Start January 2009 – March 2011 Participating Regions: Ionian Islands Region ( IonR ) – Greece

2. Project Profile Start January 2009 – March 2011 Participating Regions: Ionian Islands Region (IonR) – Greece Valencia Region (Spain) e-Participation Call for Proposals 2008 Informational website URL: www.uatmarenostrum.eu

3. Consortium Partners GFI Benelux Government to you (Gov2u) Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) The Fundación Comunidad Valenciana – Región Europea (FCVRE) The Directorate General for Modernization (DGM) The Region of the Ionian Islands (IonR)

4. The U@MARENOSTRUM project: facilitates an online dialogue between citizens and official representatives of the Ionian Islands Region – IonR (Greece) and the Valencia Region (Spain), on issues regarding water protection and management in the Mediterranean. The project involves two collaborative platforms one for each participating region. Platforms URL: Greek – http://www.uatmarenostrumionianislands.gr Spanish – http://marenostrum.gva.es/

5. About the project The deliverable is an open-source software solution and methodology to help local decision-makers to improve the quality, legitimacy and transparency of their policies in the eyes of the citizens; The online tools provided by the U@MARENOSTRUM platforms are: the forum, the interactive map (GIS), ePetitions, eSurveysand Letters to Officials.

6. The project aims: to engage citizens and local actors (community groups, associations etc.) from the Mediterranean costal zones in decision-making processes for the adoption and implementation of water and marine environmental protection in the Mediterranean region with the help of ICT and GIS; to advance the idea and use of eParticipation in environmental decision making by empowering citizens and local associations to use the state-of-the-art infrastructure in order to debate and engage in the implementation of EU environmental legislation;

7. Citizens : are being involved in decision-making with the help of ICT overcoming geographical barriers; are able to address key issues on water, giving their opinion to the public authorities and learn more about water related issues, the specific policy field and decision-making process in general; become familiar and involved in the functioning of democratic processes and monitor the implementation of the EU environmental law on water management and protection in their regions.

8. The Platforms

9. Results so far: U@MARENOSTRUM counts (mid Jan – mid Nov 2010): 1524 registered users in total with 1070 posted arguments in the forums, 228 markers on the interactive maps, 859 electronic signatures via the ePetition tool, 454 completed online surveys and 22 Letters to Officials were sent via the platforms. The Greek platform (mid Jan - mid Nov 2010) there have been a total of: 2,725 Visits, from which the 32.77% was New Visits, with 905 Absolute Unique Visitors and with 35,503 Page-views. The 2,725 visits came from 22 countries/territories. The Spanish platform (mid April - mid Nov 2010) there have been a total of: 2,266 Visits, from which the 39.36% was New Visits, with 898 Absolute Unique Visitors and with 7,671 Page-views. The 2,266 visits came from 27 countries/territories.

10. Suggestion for better implementation of ICT fostering Environmental Democracy More intensive citizens’ awareness raising regarding environmental issues Wider dissemination of environmental information Better access to environmental information Better ICT literacy for public administrators Development of fast, independent and low-cost mechanisms for answering citizens needs

11. For further information: www.uatmarenostrum.eu