The European Commission recognises in a Communication that Civil Society organisations can be efficient independent development actors. The Commission therefore announced that it will engage further and will provide more support to civil society organisations (CSOs) in its partner countries. It also proposes to launch "EU Roadmaps" for stronger engagement with Civil Society Organisations.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) can be efficient independent development actors, according to the European Commission. In the Communication entitled "The roots of democracy and sustainable development: Europe's engagement with Civil Society in external relations", the European Commission announced that it will engage further and will provide more support to civil society organisations in its partner countries. For example, creating partnerships between civil society organisations and media outlets in Croatia is one of the objectives from one of the call for proposals published in September by the Commission.

The Commission's new proposals focus on working with governments and public institutions to ensure the creation and promotion of a more conducive, fair and democratic environment for civil society to operate in; enabling CSOs to help more of the world's poorest and vulnerable people as a result. The Commission also proposes to launch "EU Roadmaps" for stronger engagement with Civil Society Organisations – a new way of working for EU Delegations, allowing for more structured and strategic cooperation with Civil Society in each of the countries the EU works with.

Around €1 billion per year is channelled through civil society organisations under the current EU budget which runs from 2007 to 2013. This communication builds on a long-standing partnership with civil society groups and particularly on the results of the "Structured Dialogue"; a two-year consultation (including an online consultation) with Civil Society from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Neighbourhood region.