Forum Ekonomiczne - Forum of NGOs

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“Communication has to be dialogue” – NGOs Forum
within the 19th Economic Forum in Krynica
(9-11 September 2009)

1.Description of the Project

The project organised within the European Commission Programme “Europe for Citizens” in the framework of the 19th Economic Forum in Krynica. The project is aimed at nongovernmental organizations from European countries (about 100 representatives of NGOs from the whole Europe). Direct goals of the project are: transfer of know-how, identifying key problems of nongovernmental organizations, sharing experiences, creating an informal network of contacts and creating a place for regular meetings of experts and NGO representatives.

2. The project is comprised of 3 elements:

• Panel discussions at the 19th Economic Forum held within the thematic track “Civil Society”

• Website – a platform for communication between nongovernmental organizations involved in the Forum

• Round table discussion "Communication has to be dialogue" Building new platforms of co-operation for NGOs - 11th September

Panel discussions:

1. 1989 - Year of Change
Partner: International Center for Democratic Transition, Budapest

Central Europe celebrates the 20th anniversary of its countries’ transitions in 2009. This discussion will aim not only to commemorate the year 1989 in a dignified way but will provide countries in transition with our lessons learned in several aspects. It will analyze the effect of transition from a historical, political and civil society point of view and, thus, provide a useful tool for those who are facing the same phenomena in 2009 as Central Europe was facing in the late '80s.

Tamas Magyarics - moderator
Kazimierz Barczyk - panelist
Géza Jeszenszky - panelist
Janusz Kurtyka - panelist
Georg Milbradt - panelist
Thomas Schreiber - panelist

2. 20 Years of NGOs Cooperation in the Central and Eastern Europe
Partner: Polish-American Freedom Foundation



Jacek Michałowski - moderator
Grzegorz Gromadzki - panelist
Zbigniew Janas - panelist
Jerzy Koźmiński - panelist
Sergej Krywienko - panelist
Krzysztof Stanowski - panelist

3. Eastern Partnership 2009 : Role of Regional and Local Governments in Creating Cooperation
Partner: Wielkopolskie Region



Success of Eastern Partnership, based on multi-lateral dialogue among citizens, depends to a great extent on the activity and creativity of local and regional self-governments. The current experience from cooperation among European regions and large towns with Eastern partners creates an enormous potential, which can be exploited. Assistance from the local self-governments of the European Union member states (based on Eastern Partnership) in strengthening democracy, accelerating socio-economic transformation, setting up effective public administration in the Eastern partnership countries encounters new challenges connected with building the civil society.

Marek Woźniak - moderator
Aleksiej Ignatiew - discussion participant
Andrzej Kremer - panelist
Jacek Protas - panelist

4. What are the Requisites of a Fair Public Debate ?
Partner: Presspublica Sp. z o.o.

Paweł Lisicki - moderator
Grzegorz Kozak - panelist
Jacek Karnowski - panelist
Frederik Pleitgen - panelist

5. Response of the Civil Society to the Global Economic Crisis: Strong Civic Institutions, Civic Participation and Civic Control
Partner: Center for Anti-Corruption Research and Initiative "Transparency International - R", Russia

In an era of globalization the most influential players are governments, business and civil society. It is important to focus on the underestimated third pillar in this triangle. After 1991 FSU countries are being transformed into democracies. They are open to freedom of association, public debate and foreign investment. New technologies are enabling civil society organizations to network across national borders. Their efforts can set the framework for governments’ and business actions that leads to new international conventions and national regulations that make bribery and kick-backs less intrusive. Civil society can provide leadership in monitoring progress by government and business in the implementation of such new conventions and national regimes. Only empowered civil society organisations will be trusted by the public to report objectively on the progress.

Dmitrij Liapin - komentator
Jelena Panfiłowa - moderator
Ismaił Allahwerdijew - panelist
Iwan Graczew - panelist
Sergej Maskewicz - panelist
Zehra Odyakmaz - panelist
Mark Pritchard - panelist

6. Religious Diversity : Cultural Wealth or Source of Political Dissensions ?

Religious diversity is a key to understanding of many contemporary conflicts. It is urgent to explain the influence of religion on intercultural dialogue or the consequences of its overlapping with politics. Equally important is to identify common challenges of various cultures in the contemporary world as the areas of potential cooperation.

Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski - moderator
Liviu Beris - discussion participant
Gejdar Dżemal - panelist
Alexander Gisser - panelist
Wolodymyr Jaworiwskyj - panelist
Filip (Jury) Riabych - panelist
Aurel Vainer - panelist

7. Communication Has To Be Dialogue - Building New Platforms of Co-operation for NGOs
Partner: Media Diversity Institute

Non-governmental organizations function in broad and diverse fields of work and become a very successful form of social activity. To equal the expectations of the participants, the resuming panel of NGO’s Forum will focus on the most significant issues for NGO’s as: potential cooperation platforms, financing sources, PR and the development possibilities of non-governmental organizations in particular regions in Europe

Jeff Lovitt - moderator
Brendan Donnelly - panelist
Nadia McConnell - panelist
Artusz Mkrtczjan - panelist
Ignacio Molina - panelist
Fernando Ribeiro-Mendes - panelist
Pawło Żownirenko - panelist

8. Solidarity in the Time of Crisis
Partner: Polish Confederation of Private Employers

World economic crisis creates a unique situation on the labour market. International corporations often begin and finish their action plans with dismissing employees or decreasing the wages. How should we keep solidarity between employers and employees? What is the Solidarity’s most important aspect nowadays in the crisis times? What is the meaning of Solidarity in the West and the East?

Henryka Bochniarz - moderator
Michał Boni - panelist
Philippe de Buck - panelist
Liudmila Denisowa - panelist
Radosław Mleczko - panelist
John Monks - panelist
Janusz Śniadek - panelist

9. International Co-operation of the Local NGOs and Selfgovernment within the Framework of the Euroregions

With the decline of communism and the introduction of democratization processes in Central Europe, the governmental control of the relations between the neighboring countries was decreased. Thanks to the certain cooperation experience in the framework of euroregions in the last twenty years the nations of this region of Europe got to know each other. Democratic structures of regional authorities as well as the civil society organizations obtained significant prospects of activity for the unification of Europe. What should be done to take the advantage of these possibilities?

Bogumił Luft - moderator
Michaił Formuzal - panelist
Dieter Friese - panelist
Zofia Kordela Borczyk - panelist
Bogdan Rzońca - panelist
Miroslav Vilkovský - panelist

11. The Balkan Puzzle : Striking a Balance
Partner: Motion for Compromise in Kosovo

The Balkans 2009: Kosovo’s status remains in limbo; Croatia’s and Macedonia’s EU integrations face neighbours’ hurdles; Bosnia’s internal divisions undermine its future. Is there an end in sight to the Balkans’ ethnic and territorial disputes? What is the key EU message being sent and heard in the Balkans this year: visa liberalization or enlargement fatigue? What is stalling the Balkans’ economy – the world economic crisis or internal corruption and lack of reforms? Are South Stream and Nabucco complementary or competing in the region? What are the missing puzzles in the Balkan’s quest for peace and stability?