Aims

The EWPPP implements national, regional and international programmes for members of parliament (MPs), parliamentary staffs and representatives of civil society throughout Eastern Europe and Eurasia. The majority of EWPPP programmes are structured as multinational roundtables, which bring together MPs from target countries and their counterparts from Western Europe, the US and neighboring countries. The exchange of ideas and experience among various MPs, parliamentary institutions and CSOs allow these roundtables to balance and prioritize a constant set of working premises. The main objectives of the EWPPP include:

Contributing to the long-term development of parliamentary democracy in Eastern/Southeastern Europe, Eurasia, North Africa and the Middle East;

Promoting sustainable democratic cultures in countries where it is operating;

Sponsoring cooperation between national parliaments and representatives of civil society;

Developing and maintaining channels of communication among MPs across national boundaries within the framework of European integration.

Recent EWPPP programmes have converged on strengthening democratic practice, relations between citizens and their elected representatives and encouraging the growth of domestic CSOs in target countries. More specifically, all EWPPP programmes:

Promote activities which reflect good governance;

Support legislative development and reform;

Encourage parliaments to utilize the advice and support role that CSOs can play in the legislative process by challenging both parliaments and CSOs to increase public awareness of the democratic process;

Allow domestic CSOs to experience the legislative process from an “inside” perspective and thus increase comprehension of particular constraints and unique opportunities;

Reinforce domestic and regional communication and cooperation by facilitating cross-border exchanges among programme participants;

Contribute to the professionalization of practices expected in the EU accession process and guidelines -- thus strengthening regional consciousness.