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Stichting Solidaridad Nederland

Solidaridad

Solidaridad is a global organization for international cooperation that draws inspiration from the vision, values and capacities of people all over the world.

Lobbying Activity

Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

30 Jul 2025

Genuine sustainability and inclusivity in global value chains requires equal participation and representation for the millions of people at the beginning of these value chains, including smallholder farmers, miners and workers. Their voices must be heard and their interests must inform decision and policy making. Experience shows that the underrepresentation of civil society organizations and target groups in policy dialogue leads to unequal results. To overcome barriers to participation, especially of vulnerable groups, and to promote inclusive dialogue and participatory decision making, three mutually reinforcing approaches can be employed: 1) Enabling meaningful participation of civil society and producer organizations in policy dialogues; 2) Interacting with public and private decision makers to create better suited policies; and 3) Establishing multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) and other dialogues, thus increasing mutual understanding and facilitating joint action to address sustainability issues. From our advocacy work in the EU we have learned the importance of cooperation with civil society organisations outside of Europe. European regulatory institutions play a vital role in this. For new regulatory frameworks, during the development and political negotiation process as well as in impact assessments of regulations and directives that have impact in third countries (such as the Deforestation Regulation or the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive), civil society and producer organizations ensure grounded, participatory approaches to rule-making and implementation. Supporting civil society organisations in third countries and listening to their input is therefore essential to understand the impact of EU regulation. Inclusive dialogues require special attention for underrepresented groups like women. Women, youth, and informal workers are often invisible in both supply chain and policy spaces. Governance systemsif not intentionally inclusiverisk reinforcing rather than addressing these systemic gaps. Breaking down barriers to inclusion and ensuring that all farmers and workers, particularly women and youth, have a meaningful voice and fair opportunities in shaping their livelihoods. A vibrant civic space also leads to a more engaged and informed European public. Citizensboth as voters and consumersmust become advocates for inclusive governance, helping to hold institutions and companies accountable and defend the civic space required for producers to speak and act.
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Meeting with Catarina Vieira (Member of the European Parliament)

6 May 2025 · CSDDD

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen), Suvi Leinonen (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and

24 Oct 2022 · Forestry and deforestation

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and European Environmental Bureau and

22 Mar 2022 · Circular Economy and EU Strategy on Textiles

Meeting with Lucrezia Busa (Cabinet of Commissioner Didier Reynders) and European Environmental Bureau and

22 Mar 2022 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence

Meeting with Andrea Beltramello (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis), Caroline Boeshertz (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis) and

10 Mar 2022 · Sustainable Textile Strategy

Meeting with Joanna Stawowy (Cabinet of Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski), Jorge Pinto Antunes (Cabinet of Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski) and

29 Nov 2021 · Sustainable Corporate Governance initiative - inclusion of smallholder farmers