Invitation to the South Eastern Europe Regional Seminar on Sustainable Energy and Transport “Sustainable energy potentials in the region”

Zelena akcija – Friends of the Earth Croatia is happy to invite you to Regional seminar “Sustainable energy potentials in the region”, to be held on July 4^th - July 8^th 2011 in the Solar Academy on Island Šolta, near Split in Croatia.

Except environmental NGOs and civil initiatives, we are aiming to gather various stakeholders (trade unions, NGOs representing other sectors, youth organisations, farmers, private sector, decision makers) on the seminar. The purpose of this event is to exchange different views and perspectives between different stakeholders, initiate dialogue and find common interests, discuss possible joint activities and promote best practices from the different countries in the region related to the sustainable energy and transport issues.

During the seminar, PV system and windmill will be installed, so attendees of seminar will have practical insight on the process. Also, Kerstin Meyer from Transport & Environment, biggest EU NGO federation on that topic, will give overview on most important aspects of EU transport policy. Dr. Heinz Högelsberger, long year transport campaigner from Austria, will present changes in Austrian transport policy after becoming member of EU, which will be useful input for all NGOs in the region. Except that, there will be several other interesting presentations, on which we will inform you after we complete agenda. During the seminar, we will have Annual General meeting of SEENET. If you want to present some successful campaign on energy or transport that you have participated, we could arrange short presentation, but please inform us about that when filling up application form.

In second part of seminar the participants shall be split into 3 working groups. Specific goal of each working group shall be:

-          To develop a joint position on the topic discussed

-          To produce a working plan

Last day, results of every working group shall be discussed among all participants of the conference. More information on the topics of working groups can be found in the Application form.

Seminar will be held in Regional Educational Centre for Sustainable Energy, which we are developing in an ex-military facility “Vela straža” on the island Šolta, and level of comfort is similar to the hostel accommodation (find more information’s in document “practical info”). Food will be vegetarian. Your attendance will be fully funded by the organizers (transport, accommodation and food from July 4^th - July 8^th 2011).

The working language of the seminar will be English, so attendees should have sufficient knowledge in English. You can also bring and disseminate relevant educational and promotional materials from your organization.

Please fill the attached application form and send it to [email protected] by June 15^th 2011. For further information don’t hesitate to contact me by e-mail, or by phone: +385 1 4818 478 or GSM +385 99 77 66 562

The seminar is being organized by the Green Action - FoE Croatia, in cooperation with Center for Environment (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Front 21/42 (Macedonia). It is duly funded by the European Commission DG Enlargement in the frame of the IPA 2008 project “Networking and Capacity Building of environmental NGOs to Increase Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources of Energy in Western Balkans”.

Eligible are organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. We are expecting 25 participants on the training and we are open for more than 1 participant from each organisation. Feel free to forward this invitation to your partner organisations and stakeholders.

Kind regards,

Bernard Ivčić

Project coordinator

Zelena akcija – FoE Croatia

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Preliminary agenda

- Introduction and a tour around the facility, an overview of sustainable energy technologies, presentation of examples in function in the Centre and presentation of a vision for future development of the facility (1 day)

- Participation in installation (1 day): part of  work on installing technologies for use of renewable energy in the centre itself, will be organised during the trainings, so participants will be able to personally participate in these activities,

- Overview of the legislation and policy in the EU and the countries of the region (1day)

- Workshops on joint cooperation and sharing examples of involvement of non-environmental stakeholders in sustainable issues in the EU (2 days)

Opening of seminar will be first day at 14:00.