11 th AER Main Summer School 5 th AER Youth Summer School Where? Baia Mare, Maramures County (Romania) When? From August 27 until September 2, 2006

11 th AER Main Summer School 5 th AER Youth Summer School Main theme - Summer School: “Practical Skills for Regional Cooperation in Europe” Main theme - Youth Summer School: “Youth: The Future of Europe” Venue: Millennium Business Centre Baia Mare

11th AER Main Summer School The AER Summer School 2006 will focus on ‘Practical Skills for Regional Cooperation in Europe’. Participants:regional administrations: international affairs officers and politicians The objective : hand-on training in skills for international co-operation projects and presentation of international work Workshops : project management, lobbying, press and communications, intercultural communication presentation skills Joint sessions: organised together with the AER Youth Summer School participants

Study Visits Millennium Business Centre: rehabilitation project of the “Old Centre” - the historical and architectural patrimony of 22 buildings-monuments. Three rehabilitated buildings play a new role for the development of the SME-s in the area, supporting the establishment of a modern business centre with conference venues, documentation centre, and a square equipped for business, cultural and tourism events. Living legacy project: supports tourism through promotion of handicrafts and popular artisans in Baia Mare area. The project trained 62 artisans through five training courses (basic English, PC, book-keeping, marketing and popular art). A Tourism marketing centre and a permanent exhibition were established in the basement of Millennium 1 building.

Study Visits Lightronic Company The project of purchasing a technological line for manufacturing the wood slide panels in order to diversify the furniture production Stil Aura Company The project of purchasing ready-made clothes equipments and training human resources “One Europe, more nature” -WWF Maramures’ mountain landscape is a mosaic of forest, grassland and wetland. WWF is working with local people and businesses to ensure they can continue to benefit from the natural resources: drinking water, wild fruits and berries, medicinal plants and mushrooms, without over- exploiting them. Castanet The project will treat more than 80% of the sweet chestnut trees in Baia Mare area affected by bark cancer. Almost dead trees will be cut down and more then will be biologically treated. Also the project will teach school children the environmental laws of the European Union, and the responsibilities at local level in this field.

5th AER Youth Summer School The AER Youth Summer School 2006 will launch the AER ‘European Youth Ambassador’ (EYA) scheme: EYA Scheme: network of young people throughout the European regions who are active in the debate on the future of Europe Workshops: knowledge of European policies, lobbying, press and communications, intercultural communication and presentation skills Joint sessions: organised together with the AER Main Summer School participants

Study Visits “For you” Centre for information, counseling, professional training for young people with special needs is a project promoted by Maramures County Council in co-operation with Special Vocational School Baia Mare. Target group: young people without qualification from foster homes or special education schools The purpose: to help young people choose a trade or a profession, qualifying them and after that to help them to find a job or start a business. Local Councils of Youth and Children Since 1995 Baia Mare has three mayors: the mayor, the mayor of young people and the mayor of children. Also there are three local councils: the local council, the local youth council and the local children’s council. The youth and children learn from the adult local council and mayor how to work together in order to promote their initiative, how to manage the problems they deal with and how to assume social responsibilities. They learn democracy mechanisms and what means to be involved in politics.

Study Visits “Next Generation” regional project, promoted by the Baia Mare Local Council, School Inspectorate Maramures, School Inspectorate Satu Mare and the Labor Force Agency. Creates a network of vocational counseling centers in order to help young people choose their career. Objective: to increase the chance of the young people to access the labor market. Training camps were organized every year in the summer in Izvoarele resort, near Baia Mare. In 2003, the participation was at regional level. In 2004, the participation was national, the Ministry of Education and Research were involved. In 2005, the participation was international, due to some representatives from Hungary. Cultural exchange with the pupils from the Art Lyceum The Art Lyceum from Baia Mare has two sections: art and music. The participants will visit the building of the Art Lyceum and its concert hall, the painting, graphic and sculpture workshops. Also they will meet pupils who will present their works. A short walk to the Open Air Ethnographic Museum will allow them to attend a demonstration of glass icons painting.

Location Bucharest km Budapest km Wien lm Bruxelles km Amsterdam km Paris km 11 th AER Main Summer School 5 th AER Youth Summer School

11th AER Main Summer School 5th AER Youth Summer School Maramures county - 6,215 sq.km; - over 510,000 inhabitants (57 % live in towns); - 2 municipalities (Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmatiei), 11 towns and 63 villages; - 82% Romanians, 9% Hungarians, 6% Ukranians, 3% others

150,000 inhabitants First mentioned in 1326 Famous gold exploitation center from the Middle Ages Main industrial centre of the county Important cultural centre: - 3 universities - 5 museums - a famous painting school - the most modern library in Romania 11 th AER Main Summer School 5 th AER Youth Summer School Baia Mare – county capital

11 th AER Main Summer School 5 th AER Youth Summer School Maramures: -World-famous Wooden Churches on the UNESCO World heritage List -Long traditions of using wood to build houses, gates and churches with tall and steep roofs in thatch -Land of traditions, customs and ancient superstitions -Unique folk music, texture, pottery, tools - Native hospitality

11th AER Main Summer School 5th AER Youth Summer School Welcome to Maramures and Baia Mare August 27 - September 2, 2006 !