Annual Meetings build on the outcomes of other activities and represent the key opportunity for the civil
society to get engaged into the dialogue with the high representatives of the European Commission. The
agenda for the annual meetings will be prepared in a bottom-up manner, with key input from the NGOs,
as well as in consultation with the EC. The consortium will, in close collaboration with NGOs, facilitate the
preparation of the agenda by proposing a framework for the meetings and making suggestions for discussion
topics (reflecting especially outcomes of the preparatory in-country meetings).
The annual meetings will be planned in a way to allow enough room for NGOs self-organizing and organization
of bilateral meetings, such as sessions between the Desk Officers of DG Environment, DG Climate Action and
DG Enlargement for the respective country and their NGOs counterparts. Taking into account the timeframe
for implementation of the project and usual timing for organisation and implementation of preparatory
meetings as a basis for organisation of annual meetings, there are two annual meetings planned.
Following preparatory steps at the country level, the organisation of annual meetings will include at least the
following involvement and actions from the NGOs:
• Active contribution to the agenda development - building on the outcomes of the preparatory
meetings and other projects from the countries involved;
• Cooperation in preparation of the meetings materials (e.g., presentations, points for the discussion
with DG ENV Commissioner, case studies to be presented, or other NGO inputs to the discussions);
• Participation in preparation of discussions (e.g., debrief the project team and other NGOs on the
preparatory meetings outcomes);
• Allocation of time and sending a representative of the NGOs for the annual meetings (approx. 2 to 3
days meetings are planned, travel and stay will be fully reimbursed by the project);
• Actively participate in the meeting management (representatives of the NGOs may be asked to chair,
or facilitate panels, or discussion sessions);
• Disseminate information from the annual meetings to the broad NGO community and other relevant
stakeholders.
During each of the annual meeting there will be separate session between NGOs and the project team (prior,
or during the AM). The aim is to get feedback on the project management and agree on work plan for the
upcoming period (e.g., website, preparatory meetings, training programme, selection process for ECRAN
activities and other technical and management issues).