Challenges for Central and South-Eastern European Leaders: Introducing Principles on European Governance Lobbying Processes and the European Union |
Sinaia Resort, Romania
25th - 28th April 2002
The representative of FIME (International Federation of Europe-Houses, Saarbrucken-Germany) in Romania, through its Regional Parnership Centre for Central and South-Eastern Europe "REGENT", organised a new Leaders Meeting & Training Workshop from a series inaugurated in June 2001, with the kind support of the European Commission and the Netherland Royal Embassy. An essential contribution was given by: the Office of the Regional Envoy of the Stability Pact in the South-Eastern Europe, the Central-Eastern European Network "New Ways" (Germany), the Romanian Central Bank (BNR), ALPHA Bank - Romania, the Romanian Agency of Civil Servants (ANFP) and the Local Council of Sinaia.
This event took place in the three stars RAAPPS Hotel Complex (State Protocol Patrimony National Corporation) Peles Royal Castel - SINAIA. Sinaia resort is located at 120 Km North from Bucharest and it can be reached by train (90 min) from the North Railway Station Bucharest (Gara de Nord). The location of the hotel complex ("Economat" and "Furnica", five minutes on walk to the Royal Castle Peles) is in the middle of the Bucegi Mountains’ forests and offers a spectacular view of the historical summer residence of the Romanian King Charles I, the Bavarian-style Peles Castle, build at the end of the XIXth century. Also, within the program, we will visit the small Castle Pelisor, residence of the King Michael I, the Palace Foisor, the complex Furnica and the formal Royal Casino Palas-Sinaia, main points of attraction for international turists.
Working style:
The focus of our event was to offer a highly innovative and unique combination of debate sessions and clearly focused training workshops, an intensive practical insight into how the European Union works, as well as a strong pro-active approach, with case-studies on how to set-up a successful Lobby strategy / advocacy campaign to EU institutions and domestic authorities. The works will be held in English and, if necessary, also in Romanian, with simultaneous translation.
Trainers and lecturers:
The workshops were conducted by experienced EU and USA consultants in Economics, International Law and Lobby with European institutions: Mrs. Ramona Calin, Special Advisor to the Regional Envoy of the Stability Pact in South Eastern Europe/USA Consultant in Institutional Lobbying; Mr. Torge Hamkens, Expert in International Public Law/Founder and Co-ordinator of Central-Eastern European Network "New Ways" (Heidelberg); Mr. Oliver Knipping, Senior Consultant in Economics and Human Resources (London/Berlin); Mr. Sever Avram, Senior Consultant in European Integration/Executive President of EUROLINK - House of Europe (Bucharest). Special lecturers were given by the President of the Agency of Civil Servants and the President of the ALPHA Bank - Romania.
Participants:
We welcomed senior decision-makers within the business community, politics, public administration, NGO and media sectors. All institutional and individual participants received Certificates of Attendance, delivered together by EUROLINK-FIME and the Central-Eastern European "New Ways" Network.
Organiser:
EUROLINK - House of Europe in Bucharest, Romania
member of the International Federation of Europe Houses (FIME)
with the kind support of:
the Netherland Royal Embassy in Romania and the European Commission
and with the essential contribution of the:
Regional Envoy's Office of the Stability Pact in the South-Eastern Europe,
Central-Eastern European Network "New Ways" (Germany),
Romanian Central Bank (BNR),
ALPHA Bank - Romania,
Romanian Agency of Civil Servants (ANFP)
Local Council of Sinaia.
Thursday, 25 April 2002
16:00 - 19:00
Arrival and registration of participants: Reception desk of Hotel "Economat" and Hotel "Furnica"
20:00 - 22:00
Welcome Reception in honour of participants at Foisor Palace
Introductory speeches by guest speakers and organisers
Friday, 26 April 2002
09:30 - 10:15
Workshop Opening and Introduction of Participants
10:15 - 11:15
Lecture and Discussion: "The European Union’s Institutional Architecture after Nice and the Decision-Making Process" • Why reform European Governance? • EU and candidate states’ perspectives.
Lecturer: Mr. Torge HAMKENS
11:15 - 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 - 12:30
Lecture and Discussion: "Introducing Principles of a Good European Governance" • Proposals for a real change. • Better involvement of social partners within the business sector and civil society for better policy-shaping.
Lecturer: Mr. Torge HAMKENS
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch
14:30 - 15:30
Lecture and Discussion: "Europe 2004: Enabling Enlargement and Furthering Integration" • Content and consequences of the deepening and enlargement processes. Lecturer: Mr. Oliver KNIPPING
15:30 - 17:00
Workshop (co-ordinated by Mrs. Ramona CALIN):
"Your Voice in Europe: Play an Active Role in the European Union’s Policy-Making Process".
Presentation by Mr. Torge HAMKENS
First working group: for participants from public administration, NGO and media sectors. Case studies through simulation games.
Speaker: Mr. Sever AVRAM, Executive President of EUROLINK - House of Europe
Second working group: for participants from the business community, professional associations and employer confederations. Case studies through simulation games.
Presentation of the working group’s results
17:00 - 17:30 Coffee break
17:30 - 19:00
Workshop (co-ordinated by Mrs. Ramona CALIN):
"The Accession Candidates’ Perspectives towards Enlargement and Integration".
Presentation by Mr. Oliver KNIPPING
19:30 Dinner
Saturday, 27 April 2002
09:30 - 11:00
Lecture and Discussion: "Interest Groups in the European Union and their Differing Objectives" • How to anticipate, make more transparent and influence the key-decisions of the European institutions? • The role of interest-groups within the European Union in relation to the main EU bodies • Typology of interest-groups within the European Union.
Lecturer: Mr. Oliver KNIPPING
11:00 - 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 - 12:00
Guest speaker: Mr. Eleftherios Ioannou - President of ALPHA Bank Romania
"Advocacy techniques for Romania’s image"
12.00 - 13:00
Lecture and Discussion: "Lobbying Techniques and its Application to European Structures".
The national and the European advocacy and lobby campaigns, in respect of the goals and strategies of national or trans-national organisations/associations • Evaluation and regulation of the EU lobbying activities.
Lecturer: Mrs. Ramona CALIN
13:00 - 15:00 Lunch
15:00 - 17:00
Workshop (co-ordinated by Mrs. Ramona CALIN):
"The lobby towards the French central public administration bodies and the French lobby to the European Union"
First working-group:
The specificity of the national lobby for business companies and political decision-makers at various levels.
Second working-group:
The specificity of the national lobby for the NGO sector and the role of public authorities.
Presentation of the working group’s results
17:00 - 17:30 Coffee break
17:30 - 19:00
Debate: "The problem of organising a Romanian lobby abroad". Proposals to improve the image of Romania using the advocacy and lobbying techniques. Moderator: Mr. Sever AVRAM
19:30 Dinner
Sunday, 28 April 2002
10:00 - 10:30
Guest speaker: Mr. Razvan Mihai UNGUREANU - Regional Envoy of the Stability Pact in South-Eastern Europe
"The role of the Stability Pact within the enlargement process"
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30 Short final evaluation of participants. Participant’s Questions and Answers. Concluding remarks.
Departure of participants.
Presentation of trainers
Special Advisor to the Regional Envoy of the Stability Pact in South Eastern Europe (Bucharest office);
PhD studies in European Lobby (Paris) and MA in Interna-tional Relations at the Columbia University (USA); Freedom House-USAID fellow.
Expert in Public and International Law;
PhD and post-graduate studies at Max Planck Institute for Comparative International Public Law (Heidelberg), Cologne University, Universite de Geneve;
Founder of Central Eastern European Network New Ways.
Senior Consultant in Economics and Human Resources;
PhD studies in Economics at University College London;
Post-graduate studies at the Technical University and Humboldt University (Berlin).
Senior consultant in European integration;
PhD studies in International Relations at University of Bucharest, MA in European Politics at Central European University; Executive President of EUROLINK - House of Europe.