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The EU Danube Strategy Conference for NGOs/CSOs of the Danube Basin

Table of Contents Overview of the project .................................................................................................... 2

Budapest Opening Conference ...................................................................................... 3 Overview of the Budapest Opening Conference......................................................... 3

Programme ......................................................................................................................... 4

List of the Participants ..................................................................................................... 5 Joint Declaration ............................................................................................................... 6

E-mail text to participants and invited delegates in conjunction with the Joint Declaration ........................................................................................................................... 8 List of the organizations participated ................................................................................. 9

in the conference and in the adoption of the Joint declaration that have received the last via e-mail and that haven’t stated their retraction from the Joint declaration and/or have highlighted their approval of the text ..................................... 9

List of the invited organizations ........................................................................................ 10

that have received the Joint declaration via e-mail and haven’t stated their retraction and/or have highlighted their approval of the text ..................................... 10

List of the participating organizations .............................................................................. 12

in the conference and in the adoption of the Joint declaration that have received the last via e-mail and that have stated their retraction from the Joint declaration . 12

List of the invited organizations ........................................................................................ 13

that have received the Joint declaration via e-mail and have stated their retraction from the Joint declaration .............................................................................................. 13

Open Space Draft ............................................................................................................ 14

Attachments ....................................................................................................................... 17

Photos ............................................................................................................................ 17

conferencies * Summary of the Budapest Open Conference

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Overview of the project In the communication related to the implementation of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), an important role is attributed to the NGO sector. Thus, it is necessary to prepare and enable NGOs to fulfill this role. The DANUBENET project provides efficient means for this preparation such as networks development, knowledge transfer, information sharing as well as a multipliable model for the organization of local informative events. In 2011 the Association of Hungarian Settlements’ and Regions’ Developers started realizing the DaNet project, kindly supported by the EU Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and with close collaboration with the Hungarian National Rural Network. The core of the project is the organization of more than 20 informative conferences in 10 countries from the Danube basin. The main aim of this series of conferences is to provide NGOs in the interested countries with the opportunity to get familiar with and understand the priorities of the Danube region and the general practices of the EUSDR. In the scope of the project NGOs will be encouraged to foster national, cross-border and international partnerships around various priority areas and issues of the EUSDR. The participating NGOs will be given the opportunity to cooperate in the creation and exploitation of possibilities for joint work related to the Danube Strategy. The project will lay the foundations of networks of NGOs (DANUBENET) interested in the successful implementation of the EUSDR. The beginning of the project was marked at an opening conference in Budapest that aimed at preparing all the participants for the organization of the next scheduled conferences within the framework of the project. The program of the series of events covers all the 11 priority areas of the Danube Strategy and all events include: 1) a conference with speakers from national governments and expert organizations 2) a workshop which addresses specific issues using the Open Space Workshop method 3) a forum facilitating partner search, networking and project generation. The organizers also ensure the widest possible media coverage of the event (press conference, press releases). The project is to finish with a final closing conference – DANUBENET Congress that is also going to take place in Budapest in June 2012 aiming at giving a proper institutional framework for the newly established cooperation and turning into an annual Civil Forum for NGOs for successful implementation of the EUSDR. Warm regards, On behalf of the organizing team: István Szilvássy – president Association of Hungarian Settlements’ and Regions’ Developers


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Budapest Opening Conference Overview of the Budapest Opening Conference On 29-30 November, 2011 on the board of the Fortuna boat harbored beside the Pest bank of the Danube river a conference was hold. NGOs from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, England, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania gathered to mark the beginning of an initiative that aims at elevating the role of NGOs and turning them into an active and engaged actor in the implementation of the EUSDR. The first day was dedicated to keynote speeches. Mr Tamás Deutsch, Member of the European Parliament greeted the attendants

of the conference in a video message.

On the second day the DANUBENET network was launched by a Partnership Agreement and the participants discussed the steps to be taken in the period of time ahead.


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Programme Tuesday 29 November

09:00-10:00 Registration and Coffee Club

10:00-10:20 Live Folk Music Introduction - Danube Region Music Heritage

10:20-11:20 Welcome Address on behalf of the Local Government of Budapest, the

European Parliament, the European Commission and the Government

of Hungary

11:20-12:00 Coffee Break / Signature of Cooperation Agreement of NGOs and

Press Conference

12:00-13:00 Views on the issues covered by the PA2 "Encourage more sustainable

energy"

13:00-14:00 Lunch break

14:00-16:00 Open Space Excercices with Participants with the aim to define the

framework of NGOs networking for the success of EUSDR.

16:00- Sightseeing / Private Sessions on organization of upcoming

conferences

Wednesday 30 November

10:00-10:15 Head of the EIB Office of Vienna, Dr Maravic speaks about the EIB's

support in the implementation of the EUSDR through providing an

overview on the instruments of the EIB and on the conditions of

financing of projects

10:15-13:00 Workshops and round table discussions with NGO participants;

conclusion of cooperation agreement of Danube Pearls Project

proposal (revitalization of fortresses of the Danube Macro Region to

serve economic recovery).

13:00-14:00 Lunch break and farewell


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List of the Participants

(In Alphabet Order) Name of the organization (In English)

Country

Agency for Information Development of the Tisa region Serbia

Agrarian Union Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Agro Sani Civil Society, Horgos Serbia

Arhrrsu England

Association “Karamell” Serbia

Asscoation of Hungarian Settlements' and Regions' Developers Hungary

Association of the Self-Employed Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Association of the Volunteer Firefighters, Horgos Serbia

Association “Wild duck” Hungary

AURORA Serbia

Biokitchen-horticulture Serbia

Budapest Mayor’s Office Hungary

Bulgarian-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce Bulgaria

CEKTRA - Centre for Knowledge Transfer Slovenia

Countryside Asscoiation Hungary

DAGENE Association Romania

DAGENE International Association Hungary

Danube Civil Society forum Serbia

Danube Perspective Serbia

Dibonis Winert, Subotica Serbia

DUNAMIT Hungary

EKOPOT Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Movement Slovenia Slovenia

European Network for Rural Development Belgium

Farmers Union Serbia

Farm Tourism Serbia

Foster Europe, Austria

GeneralCom Ltd. Hungary

GETICO Ltd. Hungary

Gold Crown Tourist Union Hungary

Green Holidays Foundation Slovakia

HANGYA Co-operative Association Hungary,

Horgos Producers Club Serbia

Hungarian Association of Content Industry Hungary

Hungarian Chamber of Commerce Hungary

Hungarian National Rural Network Hungary

Hungarian Railway, Water and Air Transport Union Hungary

Iho Hungary

ITD Hungary

International Scientific Forum "Danube - River of Cooperation Serbia

Követ Hungary

KTI Institute for Transport Sciences Non-profit Ltd. Hungary

LAG Nikopol “Together we can” Bulgaria

Magyarkanizsa Fire Union Serbia

Ministry of National Human Force Hungary

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hungary

National Association of the Gardeners Hungary

People and Water Slovakia

Society of Vojvodina’s Hungarian Farmers Serbia

Transilvanian Ant Romania

Transport Ltd. Hungary

Tothfalus and Adorjan Christian Reading Serbia

Tourism Organization Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Tourist Union, Magyarkanizsa Serbia

University of Szeged Society of Biochemistry Hungary

Universitiy of János Selye Slovakia

Water Guards Water Rescue Association Hungary


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Joint Declaration

Joint Declaration

of the Participants in the Opening Conference of the DANUBENET Programme

(Budapest, Hungary, 29-30 November 2011)

Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, who gathered in Budapest, Hungary on 29-30 November 2011 for a conference to exchange their views about the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) hereby declare that their organizations are interested in and devoted to the implementation of the EUSDR and wish to contribute to its success. Therefore they:

Welcome the support of the Citizenship Programme of the European Union which enables the NGOs and civil societies, in the framework of the DaNet Conference Programme, that

more and more of them can join the actual implementation of the EUSDR along its Priority Areas;

they acquire adequate and up-to-date information on the EUSDR, its Action Plan, Priority Areas and working mechanisms;

personal contacts and cooperation can be built in order to generate and implement projects.

Express their agreement with the content of the Action Plan of the EUSDR highlighting that: „…In addition civil society in some countries remains relatively weak. Cooperation with authorities, and even communication remain limited. The capacity of civil society to influence region-wide decision making processes, policy-making and implementation needs to be developed further. One manifestation of these weaknesses is that the capacity for absorbing development funds in an efficient and effective way varies throughout the region. In practical terms, this needs to be strengthened and better coordinated, through know-how transfer and other measures e.g. by providing assistance to strengthen skills in designing and implementing projects with cross border impact.”1

Welcome the „Action - “To improve the trust of citizens and stakeholders in political authorities” This action should open up a discussion about the role of civil society in this respect. An open dialogue with different authorities and institutions, and a better acknowledgement of civil society expertise and views in public service is needed. The communication skills of civil society should be reinforced to promote confidence building measures (inc. post-conflict management) in the region. There is a need to strengthen a networking culture (e.g. regional, local or city networks, links with the private

1 The EUSDR Action Plan can be found on the following URL:

http://groupspaces.com/EUStrategyfortheDanubeRegion/pages/what-is-the-eusdr

http://groupspaces.com/EUStrategyfortheDanubeRegion/pages/what-is-the-eusdr


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sector as well as religious and cultural communities)” Agree with the Action “To establish a Danube Civil Society Forum” promoting the idea of a Danube Civil Forum as a pillar of civil society participation in the Strategy. Such projects could offer experience within the field of civil society vs. state dialogue as well as cross-border and trans-national networking.

Remind that the proper interpretation of this cannot be limited to the activity of a hierarchic organization of some people, civil associations, institutions. It is also agreed that in the implementation of the EUSDR the networks of NGOs (among them the civil organizations), involving already tens of thousands of organizations and representing professional interests can meet the requirements of efficient and successful cooperation between civil societies and state institutions.

Request that only the joint discussion forum of the NGOs and civil societies, which are dealing with and are interested in the implementation of the EUSDR, can be considered as the competent partner in the institutional structure of EUSDR coordination in cooperation with the Commission of the EU and Member States concerned. Agree that the joint discussion forum of the NGOs and civil societies, which are dealing with and are interested in the implementation of the EUSDR, should be organized in different interested countries according to annual rotation.2

Urge the need from more comprehensive information flow that following the generalities should be directed towards concrete actions and projects. Point out the importance the information about the EUSDR to reach the smallest NGOs and CSOs in the entire Danube Region.

Propose adequate communication as soon as possible about the planning of financial resources of the EUSDR in the process of discussing about the Future of Cohesion Policy – EU Budget for 2014-2020 and well placed funding mechanism for the entire Danube Basin.

Request Member States governments and the European Commission to create an enabling financial mechanism which will facilitate development and implementation of projects that belong to the 11 pillars listed in the Action Plan targeting at high-level results during the next budgeting period.

Dated in Budapest, on 30 November 2011

2 In 2012 in Budapest on the first anniversary of the adoption of EUSDR on Danube Day – DANUBENET

CONGRESS.


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E-mail text to participants and invited delegates in conjunction with the Joint Declaration „Dear participants and invited delegates to the DaNet opening conference! On 29-30-th of November, 2011 with the Opening conference in Budapest was marked the beginning of the series of Civil Forum conferences – DaNet project conferences, of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) that is realized with the kind support of the European Union and that takes into account the opinion of interested, professional and geographically structured NGOs and networks on different priority areas of the EUSDR. Representatives of NGOs from 8 countries discussed on a plenary session on the second day ofthe conference about their experience so far and what was said was approved by the final draft of the conference Official statement together with all refinements. Please, find the revised final version as an attached file – Joint declaration. At the end of the Joint declaration are listed those NGOs that were invited to the conference. However, due to technical reasons many of them could not take part in it but express their desire to further participate in the upcoming activities. In the Official statement was also mentioned that throughout the half year the EUSDR was realized there are opinions and recommendations that go beyond the capacity of the conference participants and are expected to be addressed by the multiple NGOs. Therefore, the conference chair group implore that if you accept the Joint Declaration, the name of your organization will be quoted in the documents that are to be sent to other NGOS as well as to the European Parliament, the European Commission, governments and the media. In this case your organization is not expected to do anything – the principle of “silent consent” will be applied. If, however, you do NOT accept the stipulations of the Joint declaration, please, inform us

via e-mail not later than 9 December, 2011. We would like once more to draw your attention to the importance of the professional, regionalnetworks of NGOs for the EUSDR, because no organization on its own could announce itselfrepresentative of all NGOs within the EUSDR. Such thing would be by no means against all major EU achievements and policies and could jeopardize the actual success of the Danube strategy. We would also like to inform you that shortly a Summary of the Budapest Opening conference as well as the upcoming programme of the scheduled DaNet conferences will be sent to you. Best regards, On behalf of the chair group of the conference and operational team István Szilvássy – President”


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List of the organizations participated

in the conference and in the adoption of the Joint declaration that have received the last via e-mail 3 and that haven’t stated their retraction from the Joint declaration and/or have highlighted their approval of the text

(In Alphabet Order) Name of the organization (In English) Country

EKOPOT Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgarian-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce Bulgaria

LAG Nikopol “Together we can” Bulgaria

ARHRRSU England

Association “Wild duck” Hungary

DAGENE International Association Hungary

GETICO Ltd. Hungary

Gold Crown Foundation Hungary

HANGYA Co-operative Association Hungary

Hungarian Association of Content Industry Hungary

Hungarian National Shipping Association Hungary

Hungarian Railway, Water and Air Transport Union Hungary

ITDH Hungary

KTI Institute for Transport Sciences Non-profit Ltd. Hungary

National Association of the Gardeners Hungary

Transport Ltd. Hungary

University of Szeged Society of Biochemistry Hungary

Water Guards Water Rescue Association Hungary

ASOCIATIA.CARMEN Romania

DAGENE Association Romania

Romanian Bioresource Centre and Advanced research association Romania

Transilvanian Ant Romania

Transilvanian Rare Breeds Association Romania

Agency for Information Development of the Tisa region Serbia

Agrarian Union Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Agro Sani Civil Society, Horgos Serbia

Association “Karamell” Serbia

Association of the Self-Employed Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Association of the Volunteer Firefighters Serbia

AURORA – Serbia Serbia

Biokitchen-horticulture Serbia

Center for Good Governance Studies Serbia

Dibonis Winert, Subotica Serbia

Dunavska Perspektiva Serbia

Farm Tourism Serbia

Farmers Union Serbia

Farmers’ Union Zenta / Bogaras Serbia

Highland Farm Tourism Civil Society Serbia

Horgos Producers Club Serbia

International Scientific Forum “Danube – River of Cooperation” Serbia

Jugoslavian Charitable Organization “Lazarus” Serbia

Magyarkanizsa Fire Union Serbia

Olericulture Serbia

Society of Vojvodina’s Hungarian Farmers Serbia

Tothfalus and Adorjan Christian Reading Serbia

Tourism Organization Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Tourist Union, Magyarkanizsa Serbia

Alma-Centrum restoration and protection Slovakia

Green Holidays Foundation Slovakia

KRASTURIST OZ Slovakia

People and Water Slovakia

Universitiy János Selye Slovakia

European Movement Slovenia Slovenia

3 See the text of the e-mail above.


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List of the invited organizations

that have received the Joint declaration via e-mail and haven’t stated their retraction and/or have highlighted their approval of the text

(By countries in Alphabet Order)

AUSTRIA Arbeitsgemeinschaft des pharmazeutischen Großhandels ,Arche Noah,Austrian Institute

for European Law and Policy ,BirdLife Austria ,Bundesarbeitskammer Österreich ,Common NGOs position ,Corridor VII ,Danube Tourist Commisison ,Die Armutskonferenzeeza. Entwicklung und Erforschung zeitgenössischer Ausdrucksmittel | Development and Exploration of Contemporary Means of Expression,Einlagensicherung der Banken und Bankiers GmbH ,EU Umweltbüro ,Europäische ARGE Landentwicklung und Dorferneuerung ,Europäisches Verbands der Donau-Journalisten ,European Federation of Older Students at Universities ,European Society of Radiology ,Evolaris Centre of Excellence ,Fachverband der Stein- und keramischen Industrie ,Forschungsgruppe Lebensmittelsicherheit, INARA, IG Kultur Österreich ,IG Kultur Vorarlberg - Interessengemeinschaft für autonome Kulturarbeit ,Institut für Interne Revision Österreich - IIA ,Interessensvertretung Österreichischer Aufsichtsräte ,International Association for Danube Research ,International Convention for the Protection of the River Danube,International Information Centre for Terminology ,Internet Service Providers Austria ,Johannes Kepler University Institute of Women’s Studies and Gender Research ,Kulturplattform Oberösterreich ,Kulturrat Österreich ,Land&Forst Betriebe Österreich/Association of Austrian Land and Forest Owners ,ÖBB-Holding AG ,Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund ,Österreichischer Naturschutzbund, Landesgruppe Vorarlberg ,Österreichischer Rechtsanwaltskammertag ,Österreichs E-Wirtschaft ,Umweltdachverband ,UNEP - Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention on behalf of the Carpathian Convention ,VCÖ Mobilität mit Zukunft ,Verband Österreichischer Zeitungen ,Vereinigung Alternativer Investments ,Vereinigung der österreichischen Industrie – Industriellenvereinigung ,Vereinigung Industrieller Bauunternehmungen Österreichs ,VIER PFOTEN International ,Wirtschaftskammer Österreich ,Wirtschaftskammer Wien/Fachgruppe Finanzdienstleister

BELGIUM European Association of Mutual Guarantee Societies, European Federation of Inland Ports, European Sea Ports Organisation, Inland Navigation Europe, Union pétrolière européenne indépendante (UPEI), Université Catholique de Louvain ,Louvain de Neuve, Belgique

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Forum of Tuzla Citizens/Forum gradjana Tuzle

BULGARIA “BALKAN ASSIST"Association for Partnership and Citizen Activity Support, Association of Danube River Municipalities "Danube", Business Support Centre for Small and Medium Sizes Enterprises, Danube Euroregional Civil Forum, The Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASSEL)

CROATIA Croatian Employers Association, Europski dom Vukovar (Europe House Vukovar), Partnership for Social Development/ PSD

GERMANY AFM-Verband, Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), Baden Württtemberg - Ministry for the Environment, Bund Naturschutz in Bayern e.V, Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag e.V., Donau Schiffahrts Museum Regensburg, Donauhochschule Ulm, Donauschwäbisches Zentralmuseum Ulm, Handwerkskammer Niederbayern-Oberpfalz, Young Citizens Danube Network, Zentrum für Allgemeine Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung (ZAWiW)

HUNGARY Arbitration Board of Budapest, Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives, Confederation of Hungarian Employers and Industrialists, Danube Commission, European Anglers Forum, European Distance and E-Learning Network, Ezüstkanál Nyugdíjas Társasági, Környezetvédelmi- és Természetvédelmi Egyesület/Senior


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Corporate Silver Spoon, Environment and Nature Association, Friends of the EartH, Hungary (Magyar Termeszetvedok Szovetsege), Hungarian Chamber of Engineers (HCE), Hungarian Coeliac Society, Közéletre Nevelésért Alapítvány, Magyar Tisztítás-technológia Szövetség, Magyarországi Hivatásos Parlamenti Lobbi Szövetség, Mi magunk – sajátmagunkért egyesület, Municipality of Szentendre – Hungary, Nemzeti Agrár Alap, Nonprofit Humán Szolgáltatók Országos Szövetsége /Association of Nonprofit Human Services of Hungary, Országbíró Zoltán transzparens parlamenti és kormányzati lobbista, Society Artisjus Hungarian Bureau for the Protection of Authors' Rights, Széchenyi Hitelszövetség, VE-GA Children and Youth Association

MOLDOVA Public Association ECOU-XXI

ROMANIA Alternative Sociale Association, Asociatia Altitudine Filiala Banat, Asociatia Ecouri Verzi, Asociatia INFOTRICKS, Asociatia Nationala a Producatorilor din Pescarie "ROMFISH", Asociatia Patronala a Transportatorilor Europa 2002, Asociatia pentru Dezvoltarea Antreprenoriatului Feminin, Asociatia pentru Protectia Consumatorilor din Romania, Asociatia pentru Rezolvarea Alternativa a Disputelor, Asociatia Pro-vita pentru Nascuti si Nenascuti - Filiala Bucuresti, Association Institute for Public Policy, CONCOR SA, Creative Industries Association, Crucea Rosie Romana Filiala Bacau, Danube.EDU Youth Association, Danube-Black Sea YOUth network, EKE Szatmárnémeti - SCA Satu Mare Carpathian Society from Transylvania, Environmental Experts Association, Intecultural Institute of Timisoara, Municipality of Drobeta – Turnu Severin, National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof.Dr. Matei Bals", National Institute of Materials Physics – Romania, Romanian Bioresource Centre and Advance Research Association, Speleological Foundation Bucovina, Uniunea Naţională a Notarilor Publici din România

SERBIA Danube Competence Centre, Serbian Chamber of Commerce

SLOVAKIA Comenius University Bratislavaa – Faculty of Natural Sciences Department of Regional Geography, Protection and Planning of the Landscape, Hont Medik s.r.o., INTERACT Programme Secretariat, ZPŠaV NKOS

SLOVENIA AMATEO-The European Network for Active Participation in Cultural Activites, Beletrina - academic Press, Danube Rectors Conferece, Društvo za razvoj slovenskega podeželja, Elektro - Slovenija, d.o.o., Planinska zveza Slovenije, PREPARE - Partnership for Rural Europe, Scientific and Research Association for Art, Cultural and Educational Programmes and Technology EPeKa

SWITZERLAND OM- International Organization for Migration

THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Bioinstitut, CEE Bankwatch Network, Centre for Efficient Transport / Centrum pro efektivní dopravu, Česká pirátská strana, Česká společnost ornitologická, Člověk hledá člověka, o.s. , Confederation of Industry, Environmental Law Service (Ekologický právní servi+A103s), Hospodářská komora České republiky, ICT Union, Innovation Leadership Agency, Justice and Environment, Letiště Praha, a. s., PASOS - Policy Association for an Open Societt/ Sdruzeni pro podporu otevrene spolecnosti – PASOS, Pilsen 2015, Radioexpert, Representation of the South Moravian Region to the European Union, Rytířský řád sv. Konstantina a Heleny, Svaz knihovníků a informačních pracovníků České republiky, Union for the Morava River UPRM, Zelený kruh/Green Circle

UKRAINE Environment-People-Law (EPL), European Business Association


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List of the participating organizations

in the conference and in the adoption of the Joint declaration that have received the last via e-mail and that have stated their retraction from the Joint declaration

(In Aplhabet Order)

Name of the Organization

Country Cited from the received e-mail

Cektra-Centre for Knowledge Transfer

Slovenia “Dear Mr. Szilvássy, First we would like thank you we were invited to participate in your project and of course for documents you sent to us. As we were clear at the Budapest event last week we do really support the NGO initiatives on local, national, regional and European level. Particularly the Danube region or some parts of that region are of a great importance since the civil society is in some these parts quite underdeveloped……. We think that the democratic bottom-up approach should be supported especially among the members of civil society. Therefore we don’t feel comfortable to support the declaration as was sent to us at that very moment. Our opinion is that the strength of such declaration will be much more effective when adopted after all planned conferences/events since the voice of much more NGOs will be reflected. If the intention of your body will be to adopt the declaration today you are kindly asked to withdraw the name of our organisation (CEKTRA – Centre for Knowledge Transfer) from the list of supporters.’ Kind regards, Simon Vrečar

Foster Europe Austria “I ask for your understanding that for principle reasons, neither the Danube Civil Society Forum, nor Foster Europe, Foundation for strong European Regions are able to join a declaration they have not been involved in. Furthermore we see the introduction of a „principle of silent consent” as mentioned in your E-Mail as inappropriate at this point. So I kindly ask you to take note of the fact that both the Danube Civil Society Forum as well as Foster Europe, Foundation for strong European Regions cannot support the declaration mentioned above. As for the list of organisations listed in the annex to the declaration I would like to point out that to my knowledge there is no organisation Danube Civil Society Forum in Serbia???. Nevertheless I would like to reiterate the general openness of the Danube Civil Society Forum, as enshrined in the DCSF statutes, to collaborate and/or coordinate with civil society organisations and their networks in the Danube basin. As mentioned earlier in my correspondence, civil society is a manifold force with a hopefully growing number of actors in the Danube basin. Coordination to avoid building up multiple structures is a key element to enforce civil society’s impact in the region. If you think a personal conversation would be interesting for you I again offer to meet you in Budapest. We would be happy to be kept informed on the progress of DaNet and its activities.” Best regards, Stefan August Lütgenau


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List of the invited organizations

that have received the Joint declaration via e-mail and have stated their retraction from the Joint declaration

(In Alphabet order)

Name of the Organization Country Cited from the received e-mail

Association of Library and Information Professionals of the Czech Republic (SKIP)

The Czech Republic

“Dear Mr. István Szilvássy, in response to your e-mail as of December 5, 2011 please be advised that the Association of the Library and Information Professionals of the Czech Republic WILL NOT PARTICIPATE in the DaNet Project.” Best wishes, Z. Matušík Chair, International Relations Commission

European Federation of National Institutions for Language- Dansk Sprognævn

Denmark “I have received several invitations from you to participate in the DaNet project and I am sorry not to have reacted earlier. However, being a state institution located in Scandinavia, I do not think I will be able to contribute to the network in any substantial way. Neither do I have the time to do so, since my institution already participates in similar networks in Scandinavia. Consequently, I will also not be able to sign the official statement. Please, delete me from the list of participants in the network. I wish you and the project all the best.” Sabine Kirchmeier-Andersen Direktør

International Association for Danube Research (IAD)

Austria “although we did not receive the information directly (and so in consequence today), we first all thanks you for your efforts. But as we have not been involved in the process of the development of the joint declaration and cannot support th declaration in the current version, we ask you to remove IAD from the list of institutions and would appreciate to get the information directly with some more time to react on it. In future we are open and interested to contribute to further activities and plan to be at one of the future meetings.” regards, Thomas Hein Assoc. Prof. Dr. Scientific Managing Dir.


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Open Space Draft As a preferred by the EU mode at every conference there is a part dedicated to an Open Space session - an excellent opportunity for all the participants to share their opinions and experience and formulate their proposals towards governments and EU institutions, particularly those in charge of the EUSDR. The Open Space part at the Budapest Opening Conference was conducted in the following manner and phases: Phase I: reviewing the 11+1 Priority Areas (PA) of the EUSDR. (approx. 20 min.) Phase II: The participants had the right to choose 3 PAs in order of preference. The

Moderator marked all individual (NGO) preferences next to each PA (approx. 10 min.)

Phase III: Group formation - creation of 5 NGO groups, in order to take and discuss

the 5 most popular, most favoured PA in small groups. The following subject PAs were chosen:

1) Tourism 2) Biodiversity 3) Join forces against organized crime 4) Renewable energy 5) Cooperation to support competitiveness (SMEs) Phase IV: Speakers of each groups have been appointed, based on voluntaire

participation Phase V: Group work (20 min.) Phase VI: report of speakers (5 min.) Phase VII: Handing over the written reports to the conference secretariat for the

inclusion in the final document. On the next pages you can find the final reports of every working group. 1) Working group on „Promote culture and tourism”

Along the Danube many nations have been settled during the last centuries and all of

them have their very own characteristic which should be promoted: culture, way of life,

social and educational system.

Many of these countries have already joined EU community, while the others haven’t

yet. This fact also imposes differences between the Danube countries.

In order to improve the social, economical conditions in all more or less disadvantaged

countries, should be forced an EXCHANGE PROGRAM in the field of education,

culture, tourism.


15

-It should be invested in the Preservation of Fortresses and other cultural objects along

the Danube in order to be able to promote it as a tourist attraction, especially in less

developed countries.

The EU projects could obligate the stakeholders to invest back the money earned from tourism in culture and preservation, so they can be used by the next generations, too. 2) Working group on „Preservation of biodiversity”

Preservation of biodiversity, landscapes and the quality of air and soil means the

conservation of living world in an healthy air and not polluted landscape, based on clean

water and soil.

Plants of agriculture, horticulture, forests in traditional form as well as rare breeds of

domestic and wild animals are belonging to the priority.

For a correct executing of this important project, concerning also the survival of whole

humankind - NGOs, governments, national and international institutions should work

together.

3) Working group on “Join forces against organized crime”

presenting the Water Guardian “Danube safe navigation and water-saving projects” and

further cooperation

summary on current Serbian shipping, water rescue situation (boat transportation,

safety, water rescue)

sending short presentations to everyone interested

assist the creation of Serbian water rescue team

possible Hungarian-Serbian professional cooperation

4) Working group on „Encouraging more sustainable energy”

Identified four priority areas at the international – subregional or national and local levels:

Energy needs in transportation sector,

Energy needs in households,

Energy needs in rural settlements and economy of rural areas,

Improving energy efficiency which could be applied to all three aforementioned areas.

As a resource medium we recommend increased share of: Renewable energies (RE) from waste,

RE wind and water (this applies to where natural conditions allow such an application),

renewable energy from sun,

usage of bio fuels in bus transportation throughout big cities,

energy resources that do not pollute significantly or pollute less (such as gas) in the time

important for developing RE to levels adequate for satisfying energy needs (10-15

years).


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Furthermore, we recommended identification of programs or projects dealing with a „rural development approach“ such as small-scale power systems for villages, mapping of rural areas to assist them in find the optimum solution for establishing and putting small scale systems in operation i.e. developing clear guidelines or schemes of the optimal solution for a certain area.). Biogas production from agricultural waste for rural city connections can be one of strategic projects in this regard.

The major points as identified in the working group discussion should ultimately be regarded as interconnected as intermodalities within the first five priorities in the Danube strategy:

mobility,

sustainable energy,

culture and tourism,

improving the quality of waters,

environmental risk management.

5) Working group on „Cooperation to support competitiveness (SMEs)”

Small enterprises-Actors in the field of agriculture - especially growing plants There is need for:

infrastructure improvement

increase the quality and quality of products

increase the export toward EU countries and there are a growing number of customers

from the countries in Asia

strategies for reuse of agricultural garbage

lecturers, trainers from other EU countries (trainings how to use agricultural machines

from the EU)

The actual strategy: (frame up)

lectures from serbian experts

old machines, old strategy procedurs

agricultural garbage, boxes of chemicals (they burn) - fire up

Problems:

plenty of biomass material is exported to other countries, but it should be used as

material which increases field productivity

The economic development of the productive branches is very important!


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Attachments

Some photos

DaNet Opening Conference

Video greeting of Mr.Tamás Deutsch MP of European Parlament


Ms. Prof. Dr. Edita Stojic Karanovic (SR)

International Scientific Forum "Danube - River of Cooperation"


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Open Space Session

Open Space Session


Left to right: Ms. Prof. Dr. Edit Stojic Karanovic (SR) -

International Scientific Forum "Danube - River of

Cooperation", Mr. István Szilvássy – Association of

Hungarian Settlements’ and Regions’ developers

(HU), Ms. Emina Ahmetovic – EKOPOT (BA), Mr. Aquilina Donald rep. of European Network for Rural

Developement on DaNet Opening Conference


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Opening Conference 29-30 November, 2011 Budapest www.danubenet.eu [email protected] [email protected] MTTSZ H-1535Budapest,Pf.811

Mr. Dr. Peter Szegvári, advisor of Budapest Chief Mayor

Ms. Marika Levana, European Investment Bank, Vienna

Office

Mr. György Nádasi Deputy Head of Department of Govern. Danube Strategy

Mr. Kornél Kováts chair and speakers of the plenary session

http://www.danubenet.eu/

danet kick off

Documents