Non-state actors and the EU: case study of the representation of selected development aid agencies in the EU decision-making process

Bc. Barbora Čechová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The thesis deals with one originally Czech platform that gathers NGOs throughout the Czech Republic focusing on development cooperation, humanitarian aid and global development education and awareness called Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS), its member NGOs, and finally, their cooperation with the European Union with the aim of obtaining EU grants.The main purpose of the thesis is to analyze to what extent is FoRS being helpful to its member NGOs when applying for EU funding, moreover, to evaluate, whether or not small/medium-sized NGOs are more likely to obtain an EU grant over large ones. Therefore, two hypotheses considering these two issues were created and evaluated.The theoretical part of the thesis has been done through literature review, whereas the practical one via qualitative research, furthermore, semi-structured interviews done with both representative of FoRS and eight small/medium-sized NGOs (the thesis is focused only on small and medium-sized NGOs in order to gain maximally objective information, as the majority of FoRS members belong under these criteria). Based on the obtained data, an analysis of NGOs cooperation with FoRS, moreover with the European Union is created, as much as a SWOT analysis from small/medium-sized NGOs’ (applying for EU funding) point of view and finally, the results and evaluation are being discussed.

Keywords

non-state actors, EU institutions, foreign policy, development aid and cooperation, decision-making in the EU

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 6. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: PhDr. Blanka Wurst Hašová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Lenka Škrábalová, PhDr., externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Master programme / field:
Economics and Management / European Agrarian Diplomacy