ACTIVITIES IN 2008:
EDUCATION REFORM EUROPEAN program LAW PROGRAM PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT	CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (cdp) WOMEN’S PROGRAM RomA program East East program

Through the regional network East East Program (that fosters different forms of regonal cooperation for the purpose of exchange of ideas, experience and expertise), in 2008 FOSI ROM enabled implementation of the following regional projects in Montenegro:

1. SEE (South East Europe) Heritage Network: Network Meeting and Workshop on Cultural Heritage Devastation NGO Expeditio, Kotor. The project includes hosting of a meeting of organizations active in cultural heritage protection in the region and a related workshop that would throw some more light on the challenges in this domain in the neighbouring countries. The issue is particularly important for Montenegro, since the uncontrolled urban development affects cultural heritage and is becoming a focus of public attention in other Western Balkan countries as well. The network has been operating for a while now, expanding by accepting new members after each meeting. (EUR 7,980.00)

2. Ljubljana Agenda for the New Stage of Stabilization and Association Process, NGO European Movement in Montenegro. The project, which is a part of a regional project and is implemented in Montenegro by the given NGO, has a multifaceted purpose: to foster further discussion on EU enlargement process during Slovenian presidency, by means of developing Ljubljana Agenda, which would be the result of national and local debates on accesssion. Launching the Agenda would provide an opportunity to 'think tank' organizations from the region to address the key priority of further political, economic and social development in their countries – strengthening the political will in the region for a faster integration process; it would also provide them with an opportunity to continue successful cooperation and show organizational capacity to address important issues concerning implementation of national, regional and European policies. (EUR 11,613.13)

3. NGO Green Home obtained East East support for Phase II of two bilateral projects. The project titled "Regional Cooperation in the Domain of More Efficient Use of Energy and Renewable Energy Sources" aims to promote alternative energy sources and envisages a presentation of Croatian experience in this area. Printing of a newsletter and maintaining Solar Center website are funded under Phase II. The project is implemented in partnership with the Croatian NGO Green Action. (EUR 2,400.00)

4. Another, Montenegrin-Albanian project on "Sustainable Development of the Cijevna River" aims to appreciate the natural and cultural resources of the border area in the river basin by developing an environmental study that would provide appropriate recommendations concerning sustainable and environmentally friendly development. In order to involve local stakeholders and articulate their views, Phase I of the project included two workshops to promote participatory process. The project is important from the perspective of establishing economic cross-border cooperation as well as a good entry point for other types of cooperation in this geographic area shared by Montenegro and Albania. Phase II would include presentation of the translated study in Montenegro and Albania. Expenses of the partner organization from Albania are also covered by the East East Program (through Open Society Foundation Albania). (EUR 5,930.00)

5. "Does it Matter? Visa Facilitation for the Western Balkans: Proposal for Monitoring the Visa Facilitation Agreeement", submitted by the NGO Center for Civic Education, Podgorica. The project is implemented by five NGOs from BiH, Albania, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, engaging in continuous monitoring of quantitative indicators of compliance with the Visa Facilitation Agreement and development of a report based on research findings. The aim is to study the actual impact of the Agreement, since its implementation has been burdened by a number of insufficiently specified criteria and procedures. The project is implemented in partnership with the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS). (EUR 5,410.00)

6. Regional Euro-Atlantic Camp REACT 2008. The project was submitted by the NGO "ALPHA Center", Niksic, and implemented in September 2008. It aimed to contribute to the public debate on the process of Euro-Atlantic integration in Montenegro and to awareness raising on the essence of the given process, importance of regional cooperation and current security situation in the region. With regard to the  essence of the East East Program, its primary purpose was to provide a forum for well-argumented, purposeful and comprehensive discussion involving various agents and focusing on the conditions and consequences of the process of accession to NATO. (EUR 3,800.00)

7. Regional Strategic Meeting of the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), organized by the Center for Development of NGOs - CRNVO, Podgorica, was supported by the East East Program. The project aimed to institutionalize the partnership established within the Balkan Civil Society Development Network for the purpose of exchange of information/knowledge and development of capacities of network members. In addition, it intended to strengthen partnerships between member organizations in order to establish a forum and institutional mechanisms for civil dialog. The project was also supported to foster exchange of positive examples of civil sector involvement in the decision-making process and promote the process of European integration in the Western Balkans. (EUR 6,059.10)

8. Institutional Mechanisms for Prevention of Violence against Women and their Implementation in Croatia and Montenegro. The project of the NGO SOS Phone for Women and Children Victims of Violence from Podgorica was supported in the light of the forthcoming adoption of the Law on Protection against Violence against Women in Montenegro, with the aim of exchange of experience between representatives of institutions from Croatia and Montenegro dealing with this issue involved in the given legislative effort. The project is inspired by the conclusions of the conference organized last year by the NGO SOS Phone (also supported by the East East Program) that indicated that Croatian experience was relevant for defining the legislative framework for prevention of violence against women in Montenego. The project supported this year focuses on an exchange of study visits of representatives of relevant institutions for the purpose of cooperation, exchange of methods applied in dealing with this issue and establishing a network of contacts useful for further activity on the national level. (EUR 13,230.00)

9. East East Program supported also the bilateral Croatian-Montenegrin project Improvement of Child Protection in Montenegro - the Croatian Experience, submitted by the NGO Children First, Podgorica. In line with the efforts that Montenegro is investing to improve social and child protection (in compliance with the adopted Strategy), support was granted to the first phase of the project: exchange of experience between relevant institutions from Croatia and Montenegro concerned with social and child protection during a study visit to Croatia planned for December 2008. (EUR 6,110.00)

In addition, East East Program enabled the following Montenegrin experts’ participation in international events organized under its auspices: