August 2007, Issue no 59
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University (AMSU) - Political Campaigns, Communications & the Internet, August 29 - August 31, 2007, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Application deadline: asap


Campaigning, communication and Internet have become indispensable tools for any organisation in a modern dynamic world. The battle for attention, for change, for setting the agenda has become a craft in itself. Thanks to a large variety of specialists and campaigners from political parties, NGO's and business, you will gain insight in the ins and outs of their latest campaigns and techniques. You will find presentations on successful campaigns online, what works and what doesn't work?, the latest developments in electoral research, image making, spin doctoring, internet communities and tricks and tactics to fundraise money for your campaign.

This course is open to professionals and students in the field of campaigning, public affairs, communication, journalism and the academic world.

Only a few places are still available. Applicants will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis. E-mailed applications can not be accepted as a signature on the application form is required.

Fee: 775Eur (including course materials, lunches, coffee and tea breaks during the course).

AMSU Course Name: POLI-1.

More information
Website: http://www.amsu.edu/courses/POLI-1/
E-mail: office@amsu.edu


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Transitions Online - Reporting EU Integration, Training
Application deadline: August 15, 2007


Transitions Online announces the launch of Reporting EU Integration, a journalism training project aimed at helping reporters from Bosnia, Serbia, Belarus, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, and Kosovo obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to report on issues related to European integration.

The year-long project includes distance learning and learning-by-doing components as well as a seminar on reporting EU issues which will be held in Prague in late September. The project's working language is English.

During the training participants will broaden their knowledge of the politics and economics of the European accession process and became familiar with the work of the Brussels bureaucracy. Scholars, policy makers and senior journalists will share their insights on a range of topics, including the economics of enlargement; experiences of the new member states; trade liberalization in SEE, trade between the new member states on the one side and the SEE and former Soviet states on the other; how to navigate the European Council and Commission; and how journalists can decipher EU jargon and navigate Brussels.

Professional journalists from the above-mentioned countries are eligible for participation. To apply, please send your CV and a cover with ‘Reporting EU Integration’ in the subject line.

More information
Website: www.tol.org
E-mail: training@tol.org


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The United Nations Development Programme and the European Commission - National Debates on Development Cooperation – Call for proposals
Application deadline: August 24, 2007


The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission announce a call for proposals for non-profit organizations from 12 EU New Member States (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) to organize national debates on development cooperation and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The project is funded by the European Commission and is implemented by UNDP - UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre and UNDP Country Office in Poland.

UNDP and EC cooperation aims at raising awareness and building support for development cooperation and achievement of MDGs. To this end UNDP will be contracting non-profit organizations from these countries for organizing debates in October 2007, promoting the issue in national media, preparing materials/brochures.

The debates have primary objectives of promoting the European Development Days 2007, mobilizing national media coverage of development/MDGs topics (including MDGs mid-point assessment), mobilizing participation of Members of Parliaments (MPs) and decision-makers in discussing development topics.

Eligible non-profit organizations, which have capacities of mobilizing participation of MPs and media, are encouraged to apply for this project. The project does not require providing co-funding. It is advisable that the applicant has at least one Member of the Parliament (for example the Speaker of Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs or European Integration committee) and at least one nationwide media as co-organisers of the debate.

More information
Website: http://europeandcis.undp.org/?menu=p_tenders&tid=175
E-mail: simona.petru@undp.org (Ms. Simona Petru, Project Manager)
jan.szczycinski@undp.org (Mr. Jan Szczycinski, UNDP Communications Officer)


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Institute for Social and European Studies (Ises) and Corvinus University, Budapest - MA Program in International Relations and European Studies
Application deadline: September 1, 2007


The MA Program provides students with the opportunity to obtain theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of international relations, economics, political science, history and sociology. ISES provides a variety of innovative programs and services in the academic year 2007/2008 which we hope will make your stay in Hungary a rewarding and enriching experience. You will be part of an international student body of approximately 30 students and have the opportunity to meet outstanding professors from around the world.

When applying for admission, applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of 60 Euros. The application fee is valid for only one application for admission. Students pay a tuition fee for the courses and supplementary services provided by the university. Proof of payment has to be shown at the ISES office before the deadline for payment expires. Tuition Fee: 2700 Euros/semester.

More information
Website: http://www.european-studies.hu


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Europe for Citizens, Action 1 Active citizenship for Europe - Town Twinning
Application deadline: September 1, 2007 / December 1, 2007


Town twinning is aimed at activities that involve or promote direct exchanges between European citizens through their participation in town twinning activities and encourage networking and cooperation between twinned towns.

Action 1 - Active Citizens for Europe, is directed at activities involving citizens and at bringing together people from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experiences, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build for the future. It encourages meetings, exchanges and debates among European citizens from different countries and through different means.

1.1. Town twinning citizens' meetings
Town twinning citizens' meetings consist in bringing together a wide range of citizens and citizens' groups from twinned towns, taking benefit of the partnership between the municipalities for developing strong, informal and personal relations between their citizens.

Town twinning citizens' meetings must:
- Be organised in the framework of already existing or prospective town twinning arrangements between towns and municipalities in the eligible countries
- Involve municipalities from at least two participating countries, from which at least one is an EU Member State
- Involve the following minimum number of participants: 1. in bilateral meetings at least ten participants from the invited municipality, 2. in multilateral meetings (more than two municipalities involved) at least five participants from each invited municipality.
The maximum accepted duration of the meeting is 21 days.

The maximum grant to be awarded is EUR 20,000 per project, the minimum EUR 2,000 per project.

Eligible applicants:
The applicant must be the municipality in which the meeting takes place, or its twinning association/twinning committee with a legal status (legal personality), and be established in a participating country.

1.2. The thematic networking of twinned towns
Thematic networking between municipalities on issues of common interest enables informed discussions and exchange of good practice. Support is given to thematic conferences and workshops involving at least three towns, developed within the framework of town twinning. Communication tools produced in the context of these events with the aim of promoting a structured and sustainable thematic networking may also be supported.

Conferences and workshops must:
- Correspond to the objectives of this Programme and to the concept of networking of twinned towns
- Take place in the framework of town twinning and in one of the participating countries
- Involve at least a total of 20 participants from at least three municipalities from three different participating countries of which at least one is an EU Member State
- Present a balanced participation of the delegations involved: at least 25% of the participants must come from eligible countries other than the host country.
- Have a minimum duration of 1 day and maximum 3 days.

The minimum grant to be awarded is EUR 3,5000 per project.

Eligible applicants
- Municipalities and twinning committees
- Local and regional governments
- Associations representing local authorities
- Be from 27 EU Member States (on the 1st of January 2007). The programme can also be opened to other countries, according to the agreements signed: 1. EFTA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, 2. Candidate countries: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Turkey, 3. Countries from the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia (incl. Kosovo).

More information
Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/action1/towntwinning/funding_en.htm
E-mail: eacea-p7@ec.europa.eu


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European Commission DG Employment - PROGRESS (2007 - 2013) Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity
Application deadline: September 3, 2007 (for Section 3)


ROGRESS is the new Community Programme for employment and social solidarity which will run from 2007 until 2013. The programme replaces the former Community programmes covering anti-discrimination, gender equality, the fight against social exclusion and employment incentive measures which provide financial support to the EU's Social Policy Agenda. This single programme complements the European Social Fund as well as the financial support provided for social dialogue, free movement of workers and social studies.

The programme will be divided into five sections:
1. Employment: to support the implementation of the European Employment Strategy (EES)
2. Social protection and social inclusion: to support the implementation of the open method of coordination (OMC) in the field of social protection and inclusion
3. Working conditions: to support the improvement of the working environment and working conditions, including health and safety at work and reconciling work and family life
4. Antidiscrimination and diversity: to support the effective implementation of the principle of non-discrimination and promote its mainstreaming in all Community policies
5. Gender equality: to support the effective implementation of the principle of gender equality and promote gender mainstreaming in all Community policies.

It will provide support for three types of activities:
- Analytical activities that improve the understanding of the Social Policy Agenda's issues, contribute to its effective implementation and help to improve coordination with other EU policy areas and strategies (e.g. collecting and disseminating data, carrying out studies, analyses and impact assessments, developing statistical and evaluation methods).
- Activities involving mutual learning, exchanges of information, awareness-raising, identifying and promoting good practice and measures related to monitoring and evaluation (e.g. peer reviews) that help to establish the state-of-play in Member States and, in this way, improve the application of Community rules.
- Activities that support the main stakeholders in order to promote the exchange of good practice, the sharing of information, preventive awareness-raising measures, as well as discussion processes (e.g. setting up working parties of national officials, developing networking at EU level or funding networks of experts in the different areas).

Eligible applicants for the PROGRESS programme:
- Public and private bodies and relevant actors and stakeholders
- Local and regional authorities, public employment services and national statistics offices
- Specialised bodies, universities and research institutes, as well as the social partners and non-governmental organisations
- Countries eligible to participate are the 27 Member States. It is open to the accession and candidate countries associated to the European Union, as well as the Western Balkan countries included in the stabilisation and association process.

More information
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/progress/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/progress/work_cond_act_en.htm
E-mail: empl-info@ec.europa.eu


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Grants for Romanian Audiovisual Professionals - Call for proposals
Application deadline: September 17, 2007


This Call for Proposals is based on the decision taken by the European Commission's PHARE Programme for the implementation of the support project ‘Enhancement and development of the professional expertise of the Romanian audiovisual sector’. The project purpose is to strengthen the audiovisual sector in Romania, with the aim to promote European cultural diversity and to develop a viable national audiovisual industry.

The objectives of the present Call for Proposals are to select Romanian audiovisual professionals and provide them with a scholarship in order to participate in a training course co-financed by the MEDIA Programme. See the list of activities on the following websites: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/overview/2007/index_en.htm scheduled within the time frame of the PHARE Project on: http://www.cncinema.ro and http://www.pre-mediasupport.ro).

Eligible activities:
1) Training in screenplay writing techniques:
· Writing workshops (training based on screenplays being written or in the process on being developed), which mainly request the participation of the screenwriter/director and/or producer
· Training in writing fiction, animation, interactive scenarios and creative documentary
· Training for young audiences, including animation
· Training for story editors and script doctors.

2)Management: economic and commercial management and legal aspects analyzed in respect to a European dimension. Training courses will concentrate on:
· Management of audiovisual companies, including animation
· Finance and production
· Legal aspects
· Sales and distribution
· Regulation of European audiovisual Industry
· Intellectual property and author's rights
· Development of projects (feature films, creative documentary, animation)
· Exhibition and distribution strategies
· Marketing and promotion of films
· Management of archives.

3) New Technologies and new media: to develop the ability in the industry to use advanced creative techniques taking into account the European market, notably in the fields of:
· Development of the ability to use advanced creative techniques for development, production and post-production
· Development of interactive content
· Use and development of new technologies for the protection and enhancement of the European film and audio-visual heritage
· Multimedia management
· Developing animation techniques.

The grant will cover 50% of the participation fees (except scholarships granted by the training institution), and 100% of the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs (if they are not included in the participation fees) to attend the seminars of training courses.

Applicants must apply in Romanian and English.

Applications must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:
1. The CVs of the applicant and their partners
2. A copy of the diplomas mentioned in their CV
3. The significant/ relevant references proving their professional experience indicated in their CVs and related with this field/ type of activity
4. The proof of the admission to the training course, issued by the training institution. In case of training courses where the participation of a team is compulsory, the proof of admission must clearly indicate all the names of the team partners and their specific role in the team
5. Copy of a valid passport and/or ID card for each applicant.

More information
Website: http://www.pre-mediasupport.ro/


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European Commission DG Justice, Freedom and Security - The European Union and Non-discrimination Competition
Application deadline: September 24, 2007


he European Commission launches the competition entitled ?The European Union and non-discrimination?, which is open to all young people in EU. European children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 are invited to design a poster on non-discrimination in the EU. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness among young Europeans of the work being done by the EU in this field.

Poster: participants are required to create a poster illustrating the idea of non-discrimination within the European Union.The following rules apply:
- Poster format: A2 paper (42X59 cm)
- The descriptive form for the work submitted must be enclosed.

Selection and prize:
- The entries will be judged first at national level, and prizes will be awarded to the three best teams in each age category at ceremonies to be held in each country on 20 November, International Children's Rights Day
- The coordination of the competition at national level will be the responsibility of the European Commission Representation Office
- The winners of the first prize in the national competition will compete in a second round at European level. The three top teams in each age group will be invited to visit Brussels from 15 to 17 December for a tour of the city and the European institutions and to attend a European award ceremony hosted by Vice-President Frattini.
- The best posters will be displayed on the websites of the Commission's representations in the Member States and on the Europa server. They may also be used in future European anti-discrimination campaigns.

Who can participate:
The Competition is open to young people residing in one of the 27 EU Member States and is split into two age categories: 12-14 and 15-18.

How to enter:
- Candidates are required to form teams of at least four young people and one adult who will be responsible for the team throughout the project, including travel to awards ceremonies.
- There is no maximum limit for the number of young people per team.

More information
Website: http://www.europayouth.eu


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EESC Prize for Organised Civil Society
Application deadline: September 28, 2007


The purpose of this prize, which was awarded for the first time in 2006, is to encourage intellectual or practical contributions to a better awareness of the role of organised civil society in the European integration process and thus reinforce civil dialogue and help flesh out the emerging concept of participatory democracy. The EUR 20.000 prize is awarded annually.

The 2007 prize aims to reward outstanding work or activities by civil society to help promote European integration and identity.

The prize is open to civil society organisations or individuals established or resident within the European Union. The decisions or actions of public bodies, organisations or individuals whose professional duty is to promote European integration or identity cannot be taken into consideration.

Candidates for the prize have to be nominated by:
· One or several members of the European Economic and Social Committee
· One or several members of the Liaison Group between the EESC and European civil society organisations and networks
· Another European Union institution.
Nominations sent directly to the EESC will not be considered.

Nomination papers must include all the information the selection board requires in order:
· Firstly, to ascertain that the civil society organisation or individual concerned fulfil the formal entry criteria
· Secondly, to evaluate the substantive merits of each civil society organisation or individual in relation to the theme and objectives of the prize.

Nomination papers must also include the following information:
· The full address and contact details of the organisation (including its website) and its key staff, or of the individual
· Contact person(s) (civil society organisations)
· The organisation’s aims and main activities, or the individual's professional activity
· A detailed description of the aims, content and impact of the work or initiative (practical or intellectual) that has led to the organisation or individual being proposed for the prize.

Nominations, together with the requisite documents, should be submitted in one of the official languages of the European Union. However, in order to facilitate the organisation and conduct of the panel of judges' work, applications should be sent in French or English, wherever possible.

More information
Website: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/sco/prize_civ_soc/index_en.asp
E-mail: Patrick.Feve@eesc.europa.eu (Mr Patrick Feve)


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University of Passau - Master of Russian and East Central European Studies
Application deadline: September 30, 2007 (for winter semester)


The Master is a research-oriented and interdisciplinary study programme, in which highly qualified graduates from diverse bachelor programmes from the University of Passau as well as from other universities and colleges of higher education in Germany and abroad work on related issues. The extension of regional knowledge on Eastern Europe as well as general methodological skills will be part of the curriculum. The Language Centre of the University of Passau offers courses in Russian, Czech, and Polish into which students can enrol to further improve the students’ skills in an Eastern European language. The knowledge and the skills acquired will prepare the students for jobs in diverse academic institutions, in business, culture, administration and politics. The students will also be experts in intercultural communication. The focus on Eastern Europe will provide a special regional competence in one of! Europe’s important developing areas.

The following documents are required:
- Curriculum vitae
- Copy of a university/college degree (bachelor, master of arts, diploma, state examination) from a German or foreign university
- Knowledge of English as certified by UNICert III, TOEFL, IELTS etc. or a similar qualification
- Knowledge in a Slavic language as certified by UNICert II or a similar qualification.

Entrance examination:
- Grade of the academic degree (must be 2,5 or better)
- A statement of skills and motivations for the programme (with a focus on language competence in an Eastern Europe language, research experience and working experience).

More information
E-mail: uffelmann uni-passau.de (Prof. Dr. Dirk Uffelmann)
wuensch uni-passau.de (Prof. Dr. Thomas Wunsch)


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New Europe College, Bucharest - Fellowships Spring - Summer 2008
Application deadline: September 30, 2007


The two Fellowships shall enable young outstanding researchers - social scientists and humanities scholars - or academics from the Balkan region to pursue their work in Bucharest, with the support of a decent stipend and benefiting from the institute's excellent infrastructure and in its stimulating multidisciplinary atmosphere. Fellows are expected to stay in residence at the New Europe College in Bucharest and to participate in the academic program of this vital Romanian centre of research and debate.

Eligible are scholars (doctoral or post-doctoral level) from the West Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Preference is given to applicants below 45 years. A good command of English is desirable; fluency in other foreign languages (French, German) an advantage.

Successful candidates receive a monthly stipend of 600 Euro for four months. The Fellowships also include accommodation, travel costs for Bucharest, and a research allowance. Additionally, Fellows are offered a lump sum of 2560 Euros for a one-month research trip to a German institution.

The Fellowships are sponsored by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stuttgart (Germany).

Applications must use the forms provided on the New Europe College website and also contain a CV (with publications) and a well-written research proposal (3-5 pages) for the period in question.

More information
Website: www.nec.ro
E-mail: imihai@nec.ro (Ms Irina Vainovski-Mihai, Program Coordinator)


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Institute for European Studies - Call for PhD projects
Application deadline: September 30, 2007


The Institute for European Studies (IES) invites applications for the position of a PhD researcher for a maximum duration of four years (beginning in November 2007). The IES is a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Its research focuses on the role of the EU as a global actor and on the interaction between the internal and external dimensions of EU policies and between EU policies and other international institutions and organisations.

The IES seeks proposals for PhD projects in a legal discipline or political science (or a related social science) that help us advance our knowledge about the driving forces and most promising policy responses to migration and diversity both in Europe and in the context of development. Comparative studies between Europe and the traditionally immigrant societies of the New World might be helpful in determining promising policy paths. Proposals addressing legal issues are particularly encouraged.

Rationale: As the Global Commission on International Migration noted in its 2005 report, human mobility is not only becoming more complex in scope and scale, but is also becoming more complex in its naturei. Many of these complexities and the crosscutting factors involved are not yet well understood. Migration brings with it a wealth of issues concerned with human interaction especially in our large cities. These include differences of culture, legal tradition, religion and customs and the acceptance of such diversity amongst the local population. They also encompass practical matters such as how to deal with language in schools and how to integrate migrant children into the educational system, health issues, sensitivity in policing migrant neighbourhoods and other social and legal questions.

Proposals should have a clear conceptual foundation and could focus on one or several of the following issues that are of particular relevance in a European context:
- Integration of migrants into host societies. Although there is a considerable literature on strategies for integration of migrants, further study needs to be done on the effectiveness of government intervention as opposed to laissez-faire, policies for dealing with concentrations of migrants in European cities, the role of the private sector in job creation and social issues relating to isolation from family and culture.
- Policy formation regarding economic migration for employment and self-employment. Key aspects of this issue encompass the effects of declining demography and the increasing dependency ratio in Europe, the effects of economic migrants on employment levels, wage levels and other market factors such as the need for workers to fill jobs in the current favourable European economic climate and the desirability of immigration for wealth formation.
- The effectiveness of different types of visa regimes such as temporary work permits, high skilled and points based schemes, job matching, circular migration schemes in particular the effect of such schemes on the sending countries development such as brain gain and remittances.
- Control of illegal migration. There is a lack of exploration of the success or failure of strategies currently being employed (notably regularisation or amnesties for illegal migrants, carriers liability or criminal penalties for employing illegal workers which are largely ignored) as well as the factors determining this success or failure.
- Responses to mass migration. There has been little examination of the effects of armed conflict on migration and of the best methods of dealing with mass influx of migrants created by human action or natural disasters. A current example is the effect of conflict (such as in Iraq or Afghanistan) which is politically and militarily supported by potential receiving European states on the migration issues of nationals of the countries in conflict.
- Relationship between human rights and migration law. There is a need to further explore the contradictions between human rights law and the perceived right of nation states and the EU to control access to their territory. This can, amongst other questions, include issues relating to the Geneva Convention 1951 on the right to asylum, the extension of states’ control of immigration beyond their borders (for example by stationing liaison officers at foreign airports or processing asylum applications outside their territory) or data protection matters in relation to electronic control systems. There are potential conflicts between rights under the Geneva Convention and rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which might be explored in the light of decisions in the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice.
- The effects of European trade and aid policies on migration. One area of inquiry might be how the EU can modify its policies in the various trade negotiation fora a such as the WTO or the Cotonou Agreement in order to mitigate possible effects of these policies on migratory patterns. The same reasoning applies to aid policy in particular how migration issues can be best incorporated into development projects in the light of the various EU communications on this issue.

An important criterion for the selection of the successful candidate will be that a qualified supervision and promotion of the PhD can be ensured at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Applicants are therefore encouraged to identify potential promoters at the VUB and to indicate these in their application, if possible.

Remuneration: PhD bursary or equivalent (appr. 1500 Euros net per month)
Duration: Four years (subject to annual reviews) as of 1 November 2007

Applications including (1) a detailed Curriculum Vitae, (2) a clear PhD proposal (max. 10 pages), (3) a list of publications, (4) a letter of motivation and (5) two letters of recommendation should be sent to the Academic Director of the IES (address below).

More information
Website: http://www.ies.be/node/225
E-mail: ies@vub.ac.be


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European Parliament DG Information - Call for proposals 2008
Application deadline: October 1, 2007


The aim of this call for proposals is to identify projects, of a non-commercial nature, which may be eligible for financial support from the Directorate General for Information of the European Parliament. This support would be in the form of co-financing grants.

The principle mission of the Directorate General for Information is to provide relevant and timely information to the European Citizen on European Affairs in general and the particular role played by the European Parliament as democratically elected body. The votes made by elected MEP's, on behalf of the citizens they represent, ensure that those citizens voices are heard on a whole range of important issues affecting everyday lives. By making the link between information activities and the specific interests and preoccupations of the public in the different Member States, DG Information aims to enhance transparency of procedures and encourage a wider public interest and participation in the debate.

2008 will be the 50th anniversary of the first sitting of the European Parliamentary Assembly. The European Parliament is the only directly elected body of the European Union and its' 785 MEP's (Members of European Parliament) are elected every five years to represent EU citizens, currently around 492 million, across the 27 Member States.

The European Parliament plays an active role in the drafting of legislation which directly impacts on the daily lives of the citizen, and has joint power, with the Council, over the annual budget of the EU. In 2009 Europeans will be called upon to vote for the next European Parliament: The Directorate General for Information of the European Parliament is offering financial assistance to projects which focus specifically on providing accurate, relevant and unbiased information about the role of the European Parliament, the issues at stake, and how each citizen can make his voice heard.

Additionally, 2008 has been declared the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in support of cultural and linguistic diversity and the promotion of solidarity. At the heart of the European project, it is important to provide the means for intercultural dialogue and dialogue between citizens to strengthen respect for cultural diversity and deal with the complex reality in our societies and the coexistence of different cultural identities and beliefs. Furthermore, it is important to highlight the contribution of different cultures to the Member States' heritage and way of life and to recognise that culture and intercultural dialogue are essential for learning to live together in harmony.

The key elements of any project selected for the award of a grant under this Call for Proposals will therefore fall within this context and will clearly address and further the objectives of the Directorate-General for Information. There are 4 themes within the above-mentioned context under which proposals may be introduced as follows: Television, Debates and Conferences, Events including fairs and exhibitions, Websites and other internet-based initiatives.

The European Parliament has Information Offices in each Member-State capital city as well as five satellite offices. These offices will be closely involved and will follow the projects which are awarded a grant by DG Information. To this effect, organisations in receipt of a grant are required to take contact with the relevant Information Office and to keep the responsible person informed of key developments and dates and times of activities relevant to the project. Representatives of the offices will be invited to participate, wherever possible, to any debates, or events and will be kept informed of all dates and times of television broadcasts.

Only projects being held in one or more of the Member-States of the European Union may be considered under this funding programme.

For guidance, DG Information is planning to allocate an estimated total of +/- 5.000.000 Euros across all of the themes announced in this call for proposals.

More information
Website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/tenders/subventions_call_proposal_2008.htm


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Culture (2007 - 2013), Strand 1 - Support for Cultural Actions
Application deadline: October 1, 2007


Support for Cultural Actions provides direct support for European co-operation of projects of varying length and scale, which have at least two of the specific objectives of the Culture programme.

The Culture programme aims to achieve a common cultural area through cultural co-operation between artists, cultural stakeholders and cultural institutions in Europe. It will thus contribute actively to the development of a European identity from the grass roots. In order to reach the European citizens, the EU institutions are using intermediaries, i.e. theatres, museums, professional associations, research centres, universities, cultural institutes, the authorities, etc.

Specific objectives of the Culture programme are:
- Supporting transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector
- Encouraging the transnational circulation of works of art and artistic and cultural products
- Promoting intercultural dialogue.

There are three strands:
1. Support for cultural actions
2. Support for European organisations active in the field of culture
3. Support for analyses and for the collection and dissemination of information in the field of cultural co-operation.

Within Strand 1 there is:
1.1 Co-operation focal points:
- To assist the focal points in their start-up and structural phase, or in their geographical extension phase. The aim is to encourage them to establish sustainable foundations and achieve financial autonomy.
- A focal point should constitute at least six operators from six different participating countries, and bring together operators from one or more sectors for various multi-annual activities or projects, sectoral or cross-sectoral in nature but pursuing a common objective.

1.2 Co-operation measures
- Support for sectoral or cross-sectoral cultural co-operation between European operators
- Priority shall be given to creativity and innovation
- Partnerships should involve at least four cultural operators in three different participating countries.

1.3 Special actions
- Support for actions of substantial scale and scope, and which is significant to the people of Europe. It should increase their belonging to the same community, but also make them aware of the cultural diversity of the Member States. It should contribute to the intercultural and international dialogue.
- A few examples of these actions: awarding of prizes, support to the 'European Capitals of Culture', and also support to co-operation with third countries (i.e. countries other than the participating countries) and international organisations.

Eligibility:
- Non audiovisual cultural operators and sectors, including cultural enterprises, where they are acting in a non-profit-making cultural capacity
- Eligible countries: 1. EU Member States (including Bulgaria and Romania as of 1 January 2007), 2. EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), 3. Candidate countries (Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey) and the countries of the western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia including Kosovo) depending on the agreements signed.

Deadlines:
Strand 1.1 multi-annual cooperation projects & Strand 1.2.1 cooperation measures (EACEA/23/07): 31 October 2007
Strand 1.2.2 literary translation (EACEA/25/07) - there are two disctinct selection procedures with a first selection: 1 October 2007 and second selection: 1 April 2008
Strand 1.3 Organisation and implementation of an annual European Union Prize for Literature (EAC/17/07): 12 October 2007
Strand 1.3 Support for Cultural Cooperation with and in third countries (EACEA/21/07): 1 October 2007.

More information
Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/calls2007/index_en.htm
E-mail: eacea-info@ec.europa.eu


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European Commission - Culture (2007 - 2013) Strand 3, Support for Analysis and Dissemination Activities
Application deadline: October 1, 2007


This strand of the Culture programme offers support for analyses and for the collection and dissemination of information and for maximising the impact of projects in the field of cultural cooperation.

Support will be given in three different ways:
3.1. Support for cultural contact points
In order to ensure targeted, effective grass-roots dissemination of practical information on the Programme, it shall provide for support from cultural contact points at national level.

The task of the cultural contact points shall be to:
- Promote the programme
- Facilitate access to the programme for as many professionals and operators in the cultural field as possible
- Provide an efficient link with the various institutions providing aid to the cultural sector in the Member States
- Provide information on other Community programmes open for cultural projects if required.

3.2. Support for studies and analyses in the field of cultural cooperation
The aim is to boost the volume and quality of information and data on pan-European cultural collaboration and policy development. The call EACEA/26/2007 aims to support the networking of various types of stakeholders (cultural departments of national, regional or local authorities, cultural observatories, universities specialised in cultural affairs etc.) which have a direct and practical experience in evaluation or impact assessment in the cultural policy field on the following two topics:
- Topic 1: cultural policies in local/regional socio-economic development and attractiveness
- Topic 2: synergies/bridges between education and culture with strong focus on creativity and innovation.

3.3. Support for the collection and dissemination of information and for maximising the impact of projects in the field of cultural cooperation.

Support will be given to the collection and dissemination of information and activities aimed at maximising the impact of projects via the development of an Internet tool targeted at the needs of culture professionals in the field of trans-European cultural cooperation. This tool should make possible the exchange of experience and good practice and the dissemination of information concerning the Programme as well as trans-European cultural cooperation in the broad sense.

Eligibility:
- Non audiovisual cultural operators and sectors, including cultural enterprises, where they are acting in a non-profit-making cultural capacity
- Eligible countries: 1. EU Member States, 2. EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), 3. Candidate countries (Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey) and the countries of the western Balkans. (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia including Kosovo) depending on the agreements signed.

More information
Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/calls2007/index_en.htm
E-mail: eacea-info@ec.europa.eu


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Human Rights Watch - Fellowships in International Human Rights 2008 – 2009
Application deadline: October 5, 2007


This year Human Rights Watch will award four fellowships to recent graduates of law schools or graduate programs (master's degree and above) in journalism, international relations, area studies, or other relevant disciplines.

Fellows work full time for one year at Human Rights Watch, based in New York City, Washington, D.C., or London. Fellows monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy aimed at publicizing and curtailing human rights violations.

Qualifications: Applicants must have exceptional analytic skills, an ability to write and speak clearly, and a commitment to work in the human rights field in the future on a paid or volunteer basis. Proficiency in one language in addition to English is strongly recommended. Familiarity with countries or regions where serious human rights violations occur is also valued. Fellows must be law, journalism, international relations, or area studies graduates with degrees received after January 2005 and before August 2008, or must provide evidence of significant, comparable, relevant work experience. Applicants must be available for interviews in New York from early November to mid-December 2007. Fellowships begin in September 2008.

Salary and Benefits: The salary for the 2007-2008 fellows is 47,000 USD, plus excellent employer-paid benefits. The salary for 2008-2009 fellows is currently under review.

How to Apply: Please send a complete application packet by mail, under a single cover, that includes the following:
a. Cover letter
b. Resume (curriculum vitae)
c. Two letters of recommendation
d. Unedited, unpublished writing sample
e. Official law or graduate school transcript (applicants in one-year graduate programs should supply an undergraduate transcript with a list of their graduate school courses).
Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted without prior written approval from Human Rights Watch.

More information
Website: www.hrw.org
E-mail: fellowship@hrw.org


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National Endowment for Democracy - Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program 2008 – 2009
Application deadline: November 1, 2007


Named in honor of the two principal founders of NED, former president Ronald Reagan and the late congressman Dante Fascell, the program enables democracy activists, practitioners, scholars, and journalists from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change.

Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows maintain full-time residence at the International Forum for Democratic Studies (the Forum), the research arm of the Endowment, located in Washington, D.C. The Forum hosts 12 to 15 Reagan-Fascell fellows per year for periods ranging from three to ten months. The program offers two tracks, a practitioner track and a scholarly track.

The Practitioner Track
The Reagan-Fascell program was established primarily to support democratic activists, human rights advocates, journalists, and others who work on the front lines of democracy promotion in emerging and aspiring democracies. The program seeks to provide experienced activists with an opportunity to reflect on their work, learn from counterparts in the United States, and reevaluate techniques for building democracy in their country of origin. Fellowships on the practitioner track tend to be short-term (3 to 5 months), typically culminating in a strategy memorandum, short article or op-ed and a presentation of the fellow’s analysis and ideas.

The Scholarly Track
Recognizing the importance of intellectual contributions to the theory and practice of democracy, the Reagan-Fascell program offers a scholarly track principally for professors and researchers from emerging and aspiring democracies. Accomplished scholars from established democracies are also eligible to apply. Applicants are expected to possess a Ph.D., or academic equivalent, at the time of application, and to have developed a rigorous research outline. During their stay at the Forum, which can range from 3 to 10 months, scholars make at least one presentation and complete a substantial piece of writing (a monograph or book) for publication.

Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus health insurance and reimbursement for travel to and from Washington, D.C., at the beginning and end of the fellowship period. Fellows also receive a fully equipped office and support services, including access to the Forum’s Democracy Resource Center and Library.

While in residence at the Forum, fellows have the opportunity to interact with staff and other visiting scholars and activists in the collegial environment at NED, and with the policy, media, and academic communities in Washington, D.C. Fellows are encouraged to consult with counterparts in the United States, and to participate in the many conferences and seminars held at NED and at the various universities, think tanks, and nongovernmental organizations in the metropolitan area.

The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program is intended primarily for citizens of new and aspiring democracies.

Practitioner Track: While there are no specific degree requirements for applicants selecting the practitioner track, candidates interested in this track are expected to have substantial practical experience working on behalf of some aspect of democracy building—such as human rights advocacy, political party activism, voter education, election monitoring, journalism and press freedom, ethnic pluralism, civic education, etc.

Scholarly Track: Individuals interested in the scholarly track are expected to possess a Ph.D. or academic equivalent at the time of application, to have published in their field of expertise, and to have developed a detailed research outline for their fellowship project. While the scholarly track is intended primarily for accomplished or promising scholars from new and emerging democracies, distinguished scholars from the United States and other established democracies are also eligible to apply. Examples of eligible candidates for the scholarly track include college and university professors, scholars, analysts at research centers and “think tanks,” and independent writers.

More information
Website: http://www.ned.org/forum/reagan-fascell.html
E-mail: fellowships@ned.org


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UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme 2008
Application deadline: January 11, 2008


The UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme funded under a Japan Funds-in-Trust project will aim, in particular, to impact on capacitybuilding and research activities in the following areas which were of particular importance to Mr Keizo Obuchi:
1. Environment (with particular attention to Water Sciences)
2. Intercultural Dialogue
3. Information and Communication Technologies
4. Peaceful conflict resolution.
No other research topics will be considered.

Applicants, a maximum of TWO from each applying National Commission, must meet the following general criteria:
1. Candidates under this Programme must be post-graduate researchers, already holding either an M.A. or M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) and wishing to pursue research work abroad (preferably in their own region) with a view to enhancing knowledge in one of the four specific fields mentioned in paragraph D.1 below. Thus, those who are in the process of completing their Master’s degree must have completed it PRIOR to taking up their Fellowship.
2. Candidates must be persons of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make significant contributions to their country on return.
3. Candidates must be no more than 40 years of age. Thus, applicants born before 1 January 1968 will not be considered under the Programme.
4. The selected Fellow must carry out the research under the auspices of an academic supervisor in a host institution. Confirmation of acceptance from the academic supervisor is imperative.
5. Priority attention will be given to: women; candidates from least developed countries (LDCs); Palestinian researchers
6. Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language of instruction in the proposed country of study/research.
7. Applicants must be in good health, both physically and mentally.

Duration of proposed research: minimum: 3 months; maximum: 9 months.

The Fellowships financed by Japan and administered by UNESCO will consist of the following:
- A maximum amount between US$6,000 to US$10,000 will be awarded to selected candidates. The amount, to be paid in two or three instalments, is intended to cover research costs only, and will not be negotiable.
- No other costs will be considered and grants will be neither extended nor renewed.

More information
Website: http://portal.unesco.org/unesco/ev.php?URL_ID=14635&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1180950897


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Center for EU Enlargement Studies, Central European University - 'A Roadmap for the Western-Balkans: Using IPA and other EU Funds to Accelerate Convergence and Integration' Workshop - Call for papers
Application deadline: August 13, 2007


The main aim of this one day workshop is to take stock of pre-accession funds available for Western-Balkan candidate- and potential candidate countries, their ability to manage and absorb financial assistance received from the EU, and to contribute to identifying fields of program implementation. The workshop also aims to discuss the role that new EU member states can play in transferring know-how on identifying development needs and the management of fund absorption. As a result, convergence perspectives of the region can be assessed as well as the role of the wider region in assisting in the development of the Western-Balkans. The workshop brings together junior researchers and academics with senior policy-makers from EU institutions, member states, and Western-Balkan countries.

A call for papers is now addressed to post-graduate researchers interested in presenting a paper at the workshop. Proposals should address one of the following themes:
- A general description of the new IPA scheme
- IPA’s strengths and weaknesses; analysis of the effects of differentiation between candidate - and potential candidate countries under the IPA framework
- An assessment of the EU aid policy toward the Western-Balkan countries. Is it well-suited to address the most urgent needs of these countries, including achieving economic growth?
- The preparedness of individual candidate- and potential candidate countries to accommodate financial resources, such as management, absorption capacity, and programming capacities
- Identifying fields of action in program implementation contributing to regional growth
- An assessment of the work of the European Agency for Reconstruction and its role under the new IPA scheme. Do the programs managed by the EAR trigger further reform processes in the region?
- The potential of former candidate countries from the last wave of enlargement that benefited from the schemes of PHARE and SAPARD to transfer know-how of funds management, and application to the Western-Balkan countries.

Proposals should include:
- A paper abstract of up to 500 words
- Title of proposed paper
- One-paragraph bio of the author.

All applicants will be informed of the decision by 17 August 2007. Final papers should be submitted by 30 September 2007 (approximate length 6,000 words). The Conference’s working language is English. Those selected to present their paper will have their accommodation and travel costs covered.

More information
E-mail: reicha@ceu.hu (Anna Reich)


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Deniz Feneri Poverty Research Center - International Symposium on Poverty, February 1 - 3, 2008, Istanbul, Turkey - Call for papers
Application deadline: August 20, 2007


Poverty is a widespread and global phenomenon, which has pervasive effects on global and local communities. Different social scientific disciplines, vary from sociology to economics, political science to social work, emphasize on the different aspects of the problem, and thus contribute the existing literature on poverty and its causes, pervasiveness and effects in 21st century. Furthermore, there is a profusion of supranational actors, usually lying beyond the state, to tackle poverty. UNDP, World-Bank and local or global civil society organizations work in the field of poverty alleviation and offer a variety of services and solutions to the problem of poverty alongside the nation-states. In this respect, it is crucial to bring civil, public, academic and supranational actors together to discuss different aspects of the problem of poverty and thus to establish global and local platforms to fight against p! overty.

Deniz Feneri Poverty Research Center, to promote cooperation and exchange of knowledge and expertise in the field of poverty alleviation, aims to organize an international symposium on poverty between 1st and 3rd of February, 2008 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Symposium Topics: Poverty: Between Society and Economy; Poverty and Public Policy; Poverty and Supranational Institutions; Philantrophy, Poverty and Civil Society Organizations; Globalization and Poverty; Sustainability, Natural Resources and Poverty; Poverty Alleviation, Strategies and Alternatives; Knowledge, Governance and Poverty.

Participants/ speakers should submit their abstracts of no more than 250 words. Upon acceptance, a conference manuscript should be submitted to symposium secretariat until December 25, 2007. The manuscript reviews will be announced in January 5, 2008. All the manuscripts should be written in Microsoft-Word format. All submitted documents should also be written in APA writing style. For APA-style visit www.yoksulluk.org. Papers can be submitted in English or in Turkish. In Turkish papers, an English abstract, which is not more than 250 words, should be added. All documents should include a keyword section, written in both in English and Turkish.

The transportation and accommodation will be provided on the basis of availabilities.

More information
Website: http://www.yoksulluk.org/en/default.asp
E-mail: deyam@denizfeneri.org.tr


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‘Visual Construction of Culture’ Symposium, October 26 – 27, 2007, Zagreb, Croatia - Call for Papers
Application deadline: August 20, 2007 (confirmation)


Organizers: The Croatian Writers' Society, the theory, culture and visual arts journal Tvrđa, and the Zagreb Centre for Visual Studies.

Over the past ten-odd years, the interest for the establishment of Visual Culture / Visual Studies as a new interdisciplinary field of scientific study has surpassed the boundaries of contemporary visual arts. As W. J. T. Mitchell, one of the leading theoreticians of visuality and the image in the media age puts it, the new way in which images are created in the digital age requires a paradigm shift. This visual, pictorial and cultural turn marks the liberation of the image from the dominant paradigms in language philosophy and from the prevalent iconology interpretations in art history. Today, the picture is understood as a medium of communication and as a contextual field of autoreferential denotation. It is no longer a ‘holy’ picture or a picture of High Art, but a multiplied and networked world of visuality which demands its own new grammar, syntax, semiotics and hermeneutics.

Culture can no longer be explained by social identity theories. Visual culture is constructed autonomously and in the media age it is a prerequisite for the cognition of reality and its various interpretations. The Symposium will therefore focus especially on the need for a new approach to the concepts of picture, visuality and media in our time. How do pictures function in the culturally pluralistic and ideologically hybrid postmodern societies? Why can the new picture only be understood in its (cultural policy-, society- and ideology-related) context?

You are invited to participate in the Symposium and contribute to the articulation of Visual Culture as a new scientific discipline dealing with the visual in the media age in Croatia and its wider European environment. During the two working days, discussions will focus on the possibilities of co-operation between the fields of art history, semiotics, philosophy, sociology, cultural and visual studies in the research of the:
- Concept and phenomenon of the picture in the age of the iconic turn
- Mediological aspects of contemporary visual communication (e.g. the impact of new media art, as well as the mass media abolition of the borders dividing ‘high’ from ‘low’ art, popular from elite art production)
- Representation of visual cultural identities (of pictures—icons—ideologies).

Please send your presentation title and summary (up to 200 words) by 15 September 2007 with ‘Symposium presentation’ in the subject line. Presentations by symposium participants, divided into three subject areas, will be limited to 20 minutes each, followed by a discussion. Working languages are Croatian and English.

More information
Website: www.c-v-s.hr.
E-mail: zarko.paic@zg.t-com.hr (Mr. Zarko Paic, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Tvrda)
visual.studies@post.t-com.hr (Mr. Krešimir Purgar, Senior Researcher, Centre for Visual Studies)


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Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue - Have Your Say on Improving Intercultural Dialogue - Call to civil society actors
Application deadline: August 22, 2007


With the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue fast approaching, a broad range of civil society actors are being asked to contribute their proposals for improvements in this area. The so-called 'Rainbow Paper' of recommendations will be produced by the Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue, a cross-sector alliance initiated by the ECF and EFAH.

Contributors are asked eight questions on how intercultural dialogue might be improved, and how to achieve a more integrated approach in policy terms. Civil society actors with experience or interest in this field are invited to contribute. The resulting 'Rainbow Paper' will be used as a central part of the Civil Society Platform's campaigning throughout 2008.

Far from being an academic text, the Rainbow Paper will be a practically useful and informative document, a 'patchwork quilt' that draws on the interests, experience and knowledge of civil society as it encounters the challenges presented by Europe's growing diversity.

More information
Website: http://civilsocietyplatform.eurocult.org
E-mail: mihwe@eurocult.org (Mascha Ihwe)
lmathol@eurocult.org (Lise Mathol)


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Faculty of Communication, Vilnius University - 2007 Annual NIC Conference, November 29 – December 1, 2007, Vilnius, Lithuania - Call for papers
Application deadline: August 27, 2007


Submission of papers is invited in the field of intercultural communication from participants in previous NIC Conferences and other researchers or practitioners from related fields. Organizers also invite doctoral students to submit papers that will be presented in the Doctoral Workshop held during conference, and especially welcome submissions from researchers and doctoral students based in Eastern Europe.

Besides the main theme of Changing Identities in the Globalized World, organizers invite papers that address any of the following themes: Identities in multicultural society; Intercultural communication and national identity; Minority / majority communication issues; Reflections of global / local in intercultural perspective; Values in multicultural society; Immigration and intercultural communication; Intercultural conflict handling; Cultural diversity; Intercultural communication and the Internet; Identities in political rhetoric; Intercultural business communication; Gender communication; Educational aspects of intercultural communication.

250-word abstracts should be submitted. Acceptance notification will be sent by 10 September 2007. The conference language is English. Presentations prepared for the conference should be 20 minutes long and will be followed by 10 minutes of discussion. Papers presented at the conference may be submitted for publication in the Journal of Intercultural Communication.

More information
E-mail: nic2007@kf.vu.lt


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’Ukraine - Romania - Moldova: Historical, Political and Cultural Relations in the Context of Modern European Processes’, International Scientific Conference, September 18 –19, 2007, Chernivtsi, Ukraine - Call for papers
Application deadline: August 28, 2007


Organizers: Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the Faculty of History, Political Science and International Relations of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University and Bukovynian Center for Political Studies, in close cooperation with and financially supported by Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Ukraine and the Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, and with participation of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration.

Primary objectives of the conference are:
- Strengthening ties among the academia as regards topical problems of cooperation and present-day relations between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.
- Defining problem areas in relations between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova and elaborating up-to-date approaches for solving them on constructive and objective grounds.
- Making proposals for follow-up scientific and practical events, drafting and implementing bilateral and trilateral models of interaction between historians, political scientists, cultural anthropologists and NGO activists of Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, drafting recommendations for central and regional authorities and bodies of local self-government, aimed at streamlining bilateral and trilateral cooperation.

The conference will include the following main sections (panels):
- Ukrainian-Romanian-Moldovan relations: lessons from the past
- Security dimension of trilateral relations: energy and military-political aspects
- Political, legal, socioeconomic and civil ties between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova. European integration as their inseparable component
- Developing joint approaches to studying and managing ethnonational processes in relations between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova
- Cultural, academic and educational dimensions of relations between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova
- Cutting-edge publications on the subject area will be presented during the conference.

Interested scholars are requested to send topic proposals for their reports, abstract of your report or message (1 page) and, on a separate sheet, your CV with due contact addresses.

Participants are provided with free meals and accommodation for the time of the conference. There is a limited number of stipends for round trip to Chernivtsi by train or by bus.

More information
E-mail: akruglas@hotmail.com; akruglas@mail.ru


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Law School of the Romanian American University - ‘Legal Contemporary Institutions within the context of the European Integration of Romania’ International Symposium, October 26 - 27, 2007, Bucharest, Romania - Call for Papers
Application deadline: September 10, 2007


The event is organized in close cooperation with and financially supported by the National Authority for Scientific Research of Romanian Ministry for Education and Research.

The recent successful integration of Romania and Bulgaria into the European Union, as well as the EU new legal and political challenges determined us to consider the topic of ‘legal contemporary institutions within the context of the European integration’ one, which is of great interest to be addressed. Permanently, the EU and its Member States need to come up with strategies to adapt the integration process to the specific judicial and educational needs of the region. In this context, the Symposium will address the following subjects:
- Legal Protection of Human Rights/Plenary
- Higher Educational Reform based on the Bologna Process/Plenary
- Facts and Perspectives of the Romanian Judicial System in the context of the European Integration of Romania/Plenary.

The participants' papers will be reviewed, edited and published as conference proceedings. The publication will be handed to the participants, too. Paper proposals should be one page in length and must be accompanied by a CV (and a letter of interest for accommodation - foreign participants, only). Accommodation will be covered by the organizers for a limited number of foreign participants. The final publishing paper should have no more than 5.000 words. For citations, formatting and grammar style we kindly recommend you to follow The Chicago Manual of Style, but it is not compulsory.

More information
Website: http://conferences.rau.ro
E-mail: silvia.martis@rau.ro


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Regional Facilitation and Negotiation Centre - ‘The Growing Trend - Mediation’ International Conference, September 14 – 16, 2007, Iasi, Romania


Partners: Ministry of Justice Romania, Danish Centre for Conflict Resolution, Mount Royal College Canada, PATRIR.

There will be a one day conference and two day training on advanced mediation techniques.

The conference includes an exciting collection of international speakers presenting on a wide variety of interesting and innovative mediation topics. The goals of the event are to provide a wide range of information, skill-building, and thought-provoking discussion on the emerging issues in mediation around the world from community mediation, peacemaking to mediation in business, banking and politics.

The training Programme ‘Advanced Mediation Techniques’ is designed for professionals who are already trained in mediation and want to master advanced conflict resolution skills. You will have the opportunity to interact with experts with wide international experience as trainers, mediators, peacemakers. You will have the option of participating in a training programme that builds up advanced skills in conflict resolution or in a training that is focused on international peace work and conflict resolution techniques.

Who should attend:
- Lawyers and alternative dispute resolution practitioners, judges, members of the judiciary, legislators, and students of law, academics and all legal professionals concerned with the alternative dispute resolution programmes
- Representatives from companies, banking and industry, interested in finding new solutions for effective partnerships in business
- Policy makers, political leaders, government officials and decision makers at the international level, involved in promoting mediation as an alternative to the courts
- Sociologists, psychologists and any other professionals or students with an interest in mediation and other alternative dispute resolution programmes
- Peacemakers, banking personnel, business personnel, from fields such as mobile phones industry.
The working language of the event is English. Only translation from and into Romanian will be provided.

Registration fee: for the 3 day event 280 Euro, for the Conference 100 Euro, for the two day training programme 200 Euro. Reduced fees: students benefit from a 50% discount for the conference and the training programme; register 3 and pay for 2 participants: this only applies if the payment is received from the same firm/organization. The fees cover the materials for the event, lunch during the conference, coffee breaks for the conference and training, gala dinner on the conference day and network dinner on the first day of the training. Accommodation is not included in the price. At your request we can arrange the local accommodation for you.

More information
Website: www.rfnc.ro
E-mail: office@rfnc.ro


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The global 1989 - Call for papers
Application deadline: September 30, 2007


Organisers: Centre for International Studies, LSE (www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CIS/), Cold War Studies Centre, LSE (www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CWSC/), BISA Historical Sociology and IR Working Group (www.historical-sociology.org/), Research Network 1989 (www.cee-socialscience.net/1989/).

The workshop aims to generate a collection of papers for publication in an edited volume to mark the twentieth anniversary of 1989.

The ramifications of '1989' are not limited to Europe. Of course, the collapse of the Soviet empire, the revolutions of 1989, and the dissolution of state socialism in Europe were important events in their own right. But their impact spread much further afield, generating a period of uncertainty and turbulence in world politics which is still being felt today.

In anticipation of the twentieth anniversary of 1989, we invite contributions to a workshop focusing on how to explain and interpret 'the global 1989'. In particular, we are interested in thinking through the 'time' and 'space' of 1989, looking at:
- The place of 1989 in world historical perspective: How significant is 1989? How does it compare to comparable landmark events, moments and processes? What are the principal global legacies of 1989?
- The impact of 1989 around the world, in terms of: a) invigorating debates about a range of global issues from the extension of US power to exploring new forms of interventionism, the changing role of the EU, the rise of China, the impact of global terrorism, and the emergence of culture as an important site of geopolitical conflict; and b) stimulating novel forms of inter-state and intra-state politics, including the extent to which regions have becoming fully fledged actors in their own right.

Proposed format
- Anticipated number of participants: 8-12
- Draft version of 7-8,000 words ready for circulation among workshop participants: 30 March 2008
- Workshop at LSE: May/June 2008
- Deadline for revised submissions: 30 August 2008
- Publication: 2009

More information
E-mail: g.lawson@gold.ac.uk (George Lawson, Convenor of the Historical Sociology and IR working group)
chris.armbruster@eui.eu (Chris Armbruster, Executive Director, Research Network 1989)


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East European Studies program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center - ‘Greece, the Western Balkans and the European Union’ Conference - Call for papers
Application deadline: October 1, 2007


The recent successful accession of 10 postcommunist member states into the European Union is perceived as evidence that the EU is better able than any other international entity to stabilize and reform the Western Balkans. At the same time, however, the countries of this region are clearly distinct from other postcommunist states in ways that may undermine the European integration policy such as state weakness, economic underdevelopment and widespread corruption. Moreover, recent academic literature on the EU accession process has revealed gaps in the EU’s capacity to address the problems of democratic consolidation, civil society development and minority rights protection. In the post-war countries of the former Yugoslavia, these issues cannot be addressed without international support. In order for EU and NATO accession to help pull the region out of its current stagnation, the international commun! ity will need to come up with new, complex strategies to adapt the accession process to the specific needs of this region.

The call for papers seeks to spur scholars and practitioners to consider ways in which to introduce innovative thinking on how to use EU and NATO conditionality to address the unique problems in the Western Balkans. Sample problems/questions include:
- Some countries of Southeast Europe do not show as much enthusiasm for European integration as countries involved in earlier waves of enlargement (such as the Baltic States). How can this be addressed by the international community?
- Can certain parts of the acquis communautaire be made to do ‘double duty’? For example, can the chapters on education be geared toward promoting ethnic integration in Bosnia? Can European Regional policy offer solutions for Serbs in Kosovo?
- The accession process to the Western Balkans would seem to require an additional layer of adequate policy tools to address the specific problems in the region. What types of tools could be used? How would they be employed and by whom?
- What special role can be played by neighboring states, such as Greece, in bringing this region into the European fold? What insights might be offered by recent EU accession countries that might offer lessons to the countries of the Western Balkans?

Contributors who respond to the call for papers may be selected by the EES program to prepare research papers and make presentations at a seminar in Thessaloniki, Greece, which will be held November 30 - December 2, 2007. The Wilson Center will cover travel and hotel expenses for those attending the conference.

The papers resulting from the project will be reviewed, edited and published as conference proceedings and distributed to a wide audience. The publication will be presented at a public event at the Wilson Center, which would allow select research project participants to present their findings to the wider Washington DC policy community. In this way, we hope that conclusions and recommendations gleaned from the program will have the greatest impact possible.

Proposals should be 500 words in length and must be accompanied by a CV.

More information
Website: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1422&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=268400
E-mail: nida.gelazis@wilsoncenter.org


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Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe (JEMIE) - Call for articles
Application deadline: October 31, 2007


ECMI is now soliciting articles for Volume 6, Issue 2 of JEMIE. As the UN has designated 2008 the International Year of Languages, the special focus for this edition is on language rights and the protection of regional and minority languages.

JEMIE welcomes contributions from practitioners, academics and students on all aspects of ethnopolitics and minority issues. Although most articles are commissioned, unsolicited articles are also welcome and potential authors are encouraged to contact the Editors. All contributions are reviewed by two members of the Editorial Board.

Articles between 5,000 and 7,000 words, including references, should be accompanied by a short abstract (100-150 words) and a brief biographical note outlining the author's credentials, affiliation and relevant publications (approx. 70 words). All articles published in JEMIE must be original and exclusive.

Commentary is also invited on any of the issues raised through our publications. These pieces should be no longer than 3,000 words.
Both commentaries and articles should be prepared in accordance with the ECMI Style Guide.

More information
E-mail: jemie@ecmi.de
info@ecmi.de


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Faculty of Economic Studies within the University of the West Timisoara, Romania and University of D’Avignon, France – ‘Economy and Transformation Management’, 4th International Conference, April 25 – 26, 2008 - Call for papers
Application deadline: November 15, 2007


The Conference is divided into sections, having the following research areas: Strategies of organisational transformation in Europe, The role of innovation in the organisational development planning, The role of information technology in organisational transformation, Management and Organisational Change in the European Business Environment, Banking system transformation in Romania and in the European context, Financial strategies and policies – economic growth generating factors of organisations, Financial policies of the European Union, Financial reporting and financial audit of organisations, Accounting and financial control – support of the decisional process in organisations, Marketing and organisational transformation - Society and knowledge economy, National economies and the European environment, The role of tourism and economic development in the European Union, Enterprise Logistics an! d Supply Chain Management.

Authors are kindly asked to submit online on conference website, the abstracts of their papers and the final papers for presentation. The submitted text must not exceed 30,000 characters (15 pages) typed according to Instructions for Authors and a Sample Paper (http://www.fse.uvt.ro/conference40).

All participants (presenters of selected papers, discussants and session chairpersons) must register and attend the Conference. The author(s) of papers must personally present their papers. Selected papers will not be included in the process of reviewing for publication after the Conference, unless at least one of the authors has registered for the Conference. Each presentation will be allowed 20 minutes and an extra 10 minutes for discussions. The official language used in paper presentations and discussions is English or French. The selected papers will be presented in different sections. Each section will be headed by a chairperson, who runs the presentations and discussions. We would like to include the names of chairpersons on the final agenda reply. If you are interested, please mention the session/s you would like to chair on the address conference40@fse.uvt.ro.

The Conference fee is 200 RON for Romanian participants and 100 Euro for foreign participants. For each potential accompanying person, the fee amounts 100 RON. The fee will be paid until 20 March 2008 and covers one copy of the Program of the Conference for each participant, Book of Abstracts, List of Participants, Conference Volume, as well as the lunch and the dinner of the opening day of the Conference and coffee and refreshments during the breaks. Reservations will be made by each participant and each participant will pay for his/her accommodation, as it is not included in the conference fee.

Deadlines:
· Sending and registration (online) of abstracts – 15 November 2007
· Confirmation of preliminary acceptance – 15 December 2007
· Submission of papers – 15 January 2008
· Confirmation of paper acceptance – 1 March 2008
· Fee payment for the accepted papers – 20 March 2008.

More information
Website: http://www.fse.uvt.ro/conference40
E-mail: conference40@fse.uvt.ro


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The world in 1989. New sources and interpretations of trans-national and regional interdependency across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas - Call for papers
Application deadline: November 30, 2007 (for expression of interest)


Organisers: Transregional Center for Democratic Studies, New School for Social Research (www.newschool.edu/tcds/), World History Network (www.worldhistorynetwork.org/), Research Network 1989 (www.cee-socialscience.net/1989/).

The fall of the Berlin Wall, the conflict at Tiananmen and the break up of the Soviet empire were events of global significance in 1989. Yet, 1989 may equally well be remembered as the year that signalled the end of apartheid and the flowering of pro-democracy movements in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

In anticipation of the twentieth anniversary in 2009, we invite contributions examining trans-national interdependencies as well as interconnections within and among regions in the period centred on 1989. We are interested in the full variety of world regions: Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Western Europe, Eastern Asia, Southern Asia, Southern Africa, the Middle East, Western and Central Africa, Latin America, Australia and North America.

We ask the following pointed questions to garner interested responses but also divergent opinions:
A) How were the pro-democracy movements of 1989 connected? Can we show a networked interdependence or was their appearance coincidental, driven by global change? Did the movements learn from each other and, if so, by what
technological, social and cultural means?
B) The Soviet empire vanished. Looking not just at the USSR, but also the outer empire and the global political network of clients, supporters and (alienated) allies: Can we show that movements significantly contributed to the break up of the empire or did it collapse, possibly driven by external political, economic or technological change, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon world?
C) The CCP state survived. What were the implications of the confrontation at Tiananmen for other events in 1989? What will be the lasting regional and global impact of the divergent trajectories of China, Russia and central and
eastern Europe? What was the mix of global and local factors in the movements of Africa and Latin America?
D) Struggles of class, gender and ethnicity. If we look at 1989 through this lens: What can we say about the meaning of democracy for the actors, particularly in relation to notions of communism and socialism? How were pro-democracy movements based in gender, class and ethnicity? What was the outcome of 1989 in terms of the global realignment of inequalities and difference?

Proposed format
- Anticipated number of authors: 10-15, plus discussants
- Draft version of 6-7,000 words ready for circulation among workshop participants: 30 April 2008
- Workshop (East Coast, USA): May/June 2008
- Revisions to be completed by 30 August 2008
- Book Publication: 2009.

More information
E-mail: tcds@newschool.edu (Elzbieta Matynia, Director, Transregional Center for Democratic Studies)
pmanning@pitt.edu (Patrick Manning, President, World History Network)
chris.armbruster@eui.eu (Chris Armbruster, Executive Director, Research Network 1989)


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Tomorrow People Organization - Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference 2007, December 7 – 9, 2007, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Application deadline: rolling basis as long as space is available


The event will offer you the opportunity to: expand your knowledge of peace related issues, conflict resolution styles and techniques, share your own achievements and experience with fellow participants and benefit from their feedback while making important international contacts, publicize your research, stay up-to-date in this important field, learn how to reconcile the commitment to social mission with financial returns, and network with some of the leading experts in the fields of social and peace studies from around the world, creating a global network of leaders for life.

Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference 2007 is a three-day program, which consists of following components: study sessions on the chosen topics related to the peace and conflict resolution issues, presentations of the accepted papers and open discussions.

The target groups include graduate students, NGO’s that handle and support peace building and maintaining and conflict resolution issues, global/local government agencies, academic researchers in the field of peace and conflict resolution, members of the government directly involved in peace projects, community members that will use the knowledge and resources and bring it back to their communities.

The aim of the conference is to raise awareness on the peace necessity and conflict resolution tools and techniques for its sustainability, on the macro/micro level. This project is designed to have lasting effects on the lives of those who participate in the Conference, as well as members of their community. The young persons who participate will gain new knowledge, skills, and resources, which will enable them to improve their home communities and become deeply involved in the global need for peace and understanding. The participants from all over the world will become more aware of the similar problems that exist in other geo-economical parts of the world and share the gained know-how in conflict prevention and resolution.

More information
Website: http://www.tomorrowpeople.org/peace/welcome_note.htm
E-mail: contact@tomorrowpeople.org


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Association of Economic Universities of South and East Europe and Black Sea Region – ‘Development: Cooperation and Competitiveness’ International Conference, May 22 - 24, 2008, Bucuresti, Romania - Call for papers
Application deadline: January 20, 2008


The conference is aimed to encourage development, cooperation and mutual assistance among the countries, industries and companies of South and East Europe and Black Sea Region.

The conference will include contributed paper sessions, invited and plenary presentations, round tables and panels. Accepted papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings after their presentation at the Conference. The Editorial Board of South Eastern Europe Journal of Economics (SEEJE), the official journal of ASECU, after having the agreement of the authors, plans to publish selected conference papers following a standard refereeing process.

The official language of the Conference will be English.

Conference Topics: Institutional Challenges in Promoting Competition Regional economic growth and development; Post-Accession to the European Union: costs and benefits New technologies for competition and development EU and the Processes of Globalization; Applied quantitative methods for development; The Role of Competition Policy for Development Emigration/Immigration and Labor Market in Europe; The Development of South and East Europe as well as the Black Region Countries Corruption, Investment and Development of South and East Europe as well as the Black Region Countries; Competition, Innovation and Growth Competitively of SME in the South-East Europe; Competitiveness of businesses and environment in a globalizing economy; Quality as a factor of competitiveness; Competitiveness based on quality and innovation versus competitiveness based on dumping factors. Cooperation and competitiveness: complements or substitutes?

The conference fee is 100 Euros for non- ASECU members and 70 Euros for ASECU members. Each participant should cover travel costs to Bucharest.

Guidelines for submission:
- Submissions must not have been published, submitted or presented at other conferences.
- The full paper should be a maximum of fifteen single-spaced pages including references and exhibits. Requirements for the paper formatting and abstract: Letter - A4; Font - Times New Roman, size 12pt; Paragraph - Line spacing single; Page Setup - Margins: Left - 4; Right - 4.5; Top - 6; Bottom - 3.5.
- Abstracts should be a maximum of one single-spaced page and up to four key words that describe your paper.
- The name(s) of the presenting author(s) and other co-author(s), affiliation(s), complete mailing address (es), telephone/fax numbers and e-mail address (es), title of the paper should be filled in the Application Form.
- Special scheduling requests (dates or times) must be made at time of paper submission.
- Electronic submissions are expected (Microsoft Word format).

More information
Website: www.ase.ro/asecu
E-mail: conference2008@ase.ro (in the subject please write: ASECU conf. and name of the leading author)


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http://www.ecmi.de/rubrik/55/european+yearbook/


ECMI and EURAC - European Yearbook of Minority Issues, Volume 5 2005/2006

The European Yearbook of Minority Issues provides a critical and timely review of contemporary developments in minority-majority relations in Europe. It combines analysis, commentary and documentation in relation to conflict management, international legal developments and domestic legislation affecting minorities in Europe.

Part I contains scholarly articles, and, in 2005/6, features two special focus sections on The Concept of 'Nation' and The Balkan Region. Part II reviews the implementation of minority legislation and international standards at the universal and regional levels as well as new developments in relation to them.

Apart from providing a unique annual overview of minority issues for both scholars and practitioners in this field, the Yearbook is an indispensable reference tool for libraries, research institutes as well as governments and international organizations.

The European Yearbook is edited in collaboration with the Minorities and Regional Autonomies Department of the European Academy Bozen/Bolzano. Volume 6 will appear in early 2008.


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The Balkan Prism. A Retrospective by Policy-Makers and Analysts Deimel, Johanna; Meurs van, Wim (eds.)


The book revisits a crucial and eventful decade of policy making and analysis in and for the Balkans. This
decade has produced a unique community of international policy makers, strategists, advisors, analysts and academics permanently involved in an intense and fast-moving debate. As new trends and momentous events have redefined the parameters of the debate time and again, reflections on the fundamentals of the policy choices made and the adequacy of the analyses offered are rare. Therefore, this book written by forty policy makers and analysts from the region as well as important Western states and international organisations, takes a step back for a retrospective on a European region in a decade of wavering between conflict and reform.


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http://www.eurac.edu/mirico


International Network of Young Scientists dealing with Ethnic Reconciliation in the Western Balkans MIRICO

The main goal of the network is to expand contacts among researchers and academics form the Western Balkans countries interested in historical, political, social and legal aspects of recent ethnic conflicts in the region. The network should contribute to the creation of new links in the region and help to bridge a generational gap in existing networks that emerged as a consequence of the break-up of inter-institutional cooperation among academic institutions in 1990s and which is only gradually being resumed now and builds primarily on pre-1990 contacts of older academics.

Within the MIRICO project we are trying to draft a bibliography list that should encompass works related to the Western Balkans ethnic conflicts in 1990s. Since I would like to include as many works of academics from the Western Balkans countries, as well as those from the other ones that are not exclusively in English language, I would be grateful to receive lists of your publications dealing with related issues in following weeks. The bibliography list will soon be available on the MIRICO web site.

More information
E-mail: antonija.petricusic@uni-graz.at (Antonija Petricusic)


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www.kakanien.ac.at/weblogs/see-eu


Forum for discussions on the political and social processes linked to EU integration in the Western Balkans, creating a virtual network of researchers on this topic. You are most welcome to contribute to this weblog with comments, postings, links, or photos.

More information
E-mailt: j.ni@gmx.net (Julia Nietsch)


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Euroregional Center for Democracy

Semenic Nr. 10
300035, Timisoara
Romania

Tel: + 4 0256 221 471
Fax: + 4 0256 436 633

http://www.regionalnet.org

Editor:
Camelia Cocioba

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