Summer School - Association of the Local Democracy Agencies

1. Objectives
The Summer School of the Association of the Local Democracy Agencies has the objective to improve the knowledge of the participants related to the process of stability and democratisation in the Balkans. A particular attention will be dedicated to the understanding of the mechanisms of actions of the Agencies, their multilevel approach and the programme for improving the cohabitation of different ethnic groups.
The participants will be given indications of the different systems of local authorities in the different countries of the Balkans and the ways for including civil society in the decision making process. A particular attention will be given to their understanding of the role and capacities of civil society and local authorities for improving democracy and development in the South and Eastern Europe. The participants will acquire knowledge for getting involved in activities of decentralised international cooperation developed by the local authorities and by the civil society groups.

2. Participants
The Summer School of the Association of the Local Democracy Agencies will be presented to the partner of the Local Democracy Agencies and to all the members of the Association. Nevertheless, everyone is invited to attend the school if interested in the matter.
A particular attention will be dedicated to the application coming from representatives of local authorities, civil servants as well as representatives of NGOs.

3. Cost of the participation
The participants will be requested to pay their travel to Ohrid. For the tuition and the accommodation in Ohrid, the cost for the 5 days, full board, is 590,00 Euro.

4. Agenda
Working language: English

25th of July - Arrival of the participants and accommodation in Ohrid
8.00 pm: Welcome dinner

1st day, 26th of July - Democratisation process, the experience of the Local Democracy Agencies

Morning:
- Presentation of the Summer School Gianfranco Martini, President of the ALDA
- Welcome address of the Delegate of the LDA in Ohrid, Mirijana Lozanoska
- Welcome address of the Mayor of Ohrid, Nikola Naumov
- The Local Democracy Agencies : overview of 10 years of activity

Lecture:
Antonella Valmorbida, Director of the ALDA
Gianfranco Martini, President of the ALDA
A lead partner of an LDA

Afternoon:
Working groups: the action of the Local Democracy Agency. Balance of the results of the LDAs and their methodologies. Identification of possible new channels of inititatives.
Coordinatos:
the Delegate of the LDA in Ohrid, Mirijana Lozano
skathe lead partner of the LDA in Ohrid, Vasillis Bellis, Anka Karditsa, Greece
Case studies:
- with local authorities
- with NGOs
- with the media
- with minority groups


2st day, 27th of July - Comparison of the different system of local authorities in Croatia, FRY, BiH and FYROM

Morning:
Introduction: the meaning of the local contribuiton in the democratisation process
Observatory on the Balkans
Comparative experiences, round table:
- New challenges for the Macedonian local authorities
- new legislation
- difficulties and challenges
Lecturer : Prof. Siljanovska

- The Croatian case. A step ahead.
Lecturers : Prof. Miljenko Doric, president of the County Assembly of Gorski Kotar
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: the local authorities in the complexity of the system of the two entities
Prof. Nenad Bago (Mostar)
- Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro: three models of local self government
Mrs. Nadia Cuk, expert of self government in Serbia, Council of Europe in Belgrade, former delegate in Subotica
From Kosovo, Mr. Lufti Haziri, Mayor of Gjilane and president of the Association of the Mayors of Kosovo
From Montenegro, Danijela Vojinovic, advisor in the Ministry of Justice in the Government of Montenegro

Afternoon:
Working groups on the role of the local authorities, opportunities, challenges and difficulties


3st day, 28th of July - The innovative role of civil society in the process of democratisation

Morning:
Round table: The civil society facing the democratisation process
- The Macedonian case
- An international experience, the Italian Consortium of Solidarity
Rosita Viola
A European network, OGI, Nis (FRY). The experience from inside
Predrag Cetvanin
Jadranka Foster, Westminer Foundation for Democracy
Vasillis Fouskas, University of Bristol, Editor of the Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans
Working groupCoordinator: representative of Causes Communes Suisse, President, Mrs. The Ambassador, Marianne Von Gruenigen

Afternoon:
Working groups


4st day, 29th of July - International community

Morning:Europe from below: open discussion on the strategies, methodologies and actions
Observatory on the Balkans

Afternoon:
Round table open to the pubblic
- European Union and the Stability Pact for South and Eastern Europe
Representative of the Stability Pact, Mr. Rob Zeldendurst, Director of the Working Table I, Democratisation and Human Rights
Objectives, means and actors
- The Council of Europe
Mr. François Friederich, Council of Europe and expert for Serbia and BiH
United Nations, the experience of UNMIK
Bob Simons, administrator UNMIK in Gjilan or Ivo Sanc, in Prishtina
OSCE - Skopje
Petra Andersen and Andreas Raab


5st day, 30th of July - On the field

Visit of the local authority in Ohrid and meeting with the NGO sector.
Visit of the Albanian side.
Evaluation of the school.
Evaluation session.

In the evening, distribution of the diplomas.


5. Material distributed
- papers of the lecturers
- documentation on local self government in different countries
- report of UN, OSCE, Stability Pact
- documentation of the ALDA