EEA EFTA Comment on the Rights and Values Programme

Published 05-03-2019
On 4 March, the three EEA EFTA States – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway – submitted a joint EEA EFTA Comment on the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the European Council establishing the Rights and Values Programme.

The Rights and Values Programme aims to protect and promote rights and values, promote citizens’ engagement and participation and to prevent and combat violence.

According to the European Commission, the activities funded under the Rights and Values Programme range from awareness raising on the policies and rights in the areas covered by the Programme, analytical and monitoring activities, and support to civil society organisations encouraging democratic engagement.

The EEA EFTA States are of the opinion that active participation of civil society at all levels is a cornerstone for upholding the fundamental European values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights. In their Comment, they therefore particularly emphasise the importance of the programme supporting civil society also at local level.

In their Comment, the EEA EFTA States acknowledge the Programme’s emphasis on fundamental rights and equality for every European citizen, and strongly support the goals and objectives of the Rights and Values Programme starting in 2021.

The EEA EFTA States are currently in the process of examining their possible participation in the Programme and therefore welcome that the Programme is open for EEA EFTA participation in accordance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

EEA EFTA Comment on the Rights and Values Programme

All EEA EFTA Comments

 

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