Mese: Settembre2013

On September 27-28 Local Democracy Agency Osijek organized an educational activity for youngsters aged from 15 to 25, mostly from the rural areas of Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem County. The educational activity is part of the project POPEYE (Promoting Organic Production, Enhancing Youth Employment) which is financially supported by the European Union (Youth in Action Program, Projects encouraging innovation and quality). The main goal of all the activities is to motivate youth from the rural areas to be more involved in the life of their local community, give them the possibility to understand the concept of “active citizenship” and “sustainable growth” and to help them to understand economic and ecological needs and problems of the local community in European context.

The main trainer was the Italian expert Aldo Xhani from the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA). At the beginning of the educational activity, the programme coordinator of the Local Democracy Agency Osijek, Branka Paškuljević Turniški, welcomed the participants on behalf of the organizers and presented the document of the European Union titled “The EU Youth Strategy (2010-2018)”. She emphasized three basic areas of the strategy: more and equal opportunities for young people in education and labor market, active citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity of young people.

The participants were also addressed by Ljiljana Olujić, head of the cluster “EcoRural Net”, who introduced them to the concept of the ecological economy and no waste principle of the ecological production. She presented the project Pannonia Organica which is currently being implemented at the local level and which is focused on the mapping of ecological farmers in the region as well. During the discussion with the youth she explained the difference between the conventional and ecological food production and the benefits of the ecological production for the health and preservation of the environment at the same time.

During the main part of the activities, Mr. Xhani presented the website of the project and explained the further process of the mapping of ecological farmers which will be done by the participants in the project. He conducted a process of participatory planning and development of a draft questionnaire to be used for the analytical survey and mapping of the ecological farmers at the local level. In the light of the main idea and topic of the educational activities the participants had a chance to try and taste ecologically grown food which was served at the welcome party and was briefly presented by Mrs. Olujić, the expert on eco production.

The project continues on October 11, 12 and 19 with the ICT workshops where the participants will get adequate skills about the web design and mapping.

POPEYE (projet pour la promotion de la production organique et le soutien de l’emploi des jeunes) à Osijek

Le 27-28 Septembre, l’Agence de Démocratie Locale à Osijek a organisé une activité éducative pour des jeunes âgés de 15 à 25 ans, principalement provenant des zones rurales de Osijek-Baranja et de Vukovar-Srijem. L’activité fait partie intégrante du Projet POPEYE (projet pour la promotion de la production organique et le soutien de l’emploi des jeunes), financé par l’Union Européenne (Programme « Youth in Action », projets encourageant l’innovation et la qualité). L’objectif principal de l’ensemble des activités est de motiver les jeunes de zones rurales à s’investir davantage dans la vie de leur communauté locale, leur donner la possibilité de comprendre le concept de « citoyenneté active » et de « développement durable », et de les aider à comprendre les besoins et les problèmes économiques et écologiques de la communauté locale dans un contexte européen.

L’éducateur principal était l’expert Italien Aldo Xhani de l’Association des Agence de Démocratie Locale (ALDA). Au début de l’activité, la coordinatrice du programme de l’Agence de Démocratie Locale Osijek, Branka Paškuljević Turniški, a accueilli les participants au nom des organisateurs et a présenté le document de l’UE intitulé « La Stratégie de l’UE pour la Jeunesse 2010-2018 » (‘The EU Youth Strategy’). Elle a notamment insisté sur trois principaux thèmes d’actions de la stratégie : des opportunités supplémentaires et égales pour les jeunes dans le marché de l’éducation et du travail, la citoyenneté active, l’insertion sociale et la solidarité des jeunes.

Les participants ont également été accueillis par Ljiljana Olujić, directrice du cluster « EcoRural Net », qui les a introduits au concept de l’économie écologique et au principe de la production écologique sans déchets. Elle a présenté le projet Pannonia Organica, qui est actuellement en phase de mise en œuvre au niveau local et qui vise à la cartographie des agriculteurs de la région ayant recours à la production écologique. Pendant les échanges avec les jeunes, elle a expliqué la différence entre la production alimentaire ordinaire et écologique ainsi que les avantages de l’approche écologique pour la santé et la préservation de l’environnement.

Au cours des activités, M. Xhani a présenté le site internet du projet et expliqué les suites du processus de mise sur carte des agriculteurs écologiques qui sera effectuée par les participants de ce projet. Il a encadré un processus de planification participative et le développement d’une première version de questionnaire qui sera utilisé pour l’analyse qualitative de l’étude et la cartographie des agriculteurs écologiques au niveau local. A la lumière de la thématique principale et le sujet des activités éducatives, les participants ont eu l’occasion de d’effectuer une dégustation de produits provenant d’une production écologique lors de la cérémonie de bienvenue, lors laquelle l’expert en production biologique a présenté brièvement les produits.
Le projet se poursuit les 11, 12 et 19 Octobre avec les workshops sur les TIC pendant lesquels les participants pourront acquérir les compétences de web design et de cartographie.

Attività del progetto POPEYE (Promoting Organic Production, Enhancing Youth Employment) a Osijek

Il 27 e 28 settembre l’Agenzia della Democrazia Locale di Osijek ha organizzato un’attività educativa per i giovani di età da 15 a 25 anni, per lo più provenienti dalle zone rurali di Osijek e della Baranja e Vukovar-Srijem. L’attività formativa è parte del progetto POPEYE (Promuovere la produzione biologica, sostenere l’occupazione giovanile) sostenuto finanziariamente dall’Unione europea (programma Gioventù in azione, Progetti volti a stimolare l’innovazione e la qualità).

L’obiettivo principale di tutte le attività è quello di motivare i giovani delle aree rurali ad essere più coinvolti nella vita della loro comunità locale, dare loro la possibilità di capire il concetto di “cittadinanza attiva” e di “crescita sostenibile” e aiutarli a capire le esigenze economiche e locali e i problemi della comunità locale nel contesto europeo.

Il trainer principale è stato Aldo Xhani della Associazione delle Agenzie della Democrazia Locale (ALDA). All’inizio dell’attività didattica, il coordinatore del programma della Agenzia di Democrazia Locale Osijek, Branka Paškuljević Turniški, ha accolto i partecipanti a nome degli organizzatori e ha presentato il documento dell’Unione europea dal titolo “La strategia dell’UE sulla gioventù (2010-2018)”.
Ha sottolineato tre aree fondamentali della strategia: maggiori e pari opportunità per i giovani nel campo dell’istruzione e del mercato del lavoro, la cittadinanza attiva, l’inclusione sociale e la solidarietà dei giovani. Ha anche discusso di questo con i giovani partecipanti.

I partecipanti hanno ascoltato anche da Ljiljana Olujić, capo del gruppo “EcoRural Net”, che li ha introdotti al concetto di economia ecologica e nessun principio di scarto della produzione ecologica. Ha inoltre presentato il progetto “Pannonia Organica” che è attualmente in corso di attuazione a livello locale e che si concentra sulla mappatura degli agricoltori ecologici nella regione. Durante la discussione con i giovani ha spiegato la differenza tra la produzione di alimenti convenzionali e quelli ecologici ed i vantaggi della produzione ecologica per la salute e la salvaguardia dell’ambiente.

Durante la parte principale delle attività, Aldo Xhani ha presentato il sito web del progetto e spiegato l’ulteriore processo di mappatura degli agricoltori ecologici che sarà effettuata dai partecipanti. Ha poi condotto un processo di progettazione partecipativa e sviluppato di un progetto di questionario da utilizzare per l’indagine analitica e mappatura degli agricoltori ecologici a livello locale.

I partecipanti hanno anche avuto la possibilità di provare e degustare cibo ecologico servito alla festa di benvenuto ed è stato brevemente presentato dalla signora Olujić, l’esperta di produzione ecologica.

Il progetto continuerà l’11,12 e il 19 Ottobre con i seminari durante i quali ai partecipanti verranno fornite competenze di web management e mappatura online.

Мероприятия проекта POPEYE (Promoting Organic Production, Enhancing Youth Employment) в Осиеке

27 и 28 сентября Агентство местной демократии Осиека организовало образовательную деятельность для молодежи в возрасте от 15 до 25 лет, в основном из сельских зон Осиека, Бараньи и Вуковар-Срема. Образовательная деятельность является частью проекта POPEYE (Продвигать биологическое производство, поддерживать молодежную занятость) финансово поддерживаемого Европейским Союзом (программа Молодежь в действии, проекты, направленные на стимулирование нововведений и качества).

Основная цель всех мероприятий – мотивировать молодежь деревенских территорий на то, чтобы быть более вовлеченными в жизнь их местного сообщества, дать им возможность понять концепцию “активного гражданства” и “устойчивого роста” и помогать им понять экономические и местные потребности и проблемы местного сообщества в европейском контексте.

Основным инструктором был Альдо Ксани из Ассоциации агентств местной демократии (ALDA). В начале обучения координатор программы агентства местной демократии Осиека, Бранка Пашкулевич Турнишки, поприветствовала участников от имени организаторов и представила документ Европейского Союза под названием “Молодежная стратегия ЕС (2010-2018)”.
Она подчеркнула три основные сферы стратегии: большие и равные возможности для молодежи в сфере образования и рынка труда, активное гражданство, общественная вовлеченность и солидарность молодежи. Она также обсудила это с молодыми участниками.
Участники выслушали также Лильяну Олуич, руководителя группы “EcoRural Net”, которая ввела их в концепцию экологической экономики и безотходного экологического производства. Кроме того, она представила проект “Паннония Органика”, который в настоящее время находится на стадии реализации на местном уровне, и который сосредоточился на составлении карты экологических сельских хозяйств в регионе. В ходе обсуждения с молодежью она объяснила разницу между производством обычных и экологических продуктов питания и преимущества экологического производства для здоровья и охраны среды.

В ходе основной части мероприятий Альдо Ксани представил веб сайт проекта и объяснил дальнейший процесс составлении карты экологических сельских хозяйств, который будет осуществлен участниками. Далее он провел процесс совместного проектирования и разработал проект анкеты, которую нужно использовать для аналитического исследования и составления карты экологических сельских хозяйств на местном уровне.

У участников была также возможность оценить и попробовать экологическую пищу, поданную на приветственном празднике, которая была вкратце представлена госпожой Олуич, экспертом в области экологического производства.

Проект продолжится 11,12 и 19 октября семинарами, в течение которых участники будет обучаться веб менеджменту и созданию он-лайн карт.

OSIJEK, 30. rujna 2013. – Agencija lokalne demokracije Osijek je u okviru projekta POPEYE – „Promoting Organic Production, Enhancing Youth Employment“, koji financijski podržava Europska unija (program Mladi na djelu, mjera 4.4. Projekti koji potiću inovacije i kvalitetu), u Osijeku 27. i 28. rujna održala edukaciju za mlade od 15 do 25 godina iz pretežito ruralnih područja Osječko-baranjske i Vukovarsko–srijemske županije o održivom razvoju, ekologiji i organskoj proizvodnji hrane. Cilj je ove edukacije potaknuti mlade iz ruralnih područja na uključivanje u život lokalne zajednice, dati im priliku za bolje razumijevanje koncepta aktivnog građanstva i održivog razvoja te gospodarskih i ekoloških potreba i problema vlastite lokalne zajednice u europskom kontekstu.

Edukaciju je vodio talijanski stručnjak Aldo Xhani iz Asocijacije Agencija lokalne demokracije sa središtem u Strasbourgu, Francuska. Na početku edukacije nazočne je u ime organizatora pozdravila programska koordinatorica Branka Paškuljević Turniški i predstavila dokument Europske unije „EU strategije za mlade – Ulaganje i osnaživanje (2010-2018)“, posebice govoreći o tri osnovna smjera strategije (stvaranje prilka za obrazovanje i zapošljavanje, poticanje mladih na sudjelovanje u zajednici i poticanje solidarnosti između mladih i društva). Gospođa Turniški je završila svoju prezentaciju citirajući strategiju i naglašavajući da je edukaciju mladih ljudi potrebno profesionalizirati, integrirati s formalnim obrazovanjem te promovirati cjeloživotno obrazovanje. Zatim se sudionicima obratila Ljiljana Olujić¸ voditeljica clustera „EcoRural Net“, koja je sudionike upoznala s konceptom ekološke ekonomije i s tzv. no waste principom ekološke proizvodnje. U nastavku izlaganja predstavila je projekt Pannonia Organica koji se trenutno provodi na lokalnoj razini i koji je također usmjeren na mapiranje ekoloških proizvođača u regiji. U razgovoru s mladima pojasnila je razliku između konvencionalne i ekološke proizvodnje hrane te vrijednosti ekološke proizvodnje za zdravlje i očuvanje okoliša.

U središnjem je dijelu edukacije gospodin Xhani predstavio web stranicu projekta, pojasnio daljnji proces mapiranja ekoloških proizvođača u kojem će sudjelovati sudionici projekta te zajedno s njima izradio prijedlog upitnika za anketiranje ekoloških proizvođača na lokalnoj razini. U duhu glavne teme eukacije sudionici su imali priliku kušati i ekološki uzgojenu hranu koja je bila poslužena tijekom večere dobrodošlice, a koju je predstavila gospođa Olujić.

Projekt se nastavlja 11., 12. i 19.listopada na ICT radionicama na kojima će sudionici usvajati potrebne vještine za izradu web stranice i mapiranje.

On 27 th September ALDA has officially celebrate the opening of its new office in Vicenza, in viale Milano 66. Our Association, born in 1999, has always had an operational office in Vicenza. The headquarters of ALDA is in Strasbourg and the other office are in Bruxelles, Subotica (Serbia), and Skopje (Macedonia).

Local authorities and associations took part at the ceremony: Federico Formisano, President of Vicenza City Council, Franco Frigo, Member of the EuroParliament, Stefano Pento, Assessor of the Municipality of Schio, Fabio Pietribiasi, Secretary of European Federalist Movement, and Maria Rita Dal Molin, President of CEV Vicenza. Several members of ALDA also participated.

During the inauguration our staff presented the 2014-2020 EU Programming Period, with special emphasis on Europe for Citizens and Erasmus + programmes, in which ALDA is particularly active. The Director of ALDA Antonella Valmorbida stated: “ 2013 is the European Year of Citizens, therefore it is crucial to reflect on the rights linked to European citizenship. To encourage active citizenship we should stimulate civic participation and provide all the necessary tools, and ALDA has always been working in this direction”.

ALDA has effectively contributed to the launch of the seminar on “Money laundering and tax heavens in Europe: the need for a response by civil society”, to be held in London on 27 September 2013. Mr John Baker, Head of Unit of the AML/CFT Monitoring and External Relations Unit of MONEYVAL within the Council of Europe, kindly accepted ALDA’s invitation to present MONEYVAL’s supervising mechanism as well as effective measures to tackle money laundering.

The panel will also bring together experts such as Mr Mark van Dorp from the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, the Netherlands, Mr G.E. Baggio, Italian magistrate, Ms Stephanie McLeod from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and the University of Hull and Mr J. Christensen as representative of Tax Justice.

The event, promoted by European Alternatives, will be taking place within the framework of the “Tackling Illegal Economies – TIE” project funded by the Prevention of and Fight against Crime programme of the DG Home affairs of the European Union. Its aim is to gather and share information on the best methods to fight financial and economic crime as well as to identify and diffuse the best practices in the investigation, confiscation and recovery of criminal assets.

A new index published on 23 September by the global civil society network, CIVICUS, shows that many governments around the world are failing to keep their promise to create an environment that allows citizens to mobilise and participate in civil society. Evidence from around the world suggests that the conditions for civil society are far from perfect.

The CIVICUS `Enabling Environment Index’(EEI) is the first rigorous attempt to measure and compare the conditions that affect the potential of citizens to participate in civil society and ranks the governance, socio-cultural and socio-economic environments for civil society in 109 countries.

In recent years CIVICUS has witnessed uprisings from the Arab Spring to the Occupy movement, but they have also seen far too many crackdowns on the ability of citizens to mobilise. CIVICUS wanted to create a tool that helps understand the conditions facing civil society in different parts of the world. The index also helps identify countries where special attention needs to be paid to strengthening civil society by the international community.

CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. It has worked for nearly two decades especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened.

See CIVICUS website

ALDA is an active member of the Civil Society Forum for Eastern Partnership and in particular the coordinator of the Subgroup on Local Government and Public Administration Reform.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of European citizenship, the Italian Disability Forum organised a conference to raise awareness on the rights coming from European Citizenship to Italian citizens affected by disabilities.

The conference will take place on 3 October, from 14:45 to 18:00, at the ‘Spazio Europa’ of the Rappresentanza della Commissione Europea, in Via IV Novembre 149, Roma.

The Forum actively actively participated to the activities of the Italian Alliance for the European Year of Citizens 2013, therefore the President of the Alliance Virginio Dastoli as well as ALDA’s Director Antonella Valmorbida will participate as speakers to the event.

ALDA Director, Mrs Antonella Valmorbida is a guest of this event, contributing to the European year of Citizens Alliance and to the fine initiative of the Italian Forum of the Disabled.

The main topics of discussion of the conference will be:

– The main Italian legislation allowing social and professional integration of disabled people, referring to the conditions for citizens of other EU countries that intend to benefit from.

– Comparisons of legislation within EU countries on accessibility, education, work, social benefits and life standard, and culture sectors.

– Aspects of European legislation in EU countries (in the framework of the principles of the US Convention on disabled people) in favor of disabled people do not apply fully in Italian legislation and practices.

– Active Citizenship of the disabled. Examples of good practices.

– Main instruments acquired from EU to fulfill concretely the principle of citizen’s participatory democracy.

The outcome of the conference will be a set of recommendations which will be addressed to national authorities, politicians, and administrators.

ALDA is active member of the Civil Society Forum for Eastern Partnership and in particular coordinator of the Subgroup on Local Government and Public Administration Reform.
In this context, many actions have been organisation in 2012 and 2013 to support local governance in Eastern Partnership countries. On the 26th of September the Expert Group on Public Administration and Public Administration Reform took place in Prague, promoted by the European External Action Service. It included trainings and exchanges of view of the main stakeholders on the matter with the Eastern Partnership process.

Mrs. Valmorbida represented ALDA and the proposal on Fiscal Decentralisation promoted by the Subgroup LGPAR (attached). Two other representatives from the Subgroup were also present : Volodymyr Kuprii, coordinator WG1 of the CSF Ukrainian National Platform and Victor Vlak, East Europe Foundation. He presented the case of cooperation between Lower Silesia and Dnipropetrovsk.

Volodymir Kuprii
NATIONAL Coordinator UKRAINE
Civil Society Forum for Eastern Partnership
26 September 2013, Prague

Panel on Public Administration Reform – 26 September 2013, Prague

Case study – Partnership between – Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in Ukraine and Lower Silesia

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Proposals for fiscal decentralisation  – Antonella Valmorbida

Proposal Subgroup of the WG1 on Local Government and Public Administration Reform

IMPLEMENTATION OF TERRITORIAL DECENTRALISATION POLICY IN UKRAINE

The Region of Istria, with the coordinative support of ALDA as leading partner, successfully concluded the educational activity within the framework of the project POPEYE. The event took place in Pula from 16-20 September 2013. The activity was attended by more than 20 young participants aged 15-25, mainly coming from rural areas and interested in organic production and youth engagement.

The objective of the activity was twofold: the two days’ seminar held on 16-17 September aimed to educate the participants in active citizenship, with a particular focus on their potential role in contributing to the rural development and environmental sustainability at local level. The following three days’ ICT training equipped the participants with web designing and web management skills and made them familiar with digital mapping softwares such as MapsMarker.

The event was opened by Mr Oriano Otocan, President of ALDA, and Mr Milan Antolovic, Head of the Administrative Department for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Water Management of the Region of Istria. The activity provided the participants with up to date information on youth employment and organic agriculture, as brought in by experts such as Ms Arlin Gobo, representative of the regional department of Croatian Employment Service in Pula and Mr Nenad Kuftic, President of the Association of Istrian Eco Producers (Istarski Eco Proizvod).

The participants had also the opportunity of being informed about the Youth in Action programme and of its measures, as showcased by Aldo Xhani, ALDA project manager. The event was also an occasion to get to know each other through getting-together activities and exchange experience and ideas on topics of strong impact in the region such as youth employment and organic production.

For further information on the project POPEYE, click QUI.

On Friday 27 September, ALDA will officially celebrate the opening of its new office in Vicenza, in Viale Milano 66. Several representatives of local authorities, Civil Society Organisations will participate, as well as friends and members of ALDA’s wide network.

The event foresees a specific training event for ALDA’s members in the morning, starting with the institutional greetings from ALDA’s Director, Mrs Antonella Valmorbida. The informative session, headed by ALDA Project Development Officer, Ms Anna Ditta, will focus on the 2014-2020 EU Programming Period, with special emphasis on Erasmus and Europe for Citizens programmes.

Starting from 12.00 ALDA will organize a specific Standing Cocktail for its members, which are based in the nearby of the office, which will be opened by the representative of Veneto Region, Assessor Mr Ciambetti, the institutional greetings of President of Vicenza City Council, Mr Formirano, the Councillor Mrs Strinati (Thiene Municipality), the Councillor Mr Pento (Schio Municipality) and the President of CEV Vicenza, Mrs Dal Molin.

In the afternoon, ALDA has organized a second Infoday open to the public (15:30 – 17:00). To participate in this second Infoday, we will kindly invite you to confirm your participation for the second part of the day, please contact Mattia Brazzale by email at Mattia.Brazzale@aldaintranet.org or by calling +39 0444 540146.

What are the opportunities that EU offers to the youth? What do youngster aspect from their Regions and from the European Community? During the European camping that took place in the place between Verteneglio and Kanegra from 2 to 7 September, 30 youngsters from the Regions of Istria, Sisak-Moslovina and Osijek-Baranja tried to find the answers of these questions and many others according to their future in EU. The Camping is the second activity predicted from the project “Youngsters for Europe”, which is coordinated from the Local Democracy Agency of Verteneglio and funded from the EU in the framework of the IPA Info 2011 program.

The Camping. In order to make the youngsters know which are the opportunities that Europe has to offer them, mornings were full of seminars and labs with international experts. The presentation of Ms.Anna Ditta from the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, on Tuesday September 3, officially opened the EU camping. During the seminar, both concepts of Youth in Action and the Lifelong Learning program were presented with details to the selected group. Then, to introduce the theme of the week, the participants were asked to think over their own expectations and worries towards the EU, write them on post-its and stick them to the wall. At this intervention, Wednesday 4th, the day continued with the laboratory guided from Lino Chiusa, from Giosef Association, who presented the programs dedicated to the positive mobility of youngsters and motivated the participants to express their creativity diving them into groups to create individual projects. On Thursday September 5, Giorgio Tessarolo, expert of European planning, gave a lecture on the process of EU enlargement and its structural funds. In the afternoon the participants created various materials including a brochure of the project of the youngsters, a radio and a TV commercial (which will broadcast in local radio and TV stations of the three Regions included in the project) and a questionnaire concerning the dreams, expectations and doubts of youngsters towards EU. Once the camping has finished, these questionnaires will be distributed to the youngsters and the answers will be put in a single document, “The Voice of Youth”, which will be handed over to the representatives of the regional authorities during the final event taking place in Osijek next January.

The project “Youth for EU” launched officially on January 2, 2013. The first activity of the project consists of three seminars on EU, on the Unions enlargement and on our future opportunities after the official entrance in the European family. The seminars, in which participated more than 250 youngsters, took place in the SMSIs of Pula, Buje and Rovinj, in various high schools of Osijek, Sisak and Topusko and in the offices of various youth associations as well. Then, the participants filled in a questionnaire through which the 30 more motivated youngsters were elected, 10 from every Region, to participate in the European camping. The partners. In the project “Youth for EU” coordinated from the LDA of Verteneglio, participate also the LDAs of Osijek and Sisak, the Foundation of the promotion of partnership and the development of civil society of Pula, the youth association KRID from Petrinja, Press centar za okoliš Hrvatske, Direct Europe of the Municipality of Trieste, the Giosef Italy Association and the Association of the Local Democracy Agencies.