1. WELCOME BY CAL Rasma Pipiķe CIVIC ALLIANCE -LATVIA Riga’s report on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region, progress in implementing

2. AIMS OF THE MEETING 1. Participate in the VI Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region „ACHIEVING E-QUALITY by CONNECTING REGION(S) e-culture, e-health, e-science, energy efficiency, spatial planning. 2. Learn and share from and with our partners of other regions

3. HORIZONTAL ACTIONS OF THE EUSBSR ACTION PLAN Climate adaptation Involve 1.Horizontal actions co-ordinator (HAC) 2.Invited to focus on activities relevant at macro-regional level, involving stakeholders from different countries in the Baltic Sea region Neighbours Spatial planning

4. SPINE OF THE DOCUMENT, PREPARED BY CSO’S Introduction A vision for civil dialogue in the Baltic sea region Action towards sustainable, inclusive and participative dialogue at different levels (relation between CS and other stakeholders) Showcase of good practices and suggestions from the CSOs around the BS and other regions

5. WHAT QUESTIONS WE ARE FOCUSSING ON? Civil dialogue, Access to information for civic society/ CSO’s participation in the implementation of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region Suggestions from the CSOs to the policy makers

6. Showcase of good practices and suggestions from the CSOs around the BS and other regions 16.06.2015.

7. Impressions What did you see? What surprised you? What you will take from the BS forum?

8. REMEMBERING THE FUTURE 1. A vision for civil dialogue in the Baltic sea region 2. Action towards sustainable, inclusive and participative dialogue at different levels (relation between CS and other stakeholders) 3. Showcase of good practices and suggestions from the CSOs around the BS and other regions 4. CSO’s + academic sector

9. WHAT CHANGES DO WE EXPECT IN 2018-2020? Civil dialogue, Access to information for civic society CSO’s participation in the implementation of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region Suggestions from the CSOs to the policy makers

11. TALSI

12. CIVIC ALLIANCE -LATVIA Riga’s report on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region, progress in implementation

13. Rasma Pipiķe CIVIC ALLIANCE -LATVIA Challanges and possibilities of networking in the Baltic sea reagion- innitiative –myvoice.bs

14. Driving force for establishing Civic Alliance Latvia – to unite power for advocating common interests of civil society organizatons: Legibility Powerful for advocating Aim To strengthen the development of civil society in Latvia and to ensure favourable environment for development of NGOs. Objectives  Increase the capacity of NGOs on advocacy issues  Promote participation of NGOs in decision making bodies  To implement advocacy based on needs of NGOs  To advocate for the resources for the NGOs Established in 2005 by 39 NGOs and individuals; Currently 136 members – individuals and organisations Civic Alliance – Latvia

15. Channels for participation 1. FAVORABLE LEGISLATION - Constitution – freedom of association - Law on associations and Foundations - Law on public benefit organizations – special status 2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING NGOS & GOV 3. SPECIAL DECLARATION NGOS & PARLIAMENT - ensuring the favourable environment for development of civil society and NGOs. - Equal partners & access to information

16. Channels for participation 4. NGOS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE HIGH OFFICIAL MEETINGS -Possibility to consult with other NGOs -Possibility to change the regulation 5. POLICY DOCUMENTS – AIMS TO STRENGTHEN CSO’S -National development plan 2020 -Policy document on integratation, civil society participation 2018 6. ACESS TO GOVERNMENT MEETINGS DIRECTLY AND VIA INTERNET

17. What is MyVoice /ManaBalss.lv? ManaBalss.lv is a public participation platform in Latvia where every citizen of Latvia at least 16 years of age can submit and sign initiatives and e- petitions for any level legislation change.

18. WHY? European Comission in the frame of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Council of the Baltic Sea States in co-operation sets a common need - a collection of information and feedback from the citizens around the Baltic sea.

19. HOW? The Baltic sea’s citizens initiative would be named Eurosay.com (under ongoing discussions). It would be electronicaly build interactive platform. All participants of the platform would authorise to use platform by using their ID cards or bank ID

20. WHAT IS REALITY? Over 1 000 000 people (around 35% of Latvia's population) have visited ManaBalss.lv 14 initiatives have gathered more than 10 000 votes, making their way to the Parliament. 7 ideas have become important amendments in national level laws. More than 100 000 people have chosen to sign at least one initiative, in total more than 300 000 signatures have been collected.

21. Thank you! Civic alliance - Latvia rasma@nvo.lv Gertrudes street 19/21-3, Riga LV-1011 phone: +371 78 46 465 Cell: +371 260 44 862 www.nvo.lv