Activities 2006

• The Hague/Brussels 29 January-2 February 2006
  Working Visit
  Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, the Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro, and the State Union Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro visited the Parliament of the Netherlands and the European Parliament.
  Aspects and Techniques of European Integration: A programme in support of democratic parliamentary practice in Serbia and Montenegro
• Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation 17 February 2006
  Workshop II, "The Organization and Activity of Public Authority in Capital Cities, Cities of Federal Status, and Administrative Centers of Regions," brought together regional parliamentarians from Russia with their European colleaugues, as well as regional and international experts. Representatives of EWPPP and ILPP also participated.
  Federalism and Regional Legislative Assemblies in the Russian Federation
• Belgrade, Serbia 1 March 2006
  NGO/Parliament Team Meeting
  The main theme of the discussion was strengthening cooperation between civil society and parliamentary institutions.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Pristina, Kosovo 3 March 2006
  NGO/Parliament Team Meeting
  The timeline for the second project year as well as the new combinations for the trilateral visits were discussed. As a result, a new timeline was agreed upon by the participants.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Gudauri, Georgia 10 -12 March 2006
  Workshop I, "The Budgetary Process and Parliamentary Oversight in Georgia" (co-financed by NDI Georgia)
  The first workshop in this programme brought together Georgian MPs and parliamentary staff with their counterparts from the Parliament of the Netherlands, programme experts and representatives of NDI and EWPPP.
  Economic Good Governance and Parliamentary Oversight: A programme in support of Georgia’s parliamentary democracy
• Podgorica, Montenegro 17-19 March 2006
  In-country Workshop, "EU Integration after the Referendum"
  Participants included representatives of the Parliaments of The Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro. EWPPP staff and Serbian and Montenegrin NGO representatives also took part. This workshop focused on building a political and social consensus during and after the referendum on Montenegrin independence, to be end in May 2006.
  Aspects and Techniques of European Integration: A programme in support of democratic parliamentary practice in Serbia and Montenegro
• Pristina, Kosovo 24-26 March 2006
  Regional Roundtable "Electorate Systems and Political Representation"
  Participants included MPs and Civil Society representatives from Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Topics discussed included political parties and political representation; nominations of candidates; and regional (experiences with) electoral systems.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Belgrade, Serbia 17 April 2006
  NGO/Parliament Team Meeting
  The topics on the agenda included discussion of future activities and preparations for the Standing Regional Conference in Portoroz, Slovenia, to be held on April 20-23 2006.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Portoroz, Slovenia 20-23 April 2006
  Standing Regional Conference: “Regional Cooperation in the EU Integration Process”
  Participants included representatives of Parliaments and Civil Society from Western Balkan countries; representatives of the European Parliament; representatives of European/ EU parliaments; representatives of inter-governmental agencies; representatives of the EWPPP. The theme of the second standing conference focused on the opportunities and challenges confronting many countries of the Western Balkans in the European and regional integration process.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Skopje, Macedonia 17-21 May 2006
  Trilateral Exchange Visit
  A joint delegation from the Parliaments and NGOs of Serbia and Kosovo met with their counterparts in the Republic of Macedonia. Topics discussed included the role played by civil society in the security sector and the political context of parliamentary control of the security sector.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 31 May-3 June 2006
  Trilateral Exchange Visit
  Participants included MPs and Civil Society representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo. Delegations made a number of official visits, including to the Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro in BiH, the Albanian Community in BiH, the Council of Peoples of Republika Srpska, the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and the BiH Presidency.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Podgorica, Montenegro 22-24 June 2006
  Assessment visit
  This consultative meeting addressed programme implementation in light of the recently proclaimed independence of Montenegro. Participants agreed that Montenegro’s independence had definitely excluded the Union Parliament from all programme components. In spite of the Union’s dissolution in May 2006, however, participants concurred that this two-state solution would actually put relations between the two republics on a healthier basis and make them easier to maintain.
  Aspects and Techniques of European Integration: A programme in support of democratic parliamentary practice in Serbia and Montenegro
• Podgorica, Montenegro 20-24 June 2006
  Trilateral Exchange Visit
  MP/NGO delegations from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina met with their counterparts in Montenegro.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Samara, Russian Federation 29-30 June 2006
  Workshop III, "Public-Private Cooperation in Guaranteeing Citizens’ Right to Housing," brought together regional parliamentarians from Russia with their European colleaugues, as well as regional and international experts. Representatives of EWPPP and ILPP also participated.
  Federalism and Regional Legislative Assemblies in the Russian Federation
• Batumi, Georgia 6-8 July 2006
  Workshop II, "The Budgetary Process and Parliamentary Oversight in Georgia" (co-financed by NDI Georgia)
  Participants in this second workshop included Georgian and Dutch MPs and parliamentary staff as well as programme experts and representatives of NDI and EWPPP.
  Economic Good Governance and Parliamentary Oversight: A programme in support of Georgia’s parliamentary democracy
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 September 2006
  Regional Roundtable, "Obstacles on BiH's Way to the EU – How to Achieve a More Liberal Visa Regime in BiH and the Region"
  Participants included MPs and Civil Society representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia and Kosovo, and an EWPPP staff member. Representing the international community at the roundtable were Christian Schwarz-Schilling, High Representative in BiH / European Union's Special Representative, and H.E. Ambassador Michael Humphreys, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in BiH.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Tirana, Albania 18-22 October 2006
  Trilateral Exchange and Regional Roundtable, “Regional Cooperation in the Euro-Atlantic Integration Process”
  Participants included representatives of the Parliaments and Civil Society of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo. EWPPP representatives also participated.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• The Hague 29 October–2 November 2006
  Young Politicians Study Visit
  MPs from the Parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia participated in a three-day training programme on political leadership, negotiations and EU affairs at the Clingendael Institute in the Hague, the Netherlands.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans
• Belgrade, Serbia 3 November 2006
  Roundtable, "Parliamentarian Cooperation in the Current Political Framework"
  Participants included representatives of the Parliaments of the Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro. This roundtable was comprised of panel discussions on the following topics: 'Establishing a partnership between parliamentary committees', 'Improvement of parliamentarians' legislative capacities' and 'Comparative experience on constitutional issues'. Representatives of EWPPP and its local partner organizations were also on hand.
  Aspects and Techniques of European Integration: A programme in support of democratic parliamentary practice in Serbia and Montenegro
• Novosibirsk, Russian Federation 8-9 December 2006
  Workshop IV, "Reforming Self-Government in the Territorial Subjects of the Russian Federation"
  Participants included regional parliamentarians from Russia, their European colleauges, as well as regional and international experts. Representatives of EWPPP and ILPP also participated.
  Federalism and Regional Legislative Assemblies in the Russian Federation
• Podgorica, Montenegro 14-15 December 2006
  Regional Roundtable, "The Constitution and Minority Rights"
  Participants included representatives of the parliaments and Civil Society from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
  Legislatures and Citizens: strengthening democratic institutions and civil society in the Western Balkans