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“EULEX Kosovo” is the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo
Democracy and transparency
Spearheading the development of a European focus and European debates on the relationship between the EU, and the West as a whole, and Russia, CLS has started the “Sovereign Democracy” project, funded by a Bulgarian donor – the Communitas Foundation. The concept of “sovereign democracy”, launched by Putin’s regime, has so far been treated cavalierly by the West. But it works in today’s Russia and should be analyzed seriously. Presently, as Putin is leaving in order to stay, the Western societies need a better understanding and a serious debate on the nature of Kremlin’s regime. The project will produce a book. It shall consist of writings by the leading ideologues (Russians and foreigners) of Kremlin’s concept of sovereign democracy on the one hand, countered by criticism from influential thinkers (Russians and foreigners) on the other hand. The presentation of the book should be followed by a book-tour all over Europe to start off a debate.
This article was published in Politeia Newsletter 48 - February 2008
Croatia adopted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in late 2003 as a result of NGO coalition “Citizens have a right to know” advocacy campaign. GONG has recognized the flows of FOIA regulation, as well as implementation, together with its immense significance for the citizens, public and the rule of law.
GONG Regional office Rijeka is, in partnership with civil society organizations SMART-Association for Civil Society Development (Rijeka), Centre for Civic Initiatives (Porec) and Pokretac (Korenica), implementing three year program "Network for Development of Regional Capacities – MRAKK". The program is being implemented since the January 2007 and is financed by the National Foundation for the Civil Society Development. The goal of the project is to strengthen capacity of civil society organizations in the Counties of Primorje-Gorski kotar, Istria and Lika-Senj.
As part of its continuing work on democracy and governance in Ireland, TASC is working to influence forthcoming legislation to reform local government in Ireland.
The year 2007 was one of the best moments to start debates and discussions on the necessity of a constitutional revision of the Romanian fundamental law. The decision by the Romanian Parliament to suspend the Romanian President and the campaign for the validation of this decision, the decision to call and organize the referendum for the introduction of the single constituency vote electoral reform, and the subsequent conflicts between the central institutions of the state have stirred discussions on specific constitutional provisions and their ammendments.
Asociatia Pro Democratia has taken a leading role in promoting and supporting transparency of political parties and electoral campaigns financing since early 2000. It has monitored electoral spending of political parties and candidates for national elections organized in 2000 and 2004 and promoted its results among citizens and journalists, advocated for legislative improvements in accordance to its findings, supported the public consultation process run by Romanian authorities in their attempts to improve the legislation in this field, and, last but not least, attended all debates in the Commissions of the Romanian Parliament to advocate such improvements.
Between December 2007 and October 2008 Asociatia Pro Democratia continues its campaign for promoting good governance at the local level and runs the project “Partnership for Good Governance and Local Government”, aiming to consolidate and promote the principles of good governance and local development through participatory mechanisms.
Asociatia Pro Democratia implements the project “Your Silence Is Expensive! Campaign for a Clean Local Public Administration” between December 2007 and October 2008. As far as the fight against corruption is concerned, Asociatia Pro Democratia has a specific approach among Romanian NGOs active in the field. It focuses on promoting integrity, so preventing corruption rather than fighting corruption by pushing for punishments for individual acts. Consequently, the purpose of this project is to develop a stimulating environment for fighting corruption at the level of six municipalities in Romania. In order to do so, the main instrument APD will use and further develop is the activity of whistle-blowers as a discouraging practice for corruption acts, different types of abuses and incompatibilities in local government.
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