The Democratic Foundation of Chameria President Festim Lato, Mr. Ali Aliu and Mr. Jeroen Zandberg were at the European Economic and Social Committee today, 3 September 2018, to attend a Public Hearing by the Study Group on Justice, Rights and Values Fund. The Study Group consists of representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament and independent experts who have taken the proposal, which was made by the Commission in May, and try to shape it in ways that best reflects the interests of all the parties concerned.
The Fund aims to combine the existing programs of the Commission to support the promotion of the EU’s fundamental rights within the European Union. The Fund has a budget of €947 million euro for seven years and will come into effect in 2021. It will provide funding to NGO’s, universities and public administrations who implement programs to promote the rights and values of, and in, the EU. Beneficiaries of the Fund also include organisations who work in partnership countries like Albania. Unfortunately, the budget is limited and much less than what the EU spends on promoting its values abroad.
The speakers explained the workings of the current funding schemes as well as provided an outline of the proposed Fund, which will be even more accessible to smaller, grass roots organisations who lack the scale to act at a European level.
The rights of the Cham and their struggle for justice are a clear example of what the Fund is trying to support. The Cham issue is especially relevant for the development of the Fund since it involves the rights and values at, and accross, the borders of the EU. Therefore, there is the risk that the resolution of the Cham issue could fall outside the scope of any EU program. President Festim Lato was pleased to hear during the formal and informal question and answer sessions with the representatives of the Commission and the Parliament that the Justice, Rights and Values Fund will also be open to activities involving the promotion of the rights of the Cham community.
The Study Group will have several other meetings and the final proposal will most likely be tabled for a vote at the European Parliament before the end of the Session in May 2019. President Festim Lato is ready to attend any upcoming public consultation when he receives another invitation for such an event.
