PROJECT INITIATIVES under the FUND FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS OF PROGRAMME BG 14 “JUDICIAL CAPACITY-BUILDING AND COOPERATION” OF THE NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM Procedural representation of the Republic of Bulgaria before the European Court of Human Rights Directorate Ministry of Justice June 2015 Sofia

The Project overall goal is to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the Norway and Bulgaria in the field of university human rights education. The Project specific objectives are: To support the educational authorities and experts in the exploring and identification of good practices as recommended by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to establish and develop policies on human rights study and research. To support the exchange of experience, know-how and good practices between Bulgarian academics and their Norwegian counterparts. To increase the awareness of the national competent authorities in their competency to amend the teaching and research policy of human rights at university level. Project Initiative 1 Enhancing the Effectiveness of the University Education on the ECHR

Project activities: 1.Study visit to Oslo University and Norwegian Centre for Human rights 2. Conference on the Challenges in HR University teaching and Research Project Initiative 1 Enhancing the Effectiveness of the University Education on the ECHR Expected results: Exchange of good pracices in human rights study and research Facilitated public discussion on of human rights teaching at university level

Project initiative 2 Supporting the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding vulnerable groups The overall objective is to strengthen the legal protection of vulnerable groups and to ensure that the national legislation and practices are in compliance with human rights standards. The project specifically aims at: securing of fair decision-making process containing an examination of proportionality to ensure human rights compliant discharge of the national authorities’ duties under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights; supporting the national effort to address the issues of illegal Roma settlements in Bulgaria in their legal and judicial aspect.

Project initiative 2 Supporting the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding vulnerable groups Project Activities: 1.Consultations with administrative judges, municipal authorities, stakeholders 2.Round table Expected results: Human rights compliant approaches in execution of ECtHR’s case law discussed by the stakeholders Report on the readiness of the national authorities to amend the relevant legislation and practices in conformity with the human rights standards

Project initiative 3 Capacity Building of Project Promoters and Donor Project Partners to Support the Continued Implementation and the Planning of Future Norway Grants Projects The overall goal is strengthening the cooperation between the Kingdom of Norway, Council of Europe and the Republic of Bulgaria by exchange, sharing and transfer of knowledge, experience and good practices in project management. The specific objective is capacity building among project promoters and donor project partners, as well as networking in the Norway Grants family.

Project initiative 3 Capacity Building of Project Promoters and Donor Project Partners to Support the Continued Implementation and the Planning of Future Norway Grants Projects Project activity: A two-day workshop in Norway with the participation of the Project Promoters of Norway Grants projects from Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland and Romania ( May 2015) Expected result: Increased knowledge of project management (the Norwegian model) Established networking between Norway Grants Project Promoters Report on Lessons Learnt in the NFM Program cycle 2009 – 2014

HumanRights.BG Project3HumanRights.BG