Oct 2024 · Support for civil society and building positive and productive partnerships inside and outside the EU.

Meeting with Catarina Vieira (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Sept 2024 · Human rights situation in Brazil

Meeting with Caroline Roose (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Mar 2024 · Groupe de travail développement - Accords de Samoa

Meeting with Rasa Juknevičienė (Member of the European Parliament) and CIDSE - International Alliance of Catholic social justice organisations

20 Feb 2024 · Israel-Palestine conflict

Meeting with Matjaž Nemec (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Feb 2024 · Situation in Gaza and the situation for civil society in Israel

Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Jan 2024 · Meeting about Gaza

Meeting with Salima Yenbou (Member of the European Parliament)

30 May 2023 · Situation of youth in Israel and Palestine

Meeting with Karen Melchior (Member of the European Parliament)

30 May 2023 · Meeting with Delegation from East Jerusalem

Meeting with Barry Andrews (Member of the European Parliament)

3 May 2023 · NDICI / Global Europe

Meeting with Eleonora Ocello (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

21 Feb 2023 · Introductory meeting, copyright and media policy

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli), Silvan Agius (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

18 Jan 2023 · * Religion - gender nexus and engagement with faith-based actors * Intersectional approach to the EU GAP III

Meeting with Pablo Arias Echeverría (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

12 Dec 2022 · Transparency and targeting of political advertising

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

1 Dec 2022 · Speech at the 2nd GAP III Structured Dialogue with CSOs

Meeting with Irena Joveva (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Nov 2022 · Humanitarian situation in Gaza

Response to Revision of the plant and forest reproductive material legislation

8 Jul 2021

ACT Alliance EU supports agroecology, the right to food and farmers’ rights, summarised in UNDROP. The diversity of seed systems and markets offers locally adapted quality seeds and plant genetic diversity. The right and opportunities for farmers to save, use, exchange and sell their seeds are paramount to resilient agricultural systems and farmers sovereign choice. Experiences show that farming communities using agroecology approaches and open pollinated seeds are more resilient and better equipped to cope with the Covid-19 crisis; and farm-based seed systems better respond to emergency situations inflicted by climate change. Option 2 highlighted by the European Commission would therefore be the adequate way forward towards more recognition, participation, and a solid foundation for seed markets for agroecology. The EU must be accountable on the impact of its policies on 3rd countries (Art. 208, TFEU). From a PCD perspective, any existing (and future) flexibilities that benefit local seed systems should be made available to 3rd countries. Recommendation: Prioritise Option 2, and explore the following policy proposals: 1-Transpose UNDROP into EU seed legislation: UNDROP calls upon all states to respect, protect and fulfil the peasants’ right to seeds. Seed regulation (on marketing and IPR) tend to facilitate commercial seed trade that risks undermining farmers’ rights everywhere. But markets and other distribution systems that offer locally adapted, genetically diverse quality seeds, and the opportunity to save, use, exchange and sell farmers seeds are paramount to farmers’ sovereign choice and the resilience of agricultural food systems. 2-Create a specific stand-alone legal basis for peasant farm-based seed system: Develop a legal framework in support of peasant rights as defined in Art.19/UNDROP; incl. measures to support peasant seeds systems to promote agrobiodiversity,seed market or other seed distribution systems from which peasants can access ‘locally available seeds of their choice’, and ensure they have ‘enough seeds of sufficient quality and quantity’. 3-Amend EU seed marketing rules: Amend EU rules that rely on stringent protocols ensuring the DUS that considerably restrict the HR to seeds to enable peasants’ seed systems and biodiversity: Ease the restrictive interpretation of ‘commercial exploitation of seeds’ so that activities that occur within local seed systems are outside of the seed laws’ scope. Ensure flexible approaches to derogatory regimes that allow the entry of diverse, affordable and adapted seeds developed by private entities and farmer-breeders into the formal seed market. Allow traditional, local and peasant seed varieties to enter formal markets. Refrain from any formal seed market rules that endanger the highly dynamic informal, local farm-based seed systems. Enhance Developing Countries’ policy space needed to design laws in support of their traditional varieties and seed systems. Exempt them from any constraints stipulated under IPR provisions in EU trade deals or under UPOV 91. In line with the EU Organic Regulation, peasant seed systems should be entitled to describe their uncertified seeds and market them as an ambition to contribute to agrobiodiversity; amending DUS protocols to the needs of more diverse plant varieties. Gene editing poses a threat to farm-based seed systems, which remain viable only if genome editing stays strictly regulated and any kind of gene manipulation is made transparent. The threat of contamination and loss of farm-based seed systems’ core asset, i.e. farmers’ authority over seed breeding with nature, in situ and within a biodiverse ecosystem is at risk and must be prevented. Create new testing facilities in the EU and abroad, ensuring gene edited seeds do not end up un-notified on markets in Dev Countries. Support seed testing capacities and control mechanism to ensure seed quality and location specific requirements are fit for specific context.
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Meeting with Diana Montero Melis (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen), Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and

23 Sept 2020 · Making the European Green Deal work for International Partnerships

Meeting with Anthony Agotha (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Damyana Stoynova (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Helena Braun (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and

9 Sept 2020 · The Green Deal implemetation with view to external relations

Meeting with Barry Andrews (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Jun 2020 · Migration

Meeting with Diana Montero Melis (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen), Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and

10 Jun 2020 · European Green Deal, COVID-19 and development cooperation

Meeting with Diana Montero Melis (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and ActionAid

8 Apr 2020 · nutrition in partner countries

Meeting with Diana Montero Melis (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and WWF European Policy Programme and

26 Mar 2020 · international dimension of the European Green Deal

Response to Farm to Fork Strategy

13 Mar 2020

Voluntary Sustainability Standards at a Crossroad. The Farm to Food Road Map does not refer to the Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) on food, whether mandatory or not. However, VSS have become a major governing framework for (global) food value chains. While clear definitions of both food safety and food security exist, the missing link is a definition or EU framework on ‘Sustainable Food’ that could encompass the Right to Food, and environmental sustainability, nutritional intake and climate-resilience and food safety laws. A regulatory or policy framework for ‘Sustainable Food’ could support food safety and food security elements taking due account of the EU actions as a global standard setter and the impact of EU policies on developing countries (Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development). The ACT Alliance EU suggestion is for the EU to engage in developing a general framework on Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems. The proposal is to reflect on a co-regulatory function of the EU on the Voluntary Sustainability Standards for food that addresses the international dimension and all stakeholders and actors in the food chain and its functioning within a sustainable and resilient food systems; ensuring that small-scale food producers in developing countries are benefitting from the increasing EU demand for sustainable food. The attached submission elaborates on this proposal, and provides a summary of key findings on the pros and cons of VSS and a list of key points for further discussion. As part of a wider EU Food Policy Coalition (Open Letter on the Farm to Fork strategy to achieve sustainable food systems dd 13/12/ 2019), ACT Alliance EU supports the call for systemic changes that are needed in our food systems. For the Farm to Fork Strategy to deliver, it needs to contain concrete commitments to drive a fundamental transition to sustainable and resilient food systems and adopt clear and ambitious targets. The agroecology vision should be reflected in all these targets: • Set at least 50% of land being managed under agroecology and organic agriculture by 2050, with ambitious targets by 2030, • Reduce agro-chemicals use and dependency, by phasing out synthetic pesticides use by 80% by 2030, • Drive a transition to sustainable and healthy, more plant-rich diets with fewer and better animal products, by halving global meat consumption by 2050, • Drastically reduce loss and waste of food at all stages of the food system, • Reverse biodiversity loss due to intensive agricultural practices at the latest by 2030, by supporting a transition towards agroecological practices, • Set a legally binding target for land degradation neutrality by 2030, • Increase the production and consumption of organic food; an emphasis should be on taking effective measures to promote and ease the consumption of organic food.
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Meeting with Catherine Geslain-Laneelle (Cabinet of Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski), Simona Pinzariu (Cabinet of Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski)

11 Mar 2020 · To present joint recommendations on agriculture and food systems which have been developed by international, European and African civil society and farmer organisations.

Response to Minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market

4 Mar 2020

Please note that ACT Alliance Advocacy to the EU (ACTAlliance EU) is preparing a submission for the public consultation on the Farm to Fork strategy with a focus on the external dimension of Food Sustainability issues and policy coherence for sustainable development; looking at pros and cons of Voluntary Sustainability Standards. We kindly suggest that our forthcoming submission will be taken into account to the extent that it includes recommendations relevant to forest risk commodities. Specific to this consultation, we would like to flag the report by CLARA-Climate Land Ambition and Rights Alliance (2018) Missing Pathways to 1.5C. The role of the land sector in ambitious climate action. Climate ambition that safeguards land rights, biodiversity and food sovereignty. This report examines three overlapping crises: climate change, biodiversity loss and the growing land and other rights abuses against Indigenous Peoples and local communities. ACT Alliance EU supports the recommendations of this report and considers them relevant to minimising the risk of deforestration and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market. See https://www.climatelandambitionrightsalliance.org/ See https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b22a4b170e802e32273e68c/t/5bc3cbf28165f51c6af2c7de/1539558397146/MissingPathwaysCLARAexecsumm_2018.pdf
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Meeting with Rafael Tristan Daerr (Cabinet of High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles)

21 Feb 2020 · the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the EU’s role in this regard

Response to Evaluation of the EU's external action support in the area of gender equality and women empowerment

19 Sept 2019

The European Union & many of its allies have agreed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement’s recognition of gender equality & women’s empowerment ensures that gender differences & inequalities are both identified & addressed in a manner that allows for accountability (Articles 7.5 & 11.2). In achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement countries will not only address climate change but help to create structural societal reforms that enable gender equality. Any solutions & approaches to tackling climate change (including when engaging in decision or policy-making processes, support contribution (financial, capacity building, political, through other means) or carrying-out activities to address climate change) must use a gender-responsive approach, in order to uphold gender equality & human rights. As such, it would be pertinent for DG Climate Action to be included in the list of key Directorate Generals to consult. Particularly with regard to determining how well gender equality & response approaches are integrated into relevant EU climate policies (acknowledging that some EU climate policies are not the sole competence of DG Climate Action) that have an international dimension, including: ● EU Climate Diplomacy Action Plan(s) ● EU Global Europe (category of the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework) ● EU External Investment Plan(s) ● Bilateral cooperation plans It would also be useful to determine how well gender equality & gender-responsive approaches are integrated into the EU Green Diplomacy Network & EU Energy Diplomacy Action Plan, as well as into the policies, guidelines & procedures of the European Investment Bank. In order to play a leadership role it is important that EU domestic & external action support on gender equality & women-empowerment: ● Ensures that gender equality extends to the transgender community, binary & non-binary, & all other genders, as well as to women & men; ● Ensures early gender balance in participation, decision-making & policy development, so that there’s balance throughout whole processes; ● Ensures that all relevant stakeholders are informed of the policies & implement them; ● Promotes the use of gender & social impact analyses; ● Promotes the use of independent evaluation & recourse mechanisms. As such, it would be useful if this evaluation: ● Recognised that women, children & the transgender community are all subjects of gender inequality, & subsequently referenced all marginalised groups in the final agreed questions used for this evaluation i.e. women, children, transgender; ● Determined if the vulnerability & financing needs of marginalised groups were being responded to; ● Evaluated the impact of the EU’s existing in-country partnerships (including relationships with faith-based stakeholders) on achieving goals & forming further relevant relationships with local communities & different governance institutions; ● Looked at the regressive impact of the non-implementation of domestic EU policies on the implementation of counterpart policies outside of the EU; ● Reflected upon whether the access points (e.g. indigenous/faith leaders, the media etc) to achieving structural societal change have changed or not; ● Assessed if the existing support framework can address evolving &/or future needs; Recognising that there are several key aspects for supporting gender equality, ACT Alliance EU would like to highlight a few: ● Building capacity on gender equality at a national, regional & local level, by allocating adequate financial & human resources; ● Engaging relevant stakeholders, including local communities & faith-based stakeholders in policy development & implementation, thereby ensuring access to local knowledge & increasing the level of community ownership; ● Creating & using a Gender Advisory Group that includes faith-based stakeholders to help monitor & guide implementation, provide advice, share knowledge & evaluate outcomes/results.
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Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

4 Jun 2019 · Debate on the strategic agenda and its relevance for climate and energy, NECP recommendations

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

27 Sept 2018 · Long-Term Strategy, Preparations for COP24 and October ENV Council

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

13 Jun 2018 · MOCA, Petersberg Dialogue, Trilogues, Long Term decarbonisation Strategy

Meeting with Nils Behrndt (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica)

21 Mar 2018 · Human rights in Togo

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

26 Sept 2017 · Clean energy package, cars and vans, international agenda

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

14 Jul 2016 · ESD/LULUCF- Energy efficiency - update- Ratification Paris Agreement

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

11 Mar 2016 · Implications of the Paris Agreement in the EU climate and energy policies

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and Transport and Environment (European Federation for Transport and Environment) and

21 Jan 2016 · COP21 and oncoming legislative package

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

10 Dec 2015 · State of play climate negotiations COP21

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

9 Dec 2015 · state of play climate negotiations COP21

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

8 Dec 2015 · State of play Climate negotiations

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

6 Dec 2015 · COP21

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and WWF European Policy Programme and

25 Nov 2015 · COP21 PARIS

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and

23 Jun 2015 · ETS review, Energy Union implementation and International Climate negotiations

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and

30 Apr 2015 · International climate talks and EU climate diplomacy. State of play of legislative files

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and

13 Nov 2014 · Lima climate talks, climate and energy priorities