EU Environmental approximation in the WB and Turkey- ETNAR Conference

1. Palic, September 24th to 26th 2013 EU Environmental approximation in the WB and Turkey- ETNAR Conference Jagoda Munić, Zelena Akcija Advocacy NGOs networks for sustainable use of energy and natural resources in the Western Balkans and Turkey – ETNAR IPA-CSF-2012/306-573

2. Regional conference on EU Environmental approximation in the WB and Turkey • to present the research done so far on the issues of natural resources and energy and climate • To present the call for the sub-grantees • To provide basic education /exchange about EU horizontal legislation for the NGOs • to identify networking and cooperation priorities in the region

3. ETNAR Project partners • Zelena akcija / FOE Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia • Friends of the Earth International,( (FOEI) Amsterdam, Netherlands • Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE), Brussels, Belgium • Heinrich Boell Stiftung (Fundation), Berlin, Zagreb, Sarajevo • Center for Environment (CZZS), Banja Luka, BIH • Center for ecology and energy (CEE), Tuzla, BIH • CEKOR, Subotica, Serbia • Green Home, Montenegro

4. BUILDING ON PREVIOUS EXPERINECES • Networking and capacity building of environmental NGOs to Increase Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources of Energy in WB (IPA CS – ZA, INFORSEE- Europe, GLOBAL 2000, Centar za okoliš, Front 21/42 • Capacity building and networking among environmental NGOs and youth in South Eastern Europe with FOEI experience, MATRA, ZA & FOEI

5. ETNAR Project objectives • To increase capacity of NGOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey to influence EU environmental approximation process through public advocacy supported by citizens. • To increase capacities of NGOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey to influence policies related to energy, transport and natural resources through skills' training and regional networking in policy analysis and advocacy in cooperation with EU-wide networks and NGOs (FoE and HBS)

6. Expected results • Strengthened regional policy networking of NGOs on energy, transport and natural resources; • Improved capacity of environmental NGOs in policy analysis, policy monitoring and public advocacy; • Increased legitimacy of NGOs on energy, transport and natural resources' policy and enhanced dialogue with national stakeholders (national governments, experts, business and media); • Improved networking among environmental NGOs from the WB and Turkey with EU-wide environmental networks and NGOs

7. Activities 1.1. Energy and transport policy analysis; 1.2. Natural resources policy analysis; 1.3. Regional position paper on energy and transport; 1.4. National position papers and regional position paper on natural resources; 1.5. Thematic seminars and networks meetings at island of Solta; 1.6. Mid-term conference; 1.7. Regional Conference Energy and Natural Resources in the WB and Turkey; 2.1. WB and Turkey NGOs needs assessment;2.2. Regional conference on EU Environmental approximation in Western Balkans and Turkey; 2.3. Environmental Law and Public Advocacy Toolkit; 2.4. Regional training on policy analysis with special accent on EU approximation; 2.5. National seminars about legal tools and EU environmental horizontal legislation; 2.6. National seminars about public advocacy tools; 2.7. Monitoring of the chapter 27 and accession process 2.8. Educational seminars for young environmental leaders at Solta Solar Academy; 3.1. National public advocacy campaigns on energy; 3.2. National policy analysis research and public advocacy campaigns on natural resources;3.3.Sub-grants for the capacity building on public advocacy; 3.4. National meetings of stakeholders; 4.1. CSF conference in Croatia; 4.2. Kick of meeting; 4.3. CSF conference in Serbia 4.4. Project team inception meeting; 4.5. Participation of project partners from WB in FOEI and FOEE activities and visit of relevant EU institutions; 4.6. Inception report; 4.7. CSF conference in Albania;4.8. Evaluation and Mid-term project report; 4.9. Project website, Facebook page and leaflet; 4.10 Evaluation and Mid-term report; 4.11 Evaluation and final report

8. Press conference in Zagreb

9. Project timeframe • Inception phase (December 2012- May 2013) • Implementation – 1st phase (June 2013 – November 2014) • Implementation 2nd phase (December 2014 – November 2016)

10. Consultation process • Project presented to media (conference in Zagreb, January 5th) • Project presented to some EU Parliamentarians - possibility to have additional activities in EU Parliament later in the project • Project presented at IPA CSF kick-off meeting in Brussels • Some local and national governmental bodies have been consulted • NGO community in WB has been consulted 65 NGOs) (originally planned 50)

11. Number of NGOs

12. Needs assessment results

13. Planned campaings

14. obstacles

15. Priority areas

16. URGENT NEED 1 • Financial resources (20) • Human resources (9) • lack of experience and/or skills in public campaigns / advocacy (6) • Education and training of activists and volunteers (4) • Building partnerships with NGOs, To improve expertise/technical knowledge (3) • place for meetings and lectures, public events, attracting and training young people of certain professions (lawyers, biologists), Grant writing and technical assistance, Legislation expertise (2) • building participation, Greater presence in the public or the media, insufficiently good monitoring of national obligations towards EU goals (Accession Treaty), material resources, Partnerships with institutions that have integrity, no volunteers

17. URGENT NEED 2 • Financial resources and funding (17), includes also: developing models and different types of fundraising for the implementation of campaigns (2) • lack of experience and/or skills in public campaigns / advocacy (7) • human resources 6 (lack of it and need for training) • Building partnerships with NGOs , Education and training of activists and volunteers educations and seminars , Media & PR (support, Need of partnership with media (particularly TV channels) (4) • Specific strategy to use for specific causes, completion of electoral activities, because now everybody makes promises and does not concern whether this will be implemented and whether it is even a good idea to make this possible, EU legislation, High quality office and workspace, If you are talking about the campaign for e.g.. Sustainable transport it is good to have Illustrator to do the front page of the book, indifference-general, Lack of international cooperation, Lack of monitoring capacity, legal services, material conditions, support during the process, support of the profession and institutions, Team building, Technical equipment, lobbying skills

18. URGENT NEED 3 • Building partnerships with NGOs (6) • Financial resources and funding, including: Establishment of a fund or foundation that would assist the NGOs with loans on the basis of quality of proposed and already approved programs or projects that needs to be pre-financed. NGOs don't have capital or assets on which the banks could borrow them money or give them a favorable loan, Public awareness and engagement about environmental issues (including: too little involvement of local communities in environmental issues) (5) • Lack of data 4 • media and PR (including: There is also the problem of financing the media which are today, like the civil sector, in crisis and it is very difficult to ensure their contribution to the project if a good part of their costs are not funded, Training for working with the media), Way to engage volunteers and young people to take action (3) • human resources, improved and advanced thematic training , lack of experience and/or skills in public campaigns / advocacy (including: Work within the network project on initiation and implementation of advocacy campaigns in areas of public interest) (2) • Competent professional associates and activists, convenient timing for a particular topic, cooperation with the Ministry and other organizations, Lack of expertise/technical knowledge, Lack of lobbying competences, Opportunity for specialization of employees, Political support, Politicization of all spheres, Someone who knows how to sell online and collect, in this case a book, Technical means, The transfer of ideas from successful campaigns on similar topics

19. SKILL 1 • Management and operation of NGOs (5) • Experience with campaigns on certain issues, None (4) • media work 3 • Lobbying, administering and leading of European projects, waste - preventing the emergence and re-use, networking and cooperation

20. SKILL 2 • experience in working with the media (6) (includes public speaking) • Lobbying (3) • Experience with campaigns on certain issues (3) • Expertise in Protected Areas management and NATURA 2000 (2) • Web design and web site administration (2)

21. SKILL 3 • media work (5) (including: moderating discussions, PR, administration on social networks and Limited media experience, Public speaking skills) • experience in conducting of training programs on environmental protection and sustainable development (3) • Work on educating and raising the level of environmental awareness in young people, people of all ages and decision-makers (2) • Experience with campaigns on certain issues (2) • Waste (2)

22. Energy, transport and climate policy analysis (Srb, BIH, CG, HR) Legislation, strategies and APs on: Climate change and emission reduction, Energy efficiency, Promotion of renewable energy, Promotion of sustainable transport, level of harmonization with EU, signed and ratified international agreements related to energy/transport and climate • Case studies

23. Energy, transport and climate policy analysis • There is increase of pressure for dirty energy construction in all 4 countries (coal and big hydro, even cross border projects) • There is pressure of export of energy to EU market (emissions are not included in EU emissions) • Need to support local communities in stopping these projects • Need to have an alternative energy strategies (new national strategies), WB energy union

24. Natural resources analysis (Srb, BIH, CG, HR) • Legislation, strategies and APs on: Nature protection, Water protection, Forests, Agricultural land, Agriculture law, Law on soil protection, Law on GMOs, Environmental law, Sea protection, EIA, SEA, IPCC • level of harmonization with EU, signed and ratified international agreements related to energy/transport and climate, data about natural resources • Case studies

25. Natural resources analysis • Issue of water privatization /pollution • Pressure on rivers for big hydro • Commercialization of protected areas / investment pressure • Agricultural land – grab and conversion (Serbia, Croatia) • Costal development / urbanization (Croatia, Montenegro) • Forest cutting (BIH), poaching (CG, HR) • We need more in depth research

26. Implementation phase • Seminar on dirty energy at island Solta, Croatia, 7th to 11th July (in addition project team meeting, July 13th) • Project web site, facebook and a leaflet • Call for proposals for sub-ganting for advocacy campaigns in WB & Turkey (open to October 8th) • Regional conference on EU Environmental approximation in the WB and Turkey, Palic Serbia, 24-26 September • Legal toolkit

27. The next steps • Selection of campaigns, end of calls • Project partners have their campaings too • National trainings / panels to influence decision makers • Seminar on EU environmental legislation (May 2014, Montenegro) • Position papers on issues (national and regional)

28. Project partners • www.etnar.net