February 2005, Issue no 33
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

Youth Action for Peace - "Training on Organisational Management: Focusing on Voluntary Service and Youth NGOs", March 21 - March 26, 2005, Budapest, Hungary
Application: February 11, 2005


The activity is a training course on organisational management for youth leaders and youth workers or managers of NGOs. It will address particularly those working in youth and voluntary service oriented organisations.

The main aim of the training course is to train and empower participants to develop competencies to manage youth organisations (with a focus on voluntary service oriented ones) as to contribute to sustainable and developed participation of young people.

The objectives of this training course are:
- To raise participants' awareness about organisational management principles and mechanisms
- To raise participants' awareness and understanding of their working environment and conditions
- To work on strategic development of the organisations and other managerial tools
- To work on and address participants competencies (attitudes, skills and knowledge) in managing their organisation the people and themselves.
- To share about organisational experiences and models in the different organisations represented (explore the issue of organisational cultures).

The programme will be defined later on by the team but will include the following elements:
1. What is Organisational Management?
2. What is our working environment?
3. What is our working culture?
4. Key elements of Strategic Planning (including environmental scan etc.)
5. Key elements of financial management (fundraising, budgeting, financial management)
6. Workshops on issues such as teamwork, Human resource management, Public relation and Lobby, Ethic in management, Leadership.

The training course will gather around 30-35 participants coming from counties member of the Council of Europe or having signed the cultural agreement. However, non-European participants' applications will also be taken into consideration on the same basis and conditions as for Europeans ones.

Participants should preferably:
- Be involved in organizational management in their organisations
- Be in charge, involved or have some experiences in the organizational
management/strategic planning/human resources and/or financial management of their organisation
- Be able to work in English
- Be preferably under 30 years age
- Be available for the whole duration of the study session.

Board and lodging is provided at the European Youth Centres in Budapest for the duration of the training.
Participation fees are 43 Euro (fixed by the Council of Europe). The amount will be deducted from your travel reimbursement.

More information:
Website: http://www.aisbe.com/wagggs/homedoc/callparticipants.pdf
www.aisbe.com/wagggs/homedoc/travelandvisainfo.pdf
Emnail: exchange-training@yap.org


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Central European University - 2005 Summer Program
Application deadline: February 14, 2005 (unless stated otherwise in the announcement of a particular course)


SUN offers a series of high-level, research based, intensive, two-week long courses in the social sciences and humanities. It is aiming to involve a team of internationally acclaimed scholars to teach (including CEU faculty), and advanced doctoral students, junior or post-doctoral researchers, teachers and professionals as participants. The summer courses are designed to provide help to develop and refine participants' research and policy agenda as well as integrate their teaching with innovative research.

The program encourages topics in newly emerging fields such as cognitive science to which participants may not have been previously exposed. Issues addressed by the courses tend to focus on currently relevant ones for emerging democracies, for instance, ethnic relations, migration, nationalism and transnationalism, globalization, mediation, urban development, poverty reduction, local governments, comparative religion etc.

Participants from Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and countries of emerging democracies worldwide are eligible for financial aid. Applicants must have sufficient English language skills.

More information
Website: http://www.ceu.hu/sun
Email: summeru@ceu.hu (for information and general correspondence), sunreq@ceu.hu (for requesting application forms)


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NATO - Internship Programme 2004 - 2005
Application deadline: March 1, 2005


This year, NATO is pleased to introduce its new Internship Programme to provide a small number of current or recent students with the opportunity to intern with the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates from a wide variety of disciplines including: political science, international relations, security studies, economics, engineering, law, linguistics, human resources, information technology, and journalism. Interns will benefit by gaining understanding of an international organisation while substantiating their Curriculum Vitae.

All internship placements will run in principle for six months. The first group of interns will start September 2005, though placements can be made before that on a rolling basis, according to divisional need and the availability of the intern.

The NATO Internship Programme has four main objectives:
- To provide the Organisation with access to the latest theoretical and technical knowledge that the intern can apply through practical work assignments, as well as with additional staff resources
- To provide interns with an opportunity to learn from the NATO community and get a better understanding and a more balanced view of the Organisation
- To contribute to creating a more diverse and gender-balanced workforce
- To expand understanding of NATO in alliance countries

Conditions for Internship
Please note that NATO internships will not be remunerated. Interns are required to have health insurance coverage, and take care of formalities with the Belgian authorities regarding their stay in Belgium. Most interns will require a security clearance from their national authorities prior to working at NATO. Please refer to the Document on Conditions for Internship for a full description of the programme.

Eligibility Criteria
Mandatory:
- Under the age of 30 at the time of an application
- A citizen of a NATO member country
- At least two years of University study (1)
- Proficiency in one of the two official NATO languages English and French is essential.
Depending on specific divisional requirements, interns may be required to have a university degree, and/or a master's degree. Working knowledge of the other official language and knowledge of additional languages is desirable. Initial professional experience is also desirable but not mandatory.

Application Instructions
Please send the following three documents:
- A completed application form
- Curriculum Vitae
- A one-page essay on your motivations for an internship at NATO.
All applications must be sent per e-mail to the following address: intern.applications@hq.nato.int
Please note that we will be unable to place interns in all divisions. Candidates will be notified per e-mail on the status of their application.

More information
Website: http://www.nato.int/structur/interns/index.html
Email: internships@hq.nato.int


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CARE Bosnia and Herzegovina/ Croatia - Civil Society Development Programme, Western Balkans Youth and Student Democracy Initiative: Call for trainers
Application deadline: March 1, 2005 (for training module III)


The Bosnia and Herzegovina office of CARE International, which covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYRO Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro (including UNMIK AP Kosovo) announced a call for trainers.

In the framework of their Western Balkans Youth and Student Democracy Initiative, CARE International aims at contributing to the development of Western Balkans by supporting increased youth participation in NGOs, networks and councils that provide a voice for the aspirations of young people. Furthermore it aims at increasing their access and inclusion on developing youth policy with local and national government, with the aim to promote transparency and good governance in the region. Finally it aims at strengthening and diversifying the youth civil sector that will contribute to better accountability in government, fight racism and support greater integration between the Western Balkans and Europe.

Training module II "NGO organisational development" will focus on fundraising - modern approaches, networking management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting and income generation - and increasing financial sustainability. (To be held in March 2005)

Training module III "Advocacy and Community Mobilising" will focus on media campaign, voluntaries management, youth policy - education, social, cultural, economic and participation and developing an advocacy campaign. (To be held in June 2005)

The candidates applying to be trainers on the training modules should:
- Have a general knowledge of the situation of young people in South East Europe
- Have experience from previous involvement in the youth NGO sector in his or her country of origin and preferably in South East Europe
- Have an in-depth experience in conducting above mentioned training topics
- Use interactive communication techniques
- Must be creative leaders
- Must promote democratic values and be willing to share experiences in regards to their work
- Be fluent in English
- Have previous documented training experience in the youth field and/or third sector.

More information
Website: http://www.carebih.org/eng/n02.htm
Email: sp.carebl@blic.net


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European Commission - Daphne II Programme
Application deadline: March 4, 2005


Daphne is the Action programme which supports measures to fights against violence towards children, young persons and women. It supports their rights and protection, in particular regarding sexual exploitation and abuse. The total budget for the period 2004 -2008 is EUR 50 million. The annual budget for 2005 is EUR 10.2 million.

This programme aims to reach a high level of protection of physical and mental health by the protection of children, young people and women against violence, prevention of violence, and provision of support for victims of violence.

The specific actions and objectives are:
1. Identification and exchange of good practice and work experience: the objective is to support and encourage the exchange, adaptation and use of good practice for application in other contexts or geographical areas.
2. Mapping surveys, studies and research: the objective is to study phenomena related to violence.
3. Field work with the involvement of the beneficiaries: the objective is to actively implement proven methods in the prevention and protection from violence and in rehabilitation of victims.
4. Creation of sustainable multi-disciplinary networks: the objective is to support and encourage both non-governmental organisation and other organisations, including local public authorities (at municipality level) active in the fight against violence to work together.
5. Training and design of educational packages: the objective is to develop educational packages on the prevention of violence.
6. Development and implementation of treatment programmes: the objective is to develop and implement treatment programmes and support for victims and people at risk, such as children and young people who witness domestic violence. Equally, to develop treatment programmes for perpetrators with the aim of preventing violence whilst ensuring the safety of victims.
7. Awareness-raising activities targeted to specific audiences: the objective is to raise awareness and the level of understanding of violence against children, young people and women with the aim of promoting zero tolerance. Equally, to provide support to victims and groups at risk and the reporting of incidences of violence.

Eligible organisations: Public and non-profit making private organisations and institutions (local authorities at the competent level, university departments and research centres)

Eligible countries:
-25 Member States
-EFTA/EEA countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway - in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement
-Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. Specific conditions must first be met before organisations from these countries can be funded. However, participation without funding from the European Commission is allowed.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/funding/daphne/funding_daphne_en.htm
http://www.daphne-toolkit.org/
Email: jai-daphne@cec.eu.int


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Pepinieres europeennes pour jeunes artistes mapXXL programme
Application deadline: March 12, 2005


mapXXL (mobility in art process) is a programme of artistic promotion and mobility towards all the European partners, with an open mind to new creative methods. It will enable one hundred artists to appear on the European stage.

The map programme has uncovered a new and particularly promising generation of young artists throughout Europe who work with dedication and authenticity within the contemporary human, social and economic environments. The diversity of their artistic approaches is characterised by multi-disciplinary activity and the intention to share their experience with a varied public.

mapXXL, within the framework of a cooperation agreement and is defined by three areas of activity. It aims to broaden the scope of the organisation to the whole of Europe, with more than 100 partners in 25 countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada-Quebec, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, G.D of Luxemburg, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden).

The three areas of activity of mapXXL :
1. The mobility programme
encounter, exchange, produce within diversity of experiences :
May 2005 to February 2008
Aware of the young artists' expectations in regards to mobility and interaction with the public, this mobility programme encourages the birth of new forms of expression by considerably extending the field of operations.
- Open art programme: specific creative sites enabling new projects, varied artistic disciplines and encounter.
- Artshare: projects developed in places and with people very different to the usual artistic scene; the artist's view of social reality.
- Okuparte: young artists take over vacant shopping premises and create projects with the local inhabitants, thus renewing a social and economic dynamic.
- Artistes en entreprise (the artist in the workplace): an original artistic and human endeavour, placing the company workers at the centre of a creative project.
- European artistic trek (Parcours européen de la jeune création): proposals that emerge from a journey across Europe, through the experience of cultural diversity.

2. The communication pole
share, communicate, disseminate:
June 2005 to April 2008
To promote understanding and awareness of the new approaches and productions of the young artists by a large public, various important events are being prepared, notably:
- European forum for emerging creation
- Arte y cohesion social en Europa - art et cohesion sociale en Europe
- Umeni a nova media - art video et nouveaux medias
- Park in progress
- Les nuits europeennes de la jeune video (European nights of contemporary video)
These events constitute a genuine platform for dialogue and are the starting point of new co-productions.
Communication and dissemination are also underlined by:
- The development of new media partnerships.
- New media (interactive database, written publications).

3. The European agency for emerging creators
cross experiences, co-produce, perpetuate:
May 2005 to April 2008
Increasing the programme to include 25 countries requires a reinforcement of the mission statement of the European agency for young creation, which will centre around two main axes:
- The professionalisation of the young artists on the European artistic scene with a programme that invites co-production and setting up of training tools.
- Updating work methods of the cultural participants with regard to artistic mobility and to the professional and financial support of new partners.

Eligibility
The "Pepinieres europeennes pour jeunes artistes" competition is open to any artist between 20 and 35 years (born after March 13th 1969), native from or regularly working in one of the programme's 25 member countries.
Candidates may apply for one residency only, outside of their native country or the country where they work.
Laureates from previous programmes, formerly map or "artists in residence", cannot apply. In the event of litigation the association has final decision.

More information
Website: www.art4eu.net


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Academic Training Association - Teaching opportunities in Kosovo


The Academic Training Association offers interesting teaching opportunities in Kosovo. Academics and experts interested to teach at the Pristina Summer University PSU in 2005 in Kosovo, or in Bosnia, Macedonia, and Afghanistan, register at www.academictraining.org

The PSU brings together faculty and students for 3 weeks in various study areas, e.g. economics, law, humanities, natural sciences, etc.

ATA aims to contribute to the quality of education systems and the encouragement of long term regional and international academic cooperation in post-conflict societies.

More information
Website: http://www.academictraining.org/
http://www.antenna.nl/ysy/new/2/psuprofparticipate.html
Email: info@academictraining.org


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European Cultural Foundation - Project grants for non-government organisations
Application deadline: September 15, 2005


The European Cultural Foundation - EFC promotes cultural co-operation in Europe. It aims to contribute to an open and democratic Europe, which respects the basic human rights and cultural diversity of its people. The ECF has two principle objectives:
- To support innovative work not yet supported by the business sector or by public authorities
- To share new trans-European ideas, skills and experiences.

The ECF provides two types of grant that support projects developed by independent cultural organisations. The objective of the ACTION grants and INFORMATION grants is to encourage people to work together across geographical and cultural divides.
1. ACTION grants are awarded for cultural projects that involve mixed teams working towards a dynamic result and leading towards renewed dialogue and understanding.
2. INFORMATION grants are aimed to encourage experienced independent cultural organisations to evaluate, document and disseminate their findings to others across Europe. This should lead to the creation of new practical tools for improving cultural communication and co-operation. Innovative ways of communicating the findings are encouraged.

Pan European grants aims to make a contribution to the advocacy of culture in the integration and enlargement process. The activities supported will be: debates and seminars; research projects; innovative communication initiatives and art projects dealing with topical cultural issues of European relevance.
There is no application form for pan-European initiatives. Interested organisations are invited to send proposals to the Grants department.

The ECF's mobility scheme, STEP beyond (Supporting Travel for European Projects) encourages cross-border cultural co-operation and exchange between all European countries. Candidates eligible to apply are: Arts professionals; Cultural operators; Cultural journalists; Cultural translators; Cultural researchers.

There are no set dates for applications. Completed applications should be sent eight weeks before the travel date at the lastest. Applications will not be processed between 1 - 31 August, therefore applications should of been sent by the 28 June 2004 for travel between 30 August - 27 September 2004.

Lead organisations are: Independent cultural organisations (NGOs) from western, central, eastern and south eastern Europe, including Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia. Partner organisations are: Independent organisations from the South Mediterranean, including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. Organisations from these countries will be supported as partners, in projects submitted by a European NGO.

International projects will only be considered if there is a strong European component.
All applications must be made using the online form.

Grants awarded by the ECF will not exceed EUR 10-15 000.

More information
Website: http://www.eurocult.org
Email: eurocult@eurocult.org


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The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation - European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation
Application deadline: March 17, 2005


The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) was established in Venice on 15 September 2002 with the aim of providing an institutional foundation and autonomous management to the European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) and in order to enable the member universities to jointly develop additional human rights educational programmes.

As of December 2004, the EIUC is composed by 32 of the 37 European Universities already participating in the European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation, launched in July 1997.

The European Master's Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) is an intensive one-year academic programme to educate professionals in the field of human rights and democratisation and provide its graduates with practical work experience. It is a multidisciplinary programme that reflects the invisible links between human rights, democracy, peace and development.

The programme offers an action and policy-oriented approach to learning about international relations, law, philosophy, history, anthropology, political science and sociology. Students have the opportunity to meet and be taught by leading academics, experts and representatives of international organizations (including European Union representatives) while studying in a multi-cultural environment.

The programme offers a full semester in Venice and a semester in a participating University.

More information
Website: www.ema-humanrights.org, www.eiuc.org
Email: secretariat@emahumanrights.org


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Queen's University, Kingston Ont., Canada - Postdoctoral Fellowship in Democracy and Diversity
Application deadline: March 29, 2005


We are happy to announce a new postdoctoral fellowship program in "Democracy and Diversity" at Queen's University, funded in part by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. The program will run from 2005 - 2008. Each year, one non-renewable 12-month fellowship will be awarded, working under the supervision of Prof. Will Kymlicka.

The fellowship is part of a larger nexus of activities at Queen's relating to the normative and empirical study of democracy and diversity, including the Forum for Philosophy and Public Policy; the Research Group on Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multicultural Citizenship (www.queensu.ca/politics/rgonemc); the Fulbright Visiting Professorship in Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multicultural Citizenship; the Centre for the Study of Democracy; and the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations - all of which have active programs of workshops, conferences and visiting scholars and speakers.

The Fellow would be expected to participate in these various activities as appropriate, including presentation of his or her research findings, and to assist Prof. Kymlicka in the Forum's activities. The Fellow would also be expected to do some teaching (two half-courses). While "Democracy and Diversity" is to be understood expansively, and there are no pre-determined limits on the topics it may cover, Queen's has a special expertise in issues of ethnocultural diversity. Recent and ongoing activities have covered such topics as immigration and citizenship, multiculturalism and multicultural education, indigenous rights, affirmative action, historic injustice, nationalism and secession, language rights, and transnational democracy. Applicants who combine normative analysis with empirical case studies are particularly welcome.

More information
Website: http://www.queensu.ca/philosophy/


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Open Society Institute New York and Open Society Foundation Romania - The Global Supplementary Grants Program 2004 - 2005
Application deadline: for students pursuing Ph.D. in North America, Asia and Australia - April 1, 2005; for students pursuing Ph.D. in Western Europe and Middle/ Near East - June 3, 2005


The purpose of the program is to enable qualifies students to pursue Doctoral Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences at accredited universities in Western Europe, Middle/ Near East Europe, Asia, Australia, North America. Global SGP grants will be awarded on the basis of academic record, merit of the proposed study, applicant's long term goals and financial needs.

Eligibility criteria:
Only students who have been accepted into a full doctoral program at an accredited university and have already been awarded partial or full tuition, room and board stipends or other types of financial aid may apply.

Candidates must be nationals of one of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Serbia and Montenegro.
Members of the Roma community are encouraged to aply.

Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the spoken and written language of their host institution.

More information
Website: http://www.osf.ro
Application online: http://www.soros.org/grants/oas
Email: info@buc.osf.ro


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Central European University, Legal Studies Department - Diploma in Advanced European Union Legal Practice, July 4 - 22, 2005, Hungary
Application deadline: April 4, 2005


The Legal Studies Department of Central European University (CEU) is pleased to announce its new Diploma in Advanced European Union Legal Practice, organized by the Total Law Teaching Team, between July 4 and 22, 2005.

The program is about the Practice of European Union Law, providing insider hands-on analysis of the functioning of the European Union. As such, it constitutes an excellent course for those wishing to deepen their knowledge in the field or to prepare for working in or with EU institutions. The Total Law method believes in contextualization, situating a legal controversy, a court decision, a Treaty provision, a Directive or Regulation in its economic, social and political context.

The Total Law teaching team, led by Joseph Weiler, University Professor and Jean Monnet Chair at New York University School of Law, is a unique blend of well-known academics and senior officials working in the European Union institutions who have also written widely in the field. The members of his team are José M. de Areilza, Professor of European Union Law and Vice Dean of Legal Studies at Instituto de Empresa, Madrid; Kieran Bradley, member of the Legal Service of the European Parliament, Brussels; Damian Chalmers, Reader in EU law at the London School of Economics and Political Science; Miguel Poiares Maduro, Advocate General at the European Court of Justice, Luxembourg and Professor of European and International Law at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and Imola Streho, coordinator of the Team, referendaire at the European Court of Justice, Luxembourg.

The coursework will consist of seminars, workshops and daily assignments that will be completed individually or in-group. A basic knowledge of European Union Law is required to follow this advanced course. Those without this knowledge but wishing to participate are required to take a one-week Introductory Course to the Law of the European Union, offered immediately prior to the start of the program.

More information
Website: http://www.ceu.hu
http://www.ceu.hu/total_law.html


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Open Society Institute, Budapest - FINE 2005, Education Support Program
Application deadline: April 10, 2005


ESP has announced the 2005 call for proposals for RE:FINE. This education fund supports special projects to further open society goals in four priority areas: accountability, equity, anticorruption, and the improvement of learning outcomes that support open society values. RE:FINE provides strategic grants for networking projects in education in South Eastern Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia. The fund also supports projects in countries where OSI is developing new partnerships.

More information
Website: http://www.osi-edu.net/esp/
Email: nshablya@osi.hu (Natalia Shablya)


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European Commission, Europe Aid Cooperation Office - Combat against racism and xenophobia and discrimination against minorities and indigenous people
Application deadline: April 12, 2005


The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights - EIDHR, brings together the budget lines for promoting human rights, democracy and conflict prevention in countries outside of the EU.

The means to implement EU strategies in these fields will focus on the following thematic priority areas:
- Strengthening democratisation, good governance and the rule of law
- Activities in support of the abolition of the death penalty
- Combating torture and impunity and support for international tribunals and criminal courts
- Combating racism and xenophobia and discrimination against minorities and indigenous peoples.

This present call for proposals covers the theme for combating racism and xenophobia and discrimination against ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples in third countries i.e outside the EU. Project proposals designed to promote the following goals are eligible for funding:
- Combating Racism and Xenophobia - promoting the universal ratification of the UN International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination by 2005; the elaboration and implementation of effective national measures to combat discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin; discrimination based on caste.
- Combating discrimination against Ethnic Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - as regards ethnic minorities, preference will be given to applicants that either directly represent such minorities, or advocate for their rights and/or deliver services to such minorities.

Activities to be supported should focus on: training of community leaders, women and young people; helping ethnic minorities to obtain better access to justice; increasing the participation of ethnic minorities in public life; improving cultural, linguistic and religious rights. As regards indigenous peoples, activities should focus on: capacity-building for organisations of indigenous peoples, including through training and education, networking and participation in relevant fora; promoting dialogue between indigenous peoples and policy makers in local, regional and national authorities.

The minimum amount of funding for individual projects is EUR 300,000 (applicants with headquarter in EU)/ EUR 150,000 (applicants with headquarters in other eligible countries, ref. guidelines) with a maximum amount of EUR 1.5 million for the Support for Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and EUR 500,000 for Combating Racism & Xenophobia & Promoting the rights of Minorities. The Commission will finance only 80% of all eligible costs. In respect of local organisations in third countries, the grant may cover up to 100% of the eligible costs.

Applicants must be non-profit making, indigenous peoples' organisations and institutions, including tribal councils and other indigenous governance structures, non-governmental organisation, or a higher education institution.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/cfp_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl


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European Commission - Citizens and Governance in a knowledge based society - Priority 7
Application deadline: April 13, 2005


Priority 7 is the principal source of support for the Humanities and Social Sciences within the Sixth Framework Programme - FP6. It is intended to contribute to the creation of a European Research Area. The components of the programme are "knowledge-based society and social cohesion" and "citizenship democracy and new forms of governance".

The aim is to rationally mobilise the wealth and diversity of European research capacities in economic, political, social sciences and humanities. Issues will be addressed which relate to the emergence of the knowledge-based society and new forms of relationships between its citizens and between its citizens and institutions.

Under each research area are topics open for submission of proposals, for a Network of Excellence or an Integrated Project.

Knowledge-based society and social cohesion:
Research area 1: Improving the generation, distribution and use of knowledge and its impact on economic and social development. The topics are: Understanding knowledge; Knowledge dynamics and economic and societal development in Europe and in its regions; Science and technology in the knowledge based society.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are: knowledge based society; knowledge based entrepreneurship; social sciences and humanities.

Research area 2: Options and choices for the development of a knowledge-based society. The topics are: Societal trends in the knowledge based society and their implications for quality of life; Social cohesion in the knowledge based society; Promoting the knowledge society through life-long learning.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are: education challenges for the knowledge society; reinforcing the links between science and education; inter-generational inheritance of inequalities; insecurity.

Research area 3: The variety of paths towards a knowledge society. The topic is: Migration, immigration and multi-culturalism as challenges for knowledge based societies.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are: historical development of socio-economic development models; current pressures leading to convergence; citizens attitudes , preferences, civic values; sustainable development; knowledge for Humankind initiative.

Citizenship, democracy and new forms of governance:
Research area 4: The implications of European integration and enlargement for governance and the citizen. The topics are: "Deepening and widening of the European Union" - lessons from the past and visions of the future; Global governance, regulatory frameworks and the role of the European Union.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are: social, political and economic transformation in the candidate countries.

Research area 5: Articulation of areas of responsibility and new forms of governance. The topics are: Public interest - conception, regulation and implementation; Multilevel governance, democracy and new policy instruments; Towards a European Contract Law.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are: corporate social responsibility

Research area 6: Issues connected with the resolution of conflicts and restoration of peace and justice. The topic is: New approaches to security and the role of Europe.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are : human rights; violent conflicts.

Research area 7: New forms of citizenship and cultural identities. The topics are: European Citizenship and multiple identities; Cultural dialogue and the European society; New perspectives on European History.
Topics for specific targeted research projects and Co-ordination Actions are:active civic participation; European public sphere.

Eligibility: legal entities, e.g. individuals, industrial and commercial firms, universities, research organisations, etc. including SMEs.
Countries able to participate with community funding are: the 25 EU-Member States, the Associated Candidate Countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey), Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Israel.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/p7/index_en.html
http://fp6.cordis.lu/citizens/calls.cfm
Email: rtd-citizens@cec.eu.int


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Open Society Institute - Soros Supplementary Grants Programme
Application deadline: April 15, 2005


This programme was created to assist the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe - CEE, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia, who are pursuing advanced study within this region but outside of their home countries. It is part of the Open Society Institute's overall efforts to strengthen the academic network within and among these countries. The objective is to support cross-cultural, intra-regional student mobility.

Grants will be offered to :
I. standard eligibility students of the social sciences, humanities and fine and performing arts, who have already arranged for part of the costs of their to be covered.
II. special need students: Roma; refugees; people seeking political asylum; displaced (forced migrants).

Grants are available to undergraduates and post-graduates enrolled at recognised institutes of higher education. The institutes should be outside of their home country or permanent residence and in one of the participating countries.

Participating countries are: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia & Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Estonia; Georgia; Hungary; Kazakstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia; Moldova; Mongolia; Poland; Romania; Russia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Yugoslavia.

The grants are offered for one academic year and will be granted in amounts ranging from $ 1,000 to 5,000 US.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/soros_supplementary/guidelines
Email: info@osi.hu


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European Cultural Foundation - Support of independent cultural projects
Application deadline: September 15, 2005


Grant-giving in support of independent cultural projects continues to be a core commitment of the ECF. In an enlarged EU where there is a lack of accessible funding for cross border projects, we remain convinced that grants for small to medium-sized cultural organizations are an essential part of developing collaborative practice and boosting the cultural dimension of a richly diverse Europe.

The support we can offer is modest. Yet in recent years new partnerships and a growing synergy between ECF grants, programmes and advocacy work have opened new opportunities: grantees can now influence the Foundation's work at policy level and we are strengthening our support of projects in regions which fall beyond the remit of many other European funders.

So what are we looking for in 2005?
We want you to keep inspiring us and broadening our perspectives! As before, we will only support projects that clearly relate to our in-house activities. This does not mean that we will apply unnecessarily rigid criteria. It is up to you to explain the link between your work and our current areas of interest. We welcome applications that will surprise us, and we are ready to take some risks.
We want to receive inventive, well-argued applications that relate in a precise and genuine way to at least one of our current areas of interest. Brief explanations and project examples relevant to our areas of interest can be read online or downloaded as pdf file.

For a more comprehensive overview of the Foundation's objectives, you should read about our in-house programmes in arts, media, mobility and cultural policy. News items on our homepage and in our E-zine (subscribe) will give you the latest updates.You may also subscribe to our cultural policy bulletins, just click on the right handside of http://www.policiesforculture.org/.

What next?
When you have a clear idea of how your project fits in with our areas of interest, read the grants guidelines to make sure your project is eligible for support. Then simply download the application form (in Word). Your application should present clear arguments explaining why your project deserves ECF support. The form must be submitted online.

Your project should be relevant to one or more of the following areas of interest. You may choose to focus on one interest alone or you can explore links between different concerns if your project has a broader scope. Your chances of being awarded a grant will bear no relation to the number of different areas of interest you mention. We are looking for quality, originality and the strength of your project's relevance to the Foundation's objectives.

The six areas of interest are listed below:
- Intercultural competence and collaboration across borders
- Increased participation in the arts and the media
- The cultural dimension of EU enlargement
- Strategies for change within cultural infrastructures
- Creative responses to current political issues
- Development of a common public and cultural European space

The relevance of your project to one or more of our 'current areas of interest' should be considered and referred to as a recurring argument in your application. If you have not already done so, read 'Introduction to Grants' and 'How to apply'.
Next, it is essential that you download and read carefully the Grants Guidelines (available as a pdf file) before filling in the Application Form or contacting us with any enquiries.
Please remember that we are looking for high professional standards, genuine forms of cross-border cooperation, and European relevance. There will be considerable competition, and we are unable to support every eligible project. You will need to convince us why the ECF as a European Foundation should support your project in particular.

More information
Website: http://www.eurocult.org/


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AEGEE Iasi - International seminar on Human Rights, March 29 - April 4, 2005, Iasi, Romania


AEGEE Iasi invites all interested youth at the international seminar "The compatibility between Islam and the European dimension of Human Rights", to be hold in Iasi, between 29th of March - 4th of April 2005.

Our event is part of the broader AEGEE Europe EuroIslam project, and it's recognized by The Council of Europe (C.O.E.), the Prefecture of Iasi, The European Center of Resources and Consultancy Iasi, the Students' Cultural House Iasi. We also invited speakers from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Embassy from Romania.

The aim of the seminar is raising awareness on basic human rights and liberties among European youth and discussing the compatibility of the Islam with the concept of Human Rights, using a pertinent approach and considering the efforts of Turkey's adhesion to the EU.

The main result of the seminar will consist in an official Resolution, containing participants' conclusions and recommendations, as stated during the workshops. The Resolution will be handed to the representatives of the political environment: EU Institutions (European Commission and European Parliament), the Council of Europe, the Turkish Government and to the national and international mass-media.

More information
Website: http://www.aegee.org/euroislam/seminariasi


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Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Regional Office Sarajevo and Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik - Women and Politics, May 19 - 22, 2005, Sarajevo/ Dubrovnik, Croatia
Application deadline: as soon as possible


The topic of this year seminar is "Eastern Europe and the Third World - Women's Attempt to Re-establish the Dialogue".

Relations between Eastern European countries and the Third World countries before the fall of the communist regimes in EE had been developed in many ways, as political, economic, cultural and other kinds of cooperation. True, all the relations had been unavoidably mediated by the state structures; however, as those structures had mostly left some space for meeting genuine needs and for involvement of actors who were not just in the service of the regimes, so at least some women's organisations had used the chances for exchanges.

Within this framework, women's organizations in these countries had been in more or less regular contacts, sometimes keeping significant cooperation, with certain results. One could argue that at that time many more achievements related to the status of women in these countries had been gained than it was the case later. Moreover, it could be argued that some of achieved results have been lost during the last 15 years. However, at both sides of the world, all these achievements had been based on the states' ideologies and attempts of the governments for changes. Nowadays we have governments less focused, or not willing at all, to do or support changes in this respect; on the contrary, we are witnessing a growing of rather powerful women's/feminist grassroots movement in all these countries.

The problem is that in the given circumstances, women's/ feminist movements in these countries are much more oriented and related to Western Countries, while the relations between what used to be called the 'Second' and the 'Third' words disappeared within the post-cold-war geo-political framework. The East-South relations are neither considered significant for the 'transition' to democracy, nor are they included in the agendas of major donors and international NGOs, i.e. such exchanges lack both governmental and nongovernmental support.

Opposite to the tacit mainstream assumptions, we believe that Eastern European countries and the countries of the Third World still have a lot in common in their political, economic and cultural developments, as well as lots of similar interests. Moreover, the global changes open new opportunities and challenges for women's rights organisations, activists, and committed researchers and scholars to explore potentials of exchanges and cooperation free of patronising state structures and ideologies, but also free from patronising support from established democracies in the advanced countries.

According to the particular focus and interest of the seminar "Women and Politics", we are convinced that there is a need for re-establishing of the dialogue and cooperation of these two "worlds" and this seminar will try to initiate it. The seminar is mostly, but not exclusively, oriented towards women feminist researches and activists from non-Western countries. We expect participants of the seminar to prepare a research paper on the proposed topic. Women interested in attending the seminar, as active participants are encouraged to contact Zenska infoteka by phone, fax, post or email at the earliest possible convenience. Please, confirm your interest for participation, so that we can proceed with organization of the seminar.

More information
Website: www.zinfo.hr
Email: zinfo@zamir.net


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Balkan Case Challenge 2004 - 2005 (Student Case Competition), May 5 - 9, 2005, Sarajevo, Bosnia - Herzegovina
Application deadline: February 15, 2005


Target group: Students enrolled at universities in Southeast Europe
We are looking for exceptional students with excellent skills/academic performance to take part in a valuable and informative event. At the Balkan Case Challenge 2004/05 you will have the opportunity to meet the Southeast European leaders of today and tomorrow, challenging you to put theory into action by discussion, teamwork and critical analysis. Students from the SEE region will have a chance to put their knowledge into use and work in teams for one of the 4 offered competitions with valuable awards to strive for.

Students from the following countries can apply for the final BCC 2004/05: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania and Slovenia.

For participation the following options are available:
Model United Nations - MUN (for students of Political Science, International Relations and related disciplines)
Business Case Challenge - BIZ (for students of Business/Economics/Management)
Law Moot Court - LMC (for students of law)
Information Communication Technology - ICT Case Competition (for students of Technical Sciences).

All the costs for participants (accommodation, travel, food, visa and travel insurance) during the four-day event will be covered by the organizers.

The best students will be awarded internships/scholarships/research and visits. The participating companies use the BCC for recruiting also.

Official language of the competition is English.

More information
Website: www.ainsee.info/bcc


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Citizenship through Education: What role for NGOs?, Warsaw, Poland, April 21 - 24, 2005
Application deadline: February 28, 2005


National and international NGOs are invited to apply for participation in a conference on "The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in the field of Education for Democratic Citizenship", which will take place in Warsaw on 21- 24 April 2005.

The main aim of the Conference is to exchange good practice between European NGOs working in the field of education for democratic citizenship and human rights education. The results/ outcomes of the Conference will be reflected in work on recommendation of Non-Governmental Organisations to the 3rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe (which will take place in Warsaw on 16-17 May 2005).

More information
Website: http://www.coe.int/T/e/Cultural_Co-operation/education/E.D.C/What's_new/074_NGO_Conference_April_Warsaw.asp#TopOfPage


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Center for Civilizational and Regional Studies and Institute for African Studies - "Hierarchy and Power in the History of Civilizations", 4th International Conference, June 13-16, 2006, Moscow, Russia
Application deadline: March 15, 2005


Center for Civilizational and Regional Studies in cooperation with the Institute for African Studies (both under the Russian Academy of Sciences) is organizing in Moscow on June 20-23 2006 the Forth International Conference "Hierarchy and Power in the History of Civilizations".

The immediate objective of the 4th Conference is to discuss the following issues:
- Civilizational and evolutionary models of socio-political development
- Hierarchy and heterarchy in the sociopolitical history of humankind
- Hierarchical and net structures in the history of cultures and civilizations
- Interaction of the socio-political and cultural-mental groups of factors in the processes of social transformations
- Cultural and socio-biological foundations and factors of dominance in human societies
- Power strategies vs. stages of political evolution
- Ideology and legitimation of power in different civilizational contexts
- Violence and non-violence in the history of political institutions formation, development and decline
- The role of economy in sociopolitical processes
- Access to information as a condition and its use as a means of political manipulation and mobilization
- The "classical" (band, tribe, chiefdom, state) and "alternative" forms of sociopolitical organization
- "Traditional" and recent schools and trends in the study of the "hierarchy and power" problematique.

Suggestions for discussion of any other aspects of the general problematique of the Conference reflected in its title, are also welcomed.
The working languages of the Conference are Russian and English.

The Organizing Committee will be glad to consider any panel proposals (within 500 words in any of the Conference working languages) which will be received by March 15, 2005. The information to be submitted alongside with the proposal, includes the panel convenor's full name, title, institutional af-filiation, full mail and e-mail addresses, and fax number, as well names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses of not less than two other possible participants of the panel, at least one of which should represent a country other than that of the convenor.

The Organizing Committee will inform the applicants about the results of their panel proposals' con-sideration by April 1, 2005. Besides that, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to establish one or two free communication panels. It is suggested that each of the panels will eventually include about a dozen papergivers, and the list of all the participants is to become known in the beginning of the year 2006 due to the activities of both the Organizing Committee and panel convenors. None of the proposals may be accepted or rejected on the basis of its submitter's previous academic credentials, ethnic or national origin, sex, or otherwise, but only on the basis of the proposal's relevance to and importance for, the Conference's general problematique. Proposals emphasizing theoretical and cross-regional ap-proaches to the 'hierarchy and power' problematique are strongly encouraged. In the case the proposal is accepted, the Organizing Committee will send you the list of documents necessary to support your and your panel participants' visa application process at the Russian Consulate or Embassy in the respective countries.

The Conference participant's registration fee is 100 euros (or the equivalent sum in US dollars or Russian rubles) which includes the visa application support at the Russian Foreign Ministry,culture program, Conference Book of Abstracts, reception, coffee breaks, is to be paid on the spot upon arrival.

All the correspondence should be sent for the Conference Secretaries, Ms. Anastasia A. Banshikova and Ms. Svetlana V. Kobzeva preferably by e-mail, or either by fax, or by ordinary mail.

More information
Website: http://www.civreg.ru
Email: civ-reg@inafr.ru


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The Havighurst Center for Russian & Post-Soviet Studies, Miami and University of Ohio - Thinking in after Utopia. East - European and Russian Philosophy before and after the Collapse of Communismm, October 27 - 30, 2005
Application deadline: April 10, 2005


Plenary speakers: Mikhail Epstein (Emory University) and Vladimir Tismaneanu (University of Maryland)

The 2005 annual Havighurst young researchers' conference is dedicated to exploring
- The state of East - European and Russian philosophy today
- How philosophical ideas contributed (or didn't contribute) to the process of dismantling of the Communist system
- The effects that the collapse and Communism had on shaping new configurations/ movements of philosophical ideas in Eastern Europe and Russia.

The conference is conceived of as a forum where young researchers in the field of East - European and Russian studies/ philosophy come, from all over the world, and share their views and the outcomes of their research, interact with senior researchers in the field, and with Miami University faculty and students.

We are interested in bringing together papers that deal not necessarily with philosophical problems/ topics taken in themselves, but especially with the sophisticated, ever-changing interplay that took place in the Communist countries between philosophy and politics, philosophy and ideology, philosophy and social life, philosophy and the other humanities, philosophy and the arts. What role (if any) did various philosophical practices (teaching, research, philosophically-informed cultural journalism or philosophically-inspired civic movements, etc) play in undermining the Marxist ideology in East-Europe and Russia? On the other hand, how precisely did philosophy (Marxism included) permeate the (societal, intellectual, cultural) life in the Communist regimes? What happened with philosophy and with the net of relationships that it had established with politics, ideology, social life, etc. when the system collapsed? What happens with the life of mind when one school of thought (Marxism) becomes the only accepted school of though? What happens with that school of thought itself under such conditions? What happened with all the Marxist philosophers of Eastern Europe and Russia in the 90'? What have become of them? What are, in general, the sources of the post-communist Russian and East-European philosophy? To what extent the "dissident philosophers" (Patocka, Havel, and others) can be seen as practitioners of the ancient conception of "philosophy as a way of life"? These are only some of the issues to be addressed in the course of the conference.

Call for papers:
Young scholars (ABDs, Post-docs, Assistant-Professors, etc.) working in the field of East-European and Russian thought are hereby cordially invited to submit abstracts on these or any other issues related to the conference's topic.

Funding:
Those selected to present papers will be provided with accommodation for the duration of the conference, ground transportation from/to the airport, and partial travel funding (up to $250 for domestic travel and up to $500 for international travel).

Publication:
We plan to publish the conference papers in an edited volume with a major US academic press.

Email submissions are strongly encouraged. Please send abstracts (no longer than 300 words) and a copy of your CV to:

Dr. Costica Bradatan,
Havighurst Fellow & Conference Coordinator
Department of Philosophy,
221 Hall Auditorium,
Miami University,
Oxford, OH-45056
USA

More information
Website: http://casnov1.cas.muohio.edu/havighurstcenter/
Email: bradatc@muohio.edu


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Culturelink Network - Dynamics of Communication: New Ways and New Actors, June 9 - 12, 2005, Zagreb, Croatia
Application deadline: April 30, 2005


The Culturelink Network announces the Second World Culturelink Conference entitled "Dynamics of Communication: New Ways and New Actors", to be held in Zagreb, Croatia, on 9 - 12 June 2005. The conference is organised with the aim to examine new ways, new instruments and new actors in cultural communications, and discuss aspects of international mobility, primarily based on networking and information exchange.

More information
Website: http://www.culturelink.org/conf/clinkconf/index.html
Email: clinkconf@irmo.hr


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Hojskolen Ostersoen - Cultures in Dialog 2005 for Young Europeans, July 17 - 30, 2005, Aabenraa, Denmark
Application deadline: May 1, 2005


Hojskolen Ostersoen will carry out Cultures in Dialogue 2005, together with eight other organizations. 180 young Europeans representing Europe's national, cultural and linguistic diversity, minorities and majorities, will be invited to the event carried out from July 17th to July 30th 2005 in the Danish - German border region.

Cultures in Dialogue will be an opportunity for participants to experience Europe, explore its diversity face to face, and get insights into and influence Europe's current agenda. Cultures in Dialogue are also a social event, which will give participants the opportunity to expand their European network. Participants must be between 18 and 25 years of age with good English language qualifications. Applicants between the age of 16 and 17 can apply for participation at one of the 3 involved schools (Deutsche Nachschule Tingleff). Applicants from EU 25, EU-candidate countries, from regions with minorities and representing NGOs/voluntary associations are given priority. Participants should be willing to contribute actively, to survey minority issues in their region, and assist in follow-up dissemination activities. There is a participation fee of 100 EURO. Travel costs will be reimbursed in full on arrival (cheapest possible ticket). Board and lodging is free.

Cultures in Dialogue will debate how to give recognition to national minorities within the EU. Over 38 million or every 11th citizen in the enlarged EU belongs to a minority. This reality, however, is not reflected in any EU-policy or EU-programme dealing with minorities. This in spite of the fact, that respect for the rights of minorities are now included in the new EU-Constitution as being part of the Union's fundamental values. Minorities experience that they are not recognised by the EU as contributors to a Europe "united in its diversity". The 180 participants will therefore negotiate how to make the ideal a reality. Result will be a joint Resolution, which in follow-up is disseminated to the European public and decision-makers. The event will thus in itself become a manifestation of a public actively shaping the democratic processes of Europe.

Cultures in Dialogue also invite participants to produce information material (TV, booklet, articles for publication in regional media in Europe and website) presenting minorities in Europe and their expectations towards the enlarged EU. Cultures in Dialogue thus aim at promoting tolerance Europe's minority and majority population groups in between. Cultures in Dialogue will as point of departure mark the 50th anniversary in 2005 of the so-called Copenhagen - Bonn Declarations agreed on by the Danish and German governments in 1955 with the aim of securing the rights of the minorities in the Danish - German border region. The Declarations have been important sources for the development of peaceful co-existence in the region. It is important to include on the EU-agenda the experience that minorities are a source of cultural richness (and not conflict) for Europe.

More information
Website: http://www.people.hojoster.dk/SEEEMS/3028.asp
Email: jen@hojoster.dk (Jesper Nielsen, Project Coordinator)


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South East European Child Rights Action Network - Participation in the project "Civil society talks about the new social model of the enlarged Europe"


The South East European Child Rights Action Network (SEECRAN) is currently implementing the programme entitled "Civil society talks about the new social model of the enlarged Europe", which is funded by the EU in the framework of the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission. The implemented partners in the project are the ARSIS - Association for the Social Support of Youth from Greece, as coordinator, SEECRAN from Slovenia and Partners Hungary Organisation from Hungary.

The project is targeted to organisations from South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYRO Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro), Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

The present project aims primarily at the promotion of social dialogue among civil society organisations from countries of South East Europe, which are in different stages regarding their integration to the European Union. Furthermore, this intervention aims at the improvement of the targeted civil society organisations' communication and networking skills for the reinforcement of their role as mediators between the citizens at the local level and the European Union at the institutional level.

The main topic of discussion, during the whole project, will be the European Social Model and its realisation in the regional conditions. That's why the three partner organisations have created a Questionnaire, which aims to investigate the NGOs' opinion on a variety of themes around the European Social Model. The organisations would like to enquire your organisation's view and are therefore asking organisations from South East Europe to fill in the Questionnaire available at http://www.salto-youth.net/download/376/questionnaire.doc and send it to info@seecran.org.

More information
Email: info@seecran.org (Tanja Gregorec)


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The Institue for War and Peace Reporting - Bosnia War Crimes Education Project


The Institue for War and Peace Reporting in Sarajevo, in association with the Bosnian branch of its regional partner Balkans Investigative Reporting Network, is launching a new project designed to prepare journalists and the public for the local prosecution of war crimes in Bosnia and Hercegovina, BiH.

To coincide with the opening of the new War Crimes Chamber, the Sarajevo team has designed a specialised, in-depth training course for journalists and war crimes-related interest groups. Its objective is to rally public interest and support for this next stage in the process of truth, justice and reconciliation, which is crucial to BiH's post-war recovery.

The project, due to commence in February 2005, will give local media unprecedented access to professional training, advice and experts with a view to creating conditions for good coverage of trials in the local press, TV and radio. Through a series of one-week seminars, journalists from BiH will have an opportunity to learn about the responsibility that rests on their shoulders when reporting war crimes trials and be given the opportunity to meet with the key players in the transitional justice process. In addition, associations of victims, veterans and other key citizens' groups will learn more about the new court.

A series of events will be put in place with the aim of preparing relevant NGOs for the transfer of trials to the local courts and offering them a unique opportunity to share their views with court officials on a regular basis.

This public engagement will be reinforced with the production and widespread distribution of an accessible guide to the local war crimes process.

The project follows on from IWPR's unrivalled coverage of - and training and debates on - war crimes justice-related issues in the Hague tribunal and BiH.

The project is supported by the Swiss embassy in BiH and UNESCO with the logistical support from the Hague tribunal and the Registry Office of the War Crimes Chamber in BiH.

More information
Email: jelacic@media.ba (Nerma Jelacic, manager IWPR BiH's)


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Step Forward in Opening of Western Balkans
www.balkankult.org


BalkanKult Foundation has been established with the intention of supporting and developing artistic and creative potential within the region, as well as cooperation between the region and other parts of the world.

BalkanKult Foundation continues the work started and realized by the regional association BalkanKult, which was established in 1999, in Sarajevo.

The goals of the foundation are development of creative industries in the region, support for cultural diversity, development of regional cultural market, and support for mobility of people, ideas and works.

In the context of providing financial logistics, the Foundation will offer co-operation to other big international foundations and institutions.

More information
Website: www.balkankult.org


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BalkanKult - Publications


- The Green Paper on cultural policies of local and regional authorities in Europe
BalkanKult has published a version of the Green Paper in Serbian language, Latin letter, so that it could be understood in the region of the Western Balkans. We firmly believe that this document will be most valuable for cultural practitioners, artists and administrators in the region.

This text should be seen as a way of engaging a dialogue with the European civil society and the political sector at large which includes the European institutions, the national institutions, NGOs and European cultural networks.
The book deals with:
- Actively involving local and regional authorities in the elaboration of a legal framework for external cultural cooperation
- Legitimizing support systems in the cultural sector not only those established by member States, but more specifically those established by regions, cities and intermediary local governing bodies
- Non-exclusivity of States in the initiatives taken in the television and cinema sectors
- Valorisation of common cultural heritage, which general consensus agrees, is a priority for local and regional governments.

An analysis of the place of local government in the cultural sector in Europe focuses on its capacity to provide the public with the key to an understanding of the world that is not solely based on profit, economics and mass consumption. The decentralization of cultural activities contributes to this process providing that the complementarities between different levels of government (local, provincial, regional, national and European) is respected. Local and regional authorities can be guarantors of diversity because they are present in the "public" domain and close to the non-institutional sector. Democratic transparency of decision-making should be increased if the legitimacy of policymaking is to be respected. Finally emphasis is placed on the importance attached to perceiving cultural policy at local or regional level as a transversal, open and questioning process if we do not want the "global village" to become a juxtaposition of entrenched camps. Culture must be a process of communication with the other in order to be creative.

- Artistic Expression in a Corporate World; Do we need monopolistic control? By Dr. Joost Smiers
A remarkable work by one of the most distinguished European cultural researchers. Could be downloaded from our website freely.

- Official regional documents on culture; where stands the culture?

- Cultural Manifestations in Vojvodina Province (available on BalkanKult website www.balkankult.org URL http://www.balkankult.org/bk/publications.php)
More than 150 cultural manifestations in Vojvodina Province, including the manifestations of the minorities and ethnic groups.

More information
Website: www.balkankult.org


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Roma Virtual Network: overview, needs, perspectives


Roma Virtual Network is a public, non-partisan, non-profit grass-roots initiative under the auspices of International Romani Union. It is aimed to provide the international Romani community and friendly non-Roma organizations and individuals with useful information on Roma issues in variety of languages via the Internet.

Date of establishment: 19 July 1999. It has been started as a private initiative and gained the recognition of many national and international, governmental and non-governmental NGOs dealing with Roma issues, especially in Europe. It contains 35 electronic mailing lists with the membership over 3500 email addresses.

The activity of Roma Virtual Network is actively helping to facilitate the cooperation and exchange of information within Roma organizations and individuals, between Roma and non-Roma organizations and individuals and also between Roma NGOs and official institutions. It relates with the variety of Roma-related political, cultural, economic and social issues on local and international levels. It is aimed to support the improvement of the Romani situation in Europe and other regions of the world.

More information
Email: romale@zahav.net.il


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Romania: The 1% mechanism - a new funding opportunity for NGOs


Starting with 2005, Romanian NGOs can benefit of a new funding mechanism - the 1%, through which any citizen can decide on how 1% of his income tax is spent, by directing it to a non-profit organisation. In this context, turning this potential source of funds into a real one will depend on how each organisation is able to persuade its beneficiaries to donate to it 1% of their income tax.

This mechanism is already functional in other Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia. It was adopted in Romania following an initiative of several MPs of the former legislature, among whom the present minister of culture, Mona Musca, and was supported by more than 200 NGOs.

(Source: http://www.ecumest.ro/)

More information: www.unulasuta.ro
www.onepercent.hu


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Marmara University Research Center for International Relations - Databases


Marmara University Research Center for International Relations (MURCIR), which was established in 1994 aims to provide an academic and intellectual forum and carry research in recent developments in the field of International Relations. With an aim to initiate and contribute to platforms of discussions, MURCIR has so far taken a keen interest in post-1990 Balkan issues, Greco-Turkish relations, conflict resolution in the Middle East, Turkey's relations with the EU, foreign policy analysis of recent Turkish governments, global politicization of ethnicity, re-evaluation of international relations paradigms, and finally international migration. As well as many others, it recently organized a workshop on "Irregular Migration, Informal Labour Markets and Community in Europe" in collaboration with NIWL (National Institute for Working Life) and the Swedish Consulate General of Istanbul on 16 - 17 October 2003.

As a part of this recent ongoing project on international migration, MURCIR established two databases which are accessible through our website since December 1, 2004.

The first database includes the researchers studying on migration issues in Turkish universities and institutions (Migration-Turkey Database). The second database is about those studying on the same issue around the world (Migration-World Database).

Recognizing the importance of academic networks in the exchange of ideas and in establishing effective collaboration among the scholars, we are very glad to host a third database, which we think it will be a valuable contribution to the academia in Turkey and the world. This database is on the scholars at the departments of Political Science and International Relations, and Public Administration of Turkish universities (PS&IR Academics-Turkey Database).


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http://rezensionen.oei-berlin.de/


A site hosted by the Institute of Eastern European Studies at the FU Berlin with online reviews (in German) of new books on Southeastern Europe.


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http://www.salto-youth.net/infosee
Links to South East Europe countries


From September 2003 until September 2004 the SALTO-YOUTH South East Europe Resource Centre ran a trainee programme, which offered six youth leaders from countries in South East Europe the opportunity to work with the Centre for a period of one to two months.

A part of the work of the trainees was to provide the Resource Centre with relevant information about their country and facilitate access to finding appropriate information in fields, such as youth, youth mobility, travelling and culture, which is available in English or, in some cases, in other European languages.

Links to information concerning young people and youth work from countries in South East Europe have now been updated and are available on our web site under http://www.salto-youth.net/infosee. You can find links to information regarding Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYRO Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro. The SEE country profiles prepared by the trainees (and already announced in prior issues of this newsletter) as well as the "Highlights from the country profiles" can also be downloaded from this page.

If you would like to add or update a specific link, please do not hesitate to send us email to see@salto-youth.net. All information is welcome, in particular about links to information concerning Albania and UNMIK AP Kosovo.


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http://www.see-database.org/
CDRSEE Database with NGOs and Experts who work towards Reconciliation in South East Europe


This database has been part of the "Reconciling for the Future" project which has included an internet forum and a workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece. This programme was initiated under the aegis of the Hellenic Presidency of the European Union, co-organised with the Stability Pact for South East Europe, and was supported by the Foreign Ministries of Greece, Norway, Canada and Sweden. The database is currently supported by the Principality of Liechtenstein.


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http://leonardo.cec.eu.int/psd/
Partner Search Database


The Partner Search Database (PSD) is a tool for promoting project ideas and searching partners for those wishing to participate in and/or co-ordinate Leonardo da Vinci projects. This service is provided by the European Commission DG Education and Culture in three languages: English, French and German.


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http://www.southeasteurope.org/
SEE Online


Southeast Europe Online is designed as a Balkan portal site focusing on creating a virtual network of NGOs in Southeast Europe. The project covers seven countries: Albania, Bosnia&Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FR Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Romania.


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http://civnet.org/
A website of Civitas International


CIVNET is an online resource and service for civic education practitioners (teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum designers), as well as scholars, policymakers, civic-minded journalists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting civic education all over the world.


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Euroregional Center for Democracy

Semenic Nr. 10
300035, Timisoara
Romania

Tel: + 4 0256 221 471
Fax: + 4 0256 436 633

http://www.regionalnet.org

Editor:
Camelia Cocioba

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