Preparing civil society for the Hungarian EU-Presidency

Euclid Network (EN) and DemNet, the Hungarian democracy network, are running a 7-month project to support Hungarian CSOs in their preparation for the 2011 Hungarian EU Presidency.

The project started on 1 August. In cooperation with the Social Science Department of Budapest College of Management, research will be carried out and one inter-sectorial seminar will prepare organisations for a European level event.

Objectives 

The specific objectives of the project are:

1. To increase knowledge of ways fighting global crisis, the present structure of conditions (legal, fiscal, community) of social enterprises, sharing suggestions for setting criteria, norms, etc. for lacking mechanisms (with academic partner)
2. To increase awareness among CSOs and wider society about research results, best practices of Hungarian social economical initiatives
3. To develop capacities of CSOs connected to EU-presidency through bringing the different stakeholders together (local authorities, regional development agencies, decision makers, NGOs, etc) and getting prepared to organise a European level event together
4. To strengthen participation of CSOs in decision making processes through learning about the experiences of the Spanish and Belgian NGDO platforms

Outcomes

There will be three events:

Event one: Kick-off workshop for gathering transition experiences

One day kick-off workshop for approx. 40 Hungarian stakeholders - NGDOs, CSOs, experts, academics, MPs, decision makers, research and development institutions. The workshop will explore Hungarian transition experiences in "democracy building" and civil society development (additionally focusing on 3 areas: active citizenship/good governance; sustainable financing; enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood policies).

Objectives: The workshop will serve as the basis for further actions in this topic, thus it has objectives of both knowledge mapping and „market research", networking, and generating debate about the topic.

Expected results: A joint understanding of the key elements of the transition experience that can be relevant to other countries (accession countries, developing countries alike).

Event two: International workshop for gathering transition experiences

2-day seminar for approx 25 participants from NGDO platforms and think tanks - primarily from the New Member States (NMS)  
 
Objectives of the activity: To reflect and identify common or different elements in the transition experiences among NMS in the field of civil society development and good governance (transparency)

Expected results of the activity: Policy brief on NMS transition experiences (building on both the Hungarian and the international workshop)

Event two: Sharing transition experiences - international conference

2-day European level event for EU, IPA, EN stakeholders approx with 60-100 participants in May, 2011
 
Objectives: The event will serve as a forum for sharing and dissemination of the learning points identified through the previous events. To reflect on V4 and other EU New Member States countries transition experiences in civil society development (CSD), their connection to the Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership (EaP) and further take findings to next rotating EU-presidencies.
 
Expected results: Clarified understanding of the specifics of NMS and their contribution to more effective development cooperation.