European dialogue platform on ethical
and solidarity-based initiatives for combating poverty and social exclusion
Observatory of the European platform of dialogue
on ethical and solidarity-based initiatives
The Observatory of the European dialogue platform on ethical and solidarity
initiatives encourages and stimulates dialogue between public authorities and
civil society through the collection, organization and dissemination of information
on public policies, citizens’ initiatives, good practices of dialogue and other
initiatives and by producing analytical studies or forecasts which promote a
better understanding of existing activities and their implications. It is organized
to respond to the needs of the European dialogue platform on ethical and solidarity
initiatives whether this is for general analyses or on specific themes around
which dialogue is taking place.
Since 2003 several studies and research projects have been initiated in the
Council of Europe on citizen commitment in the economy, finance based on solidarity,
fair trade and responsible consumption. The findings of these different analyses
constitute a resource of knowledge which the Council of Europe makes available
to public authorities, parliamentarians, networks and other involved bodies
in order to make known the experiences taking place in Europe, to develop exchanges
and to disseminate information to a broad public.
The Observatory is run by the Secretariat of the Council of Europe with support
from national, regional and local authorities of member States. Partnerships
are being sought with resource people who could play a relay role such as universities,
research centres or other organizations which work on the same or similar themes
and who could contribute to producing the knowledge required to bring to fruition
political dialogue activities.