The activity of Asociatia Pro Democratia in 2003

annual report

The mission

Our purpose

The values

of Asociatia Pro Democratia (Pro Democracy Association) is to strengthen democracy in Romania by encouraging civic participation.

is to consolidate a society capable of ensuring the fulfillment of its citizens' freedom and equality.

of APD are:- Freedom of expression- Equality- Solidarity- Justice- Multiculturalism

The activity of Asociatia Pro Democratia in 2003

annual report

Asociatia Pro Democratia 2003 annual report was published with the financial support of .

None of our 2003 activities could exist without the efforts of our volunteers and members. We are grateful to them and to all our donors, partners and beneficieries who supported us in developing our projects.

Copyright

© Asocia]ia Pro Democra]ia

Texts and photos: APD Clubs and National Coordination Center

Translation: Cora Mo]oc

Print & design: Speed Promotion

Published in 2004.

Asocia]ia Pro Democra]ia

45, Unirii blvd, bl. E3, sc. 3, et. 6, ap. 76

sector 3, Bucharest

Tel.: 021/327 77 36; 327 77 57

Tel./fax: 021/321 67 44

Mobile: 0723 152 493; 0744 688 163

E-mail: apd@apd.ro

Web: www.apd.ro

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

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Contents

Introduction: 2003 - mid term exam

Asociatia Pro Democratia - retrospective of 2003, perspectives in 2004

Projects and Programs

Involving the citizens in the decision-making process at the level of the local public administration

Strengthening the relation between the voter and the elected

Improving legislation and its enforcement

Education for democracy

Other APD activities

Financial report

APD Structure

The Clubs

The Board

The National Coordination Center

Mass media on APD

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The year 2003 and the beginning of 2004 were for direct effect of the campaigns conducted by our the decision-making process. As a perverted effect of

Association. the electoral calendar which, starting with 1990,

implied consulting with the citizens only once in four an opportunity to implement new forms

From the point of view of the political perspective, the years, on elections (local, parliamentary and of action in view of raising the level of civil participation.

year 2003 induced a tendency of change in the ratio of presidential), Romanians became suspicious about The campaign for the Electoral Code, even if not

forces. The emergence in September 2003 of the D.A. political parties and their leaders. Regardless of their materialized in the changing of the electoral system,

Alliance, made out of the Democrat Party (PD) and the being in power or in the opposition, trust in political ensured a high visibility of our projects and also

National Liberal Party (PNL) led to the regrouping of the leaders critically decreased during the past years. This attracted many volunteers. The coalition strategy

parliamentary political forces. Once the Alliance was decreasing tendency is directly proportional with the adopted in order to achieve political reform

launched, PRM dropped on the third place in the polls, growing lack of interest for politics. Being a emphasized the present features of the Romanian civil

being overtopped with about 15% by the new political consequence of the excessive personalization of society. Even if the project of the Electoral Code did not

alliance. However, the political lack of balance is still very political parties and in the circumstances of partycracy, become a law, bringing this topic to the attention of the

high. Starting with 1999 the Romanian political party the decreasing of trust in the political leaders may public opinion (in the Public Opinion Barometer of the

system became very unbalanced. This sort of unbalance affect trust in democracy.Open Society Foundation, in November 2003, 60% of

was only apparently overcome by the founding of CDR. the interviewed subjects were in favor of the

Being a conjuncture alliance, emerged in the context of Consequently, the role of uninominal ballot and only 14% were supporting the

local elections of February 1992, CDR became a victim of remains vital, not only in the controversial and tense list system) and turning it into a form of pressure on the

its own success. The political and electoral structuring of 2004 electoral year, but for a long time to come. The political class materialized into the founding of a

this political alliance was the result an improvisation that trust of the citizens, who supported us, the parliamentary committee, influenced the public sphere

weakened its internal stability. The 2000 elections participation of volunteers, the principles of democracy and stirred up many citizens. The manner in which the

confirmed the latent tendency of the Romanian political and of the state of law and, last but not least the state referendum for amending the Constitution was

system to shape into a form of pluralism with a of the Romanian society, are as many reasons for us to organized by the authorities, starting with the

hegemonic party in power. continue. Citizen participation is still low, corruption improvisations and ending with the infringement on

and favoritism affect trust in democracy and poverty the law proved the imperative necessity of observing

In this political climate, favors extremism and intolerance. There is still need the upcoming elections and demonstrated once more

carried on its activity trying to influence the conditions for !that civic organizations have a vital role in building and

that led to this state of things. The political situation strengthening electoral democracy. On the other hand,

could lead neither to a better structuring of the Cristian Pirvulesculegalizing a Permanent Electoral Authority through an

electorate, nor to the encouraging of participation in Presidentamendment of the Law on parliamentary elections is a

Asociatia Pro Democratia (Pro Democracy

Association)

Asociatia Pro Democratia

Asociatia Pro Democratia

Asociatia Pro Democratia

2003 - mid term exam

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Asociatia Pro Democratia - retrospective of 2003, perspectives in 2004

In what concerns us, we could say that the year 2003 was the county and local councils, in the old manner: voting goal to present to the voters in every county and in

under the sign of two topics: the campaign for electoral lists not persons. Bucharest, each candidate placed on an eligible position

reform and the improving of the access to public on the list of candidates, in the perspective of "voting with

information (applying and abiding by Law 544/2001) Even Given this situation, we enter the 2004 electoral year with one's eyes open".

if the activity of was much the distinctive feeling that one more legislature was

more diversified than in the previous years (as you will find missed by the ones who wish and fight for a healthy Therefore, in spite of the fact that this electoral was not

out while reading this report), most of the resources of the political life in Romania. Still, regardless of how things are placed under the desired auspices, we can still do quite

Association were channeled in these two directions. right now, Romanian public opinion is aware of our many useful things for Romanian democracy. And we are

permanent concern with the fairness of elections. Many almost sure we will succeed.

If our efforts connected to enforcing the right to free of the signals we got lately entitle us to believe that the

access to public information had satisfying results, we expectations in what concerns us are very high, especially Adrian Sorescu

must admit that in what concerns electoral reform the in what concerns this year's elections. Executive director

results were far from the desired ones. We indeed

managed to stimulate and even start up an extensive In other words, no matter what, during 2004 our focus will

debate on this subject. Moreover, those who got involved be on monitoring the electoral process. Compared to

in our campaign (the very many, even if we only count other years however, in what concerns the observing of

those who just signed the lists of supporters of our the elections, we will exclusively focus on "the

proposal for the Electoral Code) ensured for us the countryside". Up to this hour, we managed to recruit

legitimacy needed in order for us to officially express our (especially among the young people in the county

point of view during the debates in the Romanian capitals), train and count on observers in 1,200 voting

Parliament and even to obtain some results. Beyond the stations in the rural areas. Moreover, 2004 is the perfect

satisfaction of seeing these things happening, it is almost time to extend and perfect our activities connected to the

certain that no major changes will occur soon. Thus, in monitoring of the funds of political parties. Finally yet

2004, we will still elect our MPs and our representatives in importantly, we are part of a civic coalition that has as a

Asociatia Pro Democratia

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Projects and Programs

Project period: June 2002 - May 2004 which were turned into regional resource centers organizing of the APD Annual Assembly and of

meant to provide the other clubs from the region with meetings of the resource regional centers with the

Towns/APD Clubs involved: all APD clubs, especially the needed assistance, to improve the image of the regional clubs.

the regional resource centers: Bacau, Brasov, clubs and of the Association and to increase APD's

Bucharest, Cluj, Constanta, Craiova, Timisoara. capacity in what concerns the involvement of citizens Besides these meeting, we can also mention that

in the public decision-making process at the level of employees of the National coordination Center or

Goal: increasing APD's ability to involve citizens in the local communities. This strategy proved to be efficient regional coordinators toured almost all the APD clubs,

decision-making process at the level of the local and the result was a better coordination of the national evaluated them and offered them assistance in internal

communities projects, both at the level of those localities and of the management and public relations.

regional clubs.

Objectives: In what concerns professional abilities of the APD

! increasing the capacity of the APD Clubs Network Also, some of these centers developed regional staff, in 2003 we continued our training sessions for

! increasing the ability of CNC to function as a programs in which they involved other clubs, proving regional coordinators. In some of these meetings took

resource center for the APD Clubs, especially in thus the fact that they can efficiently use the potential part sometimes also the Presidents of the regional

what concerns the dissemination of information, represented by the APD clubs network. clubs. The topics of the training sessions were:

training and assistance and fund raising management of volunteers and applying for grants.

! building on the image of APD among the citizens Moreover, in order to achieve an effective

! higher impact of APD's activities in what concerns communication within the APD network, we In order to adjust our professional skills development rdorganized the 3 Conference of the APD Clubs involvement of the citizens in the public decision- strategy to the special needs and to the specific

Presidents in February 2003. The main topic of making process features of the organization, we contacted a foreign

discussion was the general policy in working with consultant. Together we set a work plan meant to

Achievements: volunteers and good practice examples in volunteer develop the ability of self-sustainability of the

Taking into account that in 2002 APD had 26 clubs, 7 of management. This project also presupposed the resource regional centers. The first training

Involving the citizens in the decision-making process at the level of the local public administration

APD and the Local Communities

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workshop focused on expanding the institutional Vera Dakova, donated a 100 USD to each Center in program named Supporting Participatory Democracy

development abilities. Following the workshop, the order to help them materialize their fund raising in Romania. We also offered practical assistance in the

regional coordinators set up a business plan for the plans. We would like to use this opportunity to thank implementing of citizen involvement tools.

regional Centers they were representing. The plan her once more.

was conceived in order to highlight the strong points, Donor: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

the local needs, the necessary steps to be taken in In what concerns the promotion of APD, we carried out

order to develop the Regional center and the clubs a series of events meant to make Asociatia Pro Budget: 99,970 USD

network and the type of services we can offer local Democratia more visible and to popularize its projects.

communities. We printed 100,000 APD presentation leaflets, the

2002 Annual Report, the current 2003 Report and we

Starting from this plan, in the Autumn of 2003 we also kept on distributing the Flash internal bulletin and

organized a training seminar on the topic "Fund the external bulletin "APD News".

Raising for Developing and Offering Services". The Asociatia Pro Democratia improved its expertise in

regional coordinators were in charge with elaborating what concerns the involving of citizens in public

detailed plans of fund raising events. In order to use decision-making and trained the representatives of

the power of example, the foreign consultant. Ms. local public administration in 25 localities in a training

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APD and the Local Communities

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Good Governance through Public Participation

stProject period: January 1 , 2003 - December 31, 2004 citizen in this process. The instrument was the local Representatives of local public administration and of budget that encapsulates the entire activity of the non-governmental organizations in Brasov, Sibiu and

Cities/Clubs involved: Brasov county. In this sense we collaborated with Focsani also took part in one of the meetings.representatives of local public administration and with representatives of the non-governmental organizations. At the end of 2003 we closed a partnership with the Goal: Encouraging and assisting local public

Brasov City Hall in order to issue the brochure "Where administration in three localities (Brasov, Sibiu and The members of the working team elaborated an does the money of Brasov municipality go?"Focsani) in the process of involvement of the citizens in action plan starting from the local needs. The purpose the public decision-making process and in the was to have better informed and more involved : National Endowment for Democracy (the transparency of this process. Donorcitizens. To this purpose we published two types of grantee was The Sibiu Community Foundation)brochures: Budget for the Citizens, Budget for the City Objectives:

Where does the many of Brasov ! (1000 copies) and : 9,767 USDincreasing the level of knowledge of 3000 citizens Budgetmunicipality go? (2000 copies). The materials were from all the DIALOG cities - Brasov, Sibiu, Rasnov - distributed with the help of the owners associations, : Sibiu Community Foundation, Focsani about the means of getting involved in the Partnersthe citizen information center of the Brasov City Hall, Community Partnership Foundationcommunity public decision-making process

! the Citizens' Counseling Bureau and the local state increasing the level of transparency in the companies. The activity of the working group led to the elaboration and debate of the annual local budget in informing of approximately 2000 persons.the three DIALOG cities, by adopting the rule of

citizen involvement in the elaboration/evaluation Starting from the premise that the economic agents process (this budget elaboration and debate process are the ones who contribute the most to the state is one of the activities of the public administration budget, APD Brasov organized in September 2003 a which offers the best opportunity to put to work the focus group with Small and Medium Entreprises. The concept of public participation)

! topic was taxes for the local budget. The economic strengthening the DIALOG Romania networkagents underlined the community problems and offered solutions.Achievements:

The project was carried out all throughout 2003 and its The members of the working group took part in a target was to raise the level of transparency of the regional training session on tools of public participation. decision-making process by means of involving the

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The daily activity of citizen information and counseling Project period: March, 2003 - January, 2004 chosen from the areas on which the Bureau offers went normally. The bureau also benefited the services counseling, such as: consumer protection, domestic of 4 counselors certified by FIMAN and of a high Cities/Clubs involved: Brasov violence, the rights of the persons with disabilities, number of volunteers. At the same time, this activity family health assistance, unemployment, retirement was facilitated by the partnerships with various local Goal: Founding the plans, the rights of the employee, the status of institutions - the County Agency for Employment, the Citizens' Counseling property, social housing, civil status documents, etcCounty Retirement Agency, the County Education Bureau in the Brasov

Inspectorate, etccounty (BCC-BV) Donor: EU PHARE Program for the Development of

the Civil Society 2000During this time over 500 Brasov inhabitants O b j e c t i v e s : t h e

benefited from the counseling services of the project general purpose of Budget: 24,000 Eurosimplementation team. Many other citizens were the project is to

informed about Romanian legislation, public services create a counseling Partners: Brasov City Hall, AXE Associationor citizen rights.service for the citizens (including assistance for the

victims of abuse, legal assistance, etc) in view of

This project also presupposed four information improving the access of the citizens to information and

seminars, two on each of the following topics: "I am a counseling, so that they can solve their problems,

Consumer. What are my rights and obligations?" and "I understand and exercise their rights and duties.

am a citizen of Brasov". During these seminars we

disseminated useful information on the respective Achievements:

topics to over 100 citizens of Brasov, most of them The official inauguration of the BCC-BV took place on

presidents of owners associations. In order to inform July 17, 2003 and enjoyed a true positive reception

the Brasov citizens about the topic of the seminars we both from the part of the local authorities and

printed over 1,000 fliers.institutions that were represented by their executive

director and from the mass media. This led to a major

Also, the project implementation team prepared and impact among the citizens who intensely used the

edited a series of 10 bulletins on topics of general services of the bureau from the very beginning.

interest for the citizens of Brasov. The topics were

Citizens' Counseling Bureau - Brasov

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The Waste Park and Democracy

Project period: 2003 still being carried out until the Achievements:

solving of the placement of the Timisoara Area Following APD's intervention in favor of the citizens,

Ecological Waste Park the public debate on the issue of the placement of the

waste park grew, drawing the attention of both the

Cities/Clubs involved: Timisoara local public institutions and communities and of the

European Commission. Right now the European

Goal: Assisting a group of citizens in the action of Commission requires in exchange for the granting of

promoting their point of view in the extended public funds necessary for the building of the ecological

dialog with the institutions of the local public waste park that the citizens approve of the place of the

administration on the topic of the position of the future o b j e c t i v e ( s e e a r t i c l e s s e c t i o n s a t :

area waste park of the Timis county. http://timisoara.prodemocratia.org/p03_deponeu.php)

Objectives: Funders: The group of citizens involved in solving the

- advising and assisting in the issue of the manner in problem. The Timisoara APD Club self-financed itself.

which the citizens relate with the institutions of the

local public administration

- increasing the degree of mass-media coverage of

the problem a group of citizens discontented with the

decision of the public administration on the position of

the future waste yard are confronted with.

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Project period: March 7, 2000 - June 30, 2003 means of taking them over from the owners Brasov Prefect's Office,

associations, the costs of transportation and of waste Environment Protection Inspectorate,

Cities/Clubs involved: Brasov recycling, sustaining citizen education in this respect. Brasov County Education Inspectorate,

The second group focused on aspects of informing and Oasis Foundation,

Goal: organizing activities of public consulting - focus educating public opinion about these actions as well as "Grigore Antipa" High-School Brasov,

groups in order to investigate on the opinion of the on the means of attracting the citizens in supporting Brasov Chamber of Commerce and Industry,

Brasov local community in what concerns the recycling this behavior so that it becomes a common behavior of Comprest SA,

policy conceived by the project implementation group. the community. For the third group the most important Celohart SA,

elements are the acquisition and recycling of paper IWACO BV Consultants for Water and Environment

Achievements: Three focus groups on the proposed waste, the necessity of joint action at the level of the Netherlands,

public policy were carried out. Participants in the focus participating institutions in view of the implementation Apeldoorn Municipality, Netherlands.

groups: Brasov citizens (members of owner of the proposed policy, the need of civic education in

associations), public officers, school representatives this respect.

and economic agents.

Donor: MATRA Program of the Dutch Ministry of

The conclusions of each meeting, submitted to the Foreign Affairs through IWACO Brasov - Consultants

initiator of the project, IWACO Brasov, reflected the for Water and Environment

particularities of the situation in which the interviewed

groups are and the opportunities to implement the Budget: 398.51 Euros (in 2003)

policy proposed in the project. The first group rated as

highly important concrete aspects of the domestic Partners: Brasov City Hall,

paper waste materials collecting process, such as the Brasov County Council,

Citizens Involvement in Waste Management in Brasov city, Romania

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At Three Quarters of a Mandate

representatives in what concerns the electoral activity of their representatives and the opinions of the

promises on the basis of which they were elected and representatives themselves about their own activity.

the objectives they set in the beginning of their

mandate. Donor: The Royal Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest

- involving the citizens from Alexandria, Breaza, rdBucharest (3 sector), Tandarei and Zimnicea in the Budget: 10,591 Euros

local public administration evaluation process.

Achievements:Project period: February - August 2003 In this project, 1,462 citizens were involved in the

eva luat ion process of the loca l e lected Towns/APD Clubs involved: Alexandria, Breaza, representatives. These citizens answered our

rdBucharest (3 sector), Tandarei and Zimnicea. The questionnaire.project was coordinated by Club APD Bucharest.

At the same time, the local elected representatives Goal: evaluating the activity of local public (mayors and councilors) from five localities evaluated administration in five localities on the basis of the for the first time their own activity according to the objectives and priorities established by the local electoral promises and objectives.representatives both in the electoral campaign and

during the first years in office. Following this evaluation process, we elaborated an

evaluation report of the activity of the local elected Objectives: representatives. The title of the report is Three Thirds - increasing the degree of responsibi l i ty/ of the Mandate and it is an extended study in which we accountability of local public administration enclosed both the opinions of the citizens about the

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Project period: November 1, 2002 - July 1, 2003 ! the absence of food market place - 10.4%; important issue for the neighbourhood. About 400

! cleanliness of the neighbourhood - 10%; people signed the petition. At the same time, the Sibiu

Cities/Clubs involved: Sibiu ! the absence of playgrounds for children - 7.6%; Local Council adopted the decision of setting up a food

! the issue of stray dogs - 6.6%; market and elaborated the report concerning the

Goal: implementing action plans in view of solving ! the absence of green areas - 6.3%; approval of the PUD documentation - Valea Aurie

specific problems of this neighborhood ! the state of the roads - 6%; Market. The citizens Committee expressed

! the physical security of citizens in the dissatisfaction with the location proposed by the

Objectives: neighbourhood -5.3%; authorities for the location of the future market place.

- consulting with 500 citizens of Valea Aurie about the ! public transportation - 4.1%; That was the playground in front of School no.25 on

problems of their neighbourhood ! entertainment spots for young people - 2.5%; Sibiel Street.

- elaborating action plans for solving three of the ! parking spots - 2.1%. The citizens Committee senat a request to the Major

issues and Urbanism Service in order to change the location,

- solving one of the issues There were 7 meetings of the work group during which they did not receive any answer. Club APD Sibiu still

the action methods for solving the issues were coordinates this type of projects in Valea Aurie.

Achievements: debated upon.

A citizens committee made up of citizens of the Donor: Deventer Municipality

neighbourhood and representatives of the city hall and The members of the Consultative Committee

NGOs was set up. 250 questionnaires were distributed gathered signatures for the highest rated most Budget: 2,000 Euros

to the neighbourhood citizens in order to prioritize the stringent issue: the food market. The signatures were

neighbourhood issues. The results of these gathered in order to present them to local authorities

questionnaires were: so that they become aware of the fact that it is an

Efficient Management in Valea Aurie Neighborhood

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DIALOG Program

- creating a communication framework between petition was filed at the Patrimony Public Department citizens and local administration representatives in support of the public-private partnerships.- increasing responsibility/accountability among the

elected officials Several materials were printed :- expanding the DIALOG network to other towns, - the brochure "Budget for the Citizens, Budget for the with the support of civic and community NGOs capable City" (2000 copies)to implement the DIALOG program - the Citizen Guidelines, edited in a project financed

by the European Union, consisting of the structure of Achievements: the local public administration and the ways in which We created a database with 738 owners associations. citizens can get involved in the public decision-makingSixteen of them were selected to take part in two

training seminars organized by us. Donor: Charles Stewart Mott FoundationstProject period: January 1 , 2003 - December 31, 2004

Offering assistance, expertise and monitoring services Budget: 20,000 USD Cities/Clubs involved: Brasov for the owners associations, we applied 1,500

questionnaires. Four projects were filed in July 2003. Partners: Sibiu Community Foundation, Focsani Objectives: Community Partnership Foundation, Miercurea-Ciuc - informing the citizens in 7 cities about the structure In order to optimize the manner in which the Brasov Partnership Foundation of the local public administration, the role and the City Hall and the decentralized services of the Local prerogatives of public institutions and about public council carry out the provisions of HCL 315/2000 and decisions concerning the local community HCL 222/2001, we organized a meeting with the - supporting and assisting groups of citizens in order representatives of the municipality. Following these to help them organize themselves for the purpose of discussions a new set of regulations for the public-solving community problems private partnerships was elaborated. In December a

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Period of the project: May 2001 - May 2003 Goal: Creating, at local level, a model of citizen public decision-making participation in the public decision-making process, process. The approximately which could be extended at the level of as many Cities/Clubs involved: In the first stage the project 100 participants (mayors, communities as possible throughout the country.was carried out in four localities: Caracal, Huedin, deputy mayors, members of

Orsova si Turda the local councils, clerks) The final stage of the project consisted in founding a were introduced to the public participation institute meant to support the The clubs which contributed to the activities were the c o n c e p t o f c i t i z e n development of participatory democracy in Romania ones in Caracal, Craiova and Cluj-Napoca participation, understood (May 2003 - May 2004). the benefits of participatory

In the second stage, the project was extended to 25 democracy, learned about the best means of involving :communities: Garleni, Poduri (Bacau); Brasov, Fagaras Objectives the citizens in the decision-making process and

- persuading the local public administration about the (Brasov); Bucuresti - 3 sector; Huedin, Turda, Dej and elaborated, for each locality, a project of citizen benefits of the citizen participation in the public Campia Turzii (Cluj); Cumpana, Medgidia and consultation.decision-making processCernavoda (Constanta); Pucioasa and Targoviste

- training the representatives of city/town halls (Dambovita); Calafat si Craiova (Dolj); Tandarei The months following the training sessions, the APD involved in the project on the most suitable methods (Ialomita); Caracal (Olt); Cisnadie (Sibiu); Breaza members involved in the project offered the they could use in order to find out the opinion of the (Prahova), Jimbolia, Deta and Sannicolau Mare (Timis); city/town halls technical assistance in carrying out citizens about various decisions the halls wants to takeBarlad (Vaslui) and Ramnicu - Valcea (Valcea). the planned projects. Thus, in almost all the - offering assistance to the local public administration communities there were organized citizen in carrying out actual citizen consulting projects.The APD clubs which assisted the city halls in the consultative committees, meetings with various

second stage of the project were the ones in: groups of interests, focus groups, public meetings :Bucuresti, Breaza, Constanta, Bacau, Brasov, Sibiu, Achievements and hearings, opinion polls, etc. All these activities

APD started the project by organizing training seminars Cluj, Timisoara, Craiova, Caracal and Ramnicu Valcea. had as main purpose finding out the opinions of the having as topic the involvement of the citizens in the citizens an various decisions the administration was

Supporting Participatory Democracy in Romania

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Supporting Participatory Democracy in Romania

going to take (i.e. the kind of heating systems, the

location of a cattle fair, redisposing of a market,

elaborating the local budget, selective garbage

collecting, better organizing of the cleaning services,

modernizing the water distribution system, etc)

Out of the 25 implemented projects, the ones in Donor: The Matra Program of the Dutch Ministry of

caracal, Poduri and Pucioasa were considered to be Foreign Affairs

"success models". They enjoyed a significant support

from the part of the local leaders and, where Budget: 120,183 Euros

applicable, from the part of the various citizen

The activities carried out throughout 2003 focused on associative structures. Partner: Dutch-Romanian transFORMA Foundation

finalizing and evaluating the citizen consulting projects

and organizing the final conference of the project. After the final evaluation we organized the

conference "The Citizen and the Public Decision".

A sociologist did the evaluation of the projects Representatives of the local public administration,

implemented in 25 localities and the results of this APD members, representatives of the transFORMA

research were presented in the form of a report in the Foundation as well as representatives of the local

final conference. Overall, the level of the projects in the public administration from several other localities in

second year was superior to the one in the pilot stage the country which could get involved in similar

carried out in the first year. In most of the localities the projects were among the participants at this

carrying out of the projects represented a true conference. The goal of the conference was to share

opportunity to acquire new relating models between the experience gained in the 25 experiments from

the local administration and the citizens. In some of the the first and the second year, to promote the results

localities there was a high interest in continuing this of the project and to identify new ways of continuing

type of independent activities. this type of activity.

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Strengthening the relation between the voter and the elected

Legislatures and Citizens

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Period of the project: January 2002 - April 2004 the NGOs from each country the countries in the region and to understand - encouraging cooperation the constructive role civil society has in that

Coordination: The National Coordination Center of between neighbour countries country.APD, Bucharest in the South-Eastern areas by

facilitating exchanges among In Romania, the project Legislatures and Goal: Developing working relations between MPs and the participants in the program Citizens was supervised by a Local representatives of the civil society from seven Consultative Council. In this second stage countries in South-Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia Achievements: the members of the Council were: Radu F. and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, The program consists of two Alexandru, PNL Senator, Dorel Bahrin, PSD Romania, Yugoslavia (Montenegro and Serbia, complementary stages: the MP (formerly a PUR member of the including Kosovo as autonomous entity) f i r s t o n e c o n s i s t e d i n Parliament), Emil Boc, PD MP, Costicã

consulting with the civil society on the draft laws in the Canacheu, PD MP, Mihaela Mândrea-Muraru, PSD MP Objectives: Parliament. The second stage was focused on public (formerly a PUR member of the Parliament), Mona - encouraging MPs to use the expertise and support debates on various topics. A regional conference took Musca, PNL MP, Virgil Popescu, PSD MP, Sogor NGOs can provide in the process of improving the place at the completion of half of the project. Another Csaba, UDMR Senator, Szilagyi Zsolt, UDMR MP, legislation, by stimulating both MPs and NGOs to conference at regional level will take place upon Costel Popa, APD Deputy Director, Eugenia Rotaru, exercise the important role they have in the society completion of the project in 2004 and will provide the Program Coordinator, APD, Adrian Sorescu, APD - strengthening the ties between the Parliament and framework needed in order to evaluate the manner in Executive Director.the civil society with the purpose of developing a future which the objectives of the project will have been met collaboration in the legislation improvement area and it will also facilitate the exchange of experience Public forum: Electoral Legislation Reform in - facilitating, for the NGOs of the region, a better Romaniaamong the participants.understanding of the legislative process as seen from within, with the purpose of comprehending the On May 29, 2003 we organized a public forum on the In parallel with this project an exchange of experience limitations, the preoccupations and the challenges topic of the reform of the electoral legislation in at regional level is being carried out. The participants in from a parliamentary perspective Romania. The initiation of this forum was connected to the exchange are MPs and members of the civil - initiating a public debate on topics of interest with the the opinions, more and more spread and expressed in society. This exchange program allows participants purpose to stimulate the collaboration between MPs and the Romanian society, favoring significant changes in from each country to get to know the Parliaments of

Legislatures and Citizens

what concerns the regulations on the organizing and - setting up a partnership between the civil society Foundation and East West Parliamentary Practice carrying out of elections in Romania. We consider it and the political parties is vital in order to ensure Project organized in Bucharest a conference on the very important that not only the political class, but also fairness and legality of the political party funds.topic of campaign money and political party funding.important segments of the civil society manifest, in this period, preoccupations connected to this topic. Romania-Macedonia ExchangeBesides the international experts Dr. Martin Morlock Some of these segments initiate actual projects in this (Germany) and Dr. Marcin Walecki (International

st rdBetween December 1 and 3 , a delegation made out field. Moreover, the results of opinion polls during the Foundation for Election Systems), in the debate took of ten MPs and five representatives of NGOs from FYR past months highlight the fact that the majority of the part representatives of parliamentary and non-of Macedonia and Romania visited the Romanian population shares these preoccupations. parliamentary political parties, the Court of Accounts Parliament and other public institutions in Bucharest (General Audit Office), mass media and NGOs.and Brasov (in the beginning of 2004, a similar In the perspective of Parliamentary debates on the delegation from Romania visited FYR of Macedonia. draft laws proposing the modifying of the electoral The topics tackled during the conference were: the The exchange was however interrupted by the tragic legislation, through this forum, Asociatia Pro importance of transparency in financing political parties death of the President of this country.)Democratia gave the representatives of parliamentary and electoral campaigns; the regulations and the

parties the opportunity to discuss this topic with legislative gaps in what concerns transparency of Donor: European Initiative for Democracy and Human representatives of civic organizations, union leaders, political life, the way in which Law 43/2003 on the Rights and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairspolitical analysts, journalists. Throughout the debates financing of the activities of political parties and of

there were presented a series of studies as well as the electoral campaigns is applied.Budget: 75,000 Eurosresults of research upon various aspects regulated by

the electoral laws. The main conclusions of the discussions were:Partners: East West Parliamentary Practice Project. In

Public debate on 2003, the working partners in this project were: Media - it is necessary to increase the institutional capacity polit ical party Monitoring Agency - Academia Catavencu, The Center of the Court of Accounts in view of taking on the new funding for Legal Resources, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, responsibilities in the area of financing the political life

Open Society Foundation, Transparency International - correcting the legislative gaps for better future On September 24, Romaniaelections. In this sense, the members of the Judicial 2003, Asociatia Pro Committee and of the Joint Committee on the Democrat ia , in Elaboration of Electoral Draft Laws consulted with partnership with Asociatia Pro Democratiaon the issue of electoral Konrad Adenauer legislation and political life funding

| 20 |

>>

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Improving legislation and its enforcement

Money and Politics

3

Adapting the model of the IFES database to specific According to the findings of the APD team of Project period: March -

local conditions, APD managed to put together the only researchers, none of the political parties respected this September 2003

public database in Romania containing information on Law. The candidates were validated without

the financing of political parties and electoral complying with the legal provisions.C o o r d i n a t o r : T h e

campaigns: www.apd.ro/map. Moreover, this portal National Coordination

offers a series of studies and resources in the area. One of the main results of this project is the fact that, Center of APD, Bucharest

after repeated warnings and permanent monitoring by

In order to promote the site www.apd.ro/map (map: APD, both political parties and control institutions in Goal: Increasing the

oney nd olitics) we printed 2,000 brochures and charge with the financing of political parties realized degree of transparency of m a p

leaflets in which we explain the reasons why transparency the importance of complying with the law. Lately they political funds in Romania

of political financing, as a means to fight corruption, is started acting in this sense. However, we must stress

important. Also, the brochure contains a presentation of the fact that the current situation concerning the Objectives:

the legal obligations of parties to make public any transparency of political funds is far from normal- i n c r e a s i n g A P D ' s

information about their income and expenses, and also a capacity to implement the

comparative presentation of the legal provisions on this : United States Agency for International IFES internet portal with the database on the financing Donor

topic in several countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Developmentof political parties and of electoral campaigns in

Romania

In this program we organized a conference on this : 4,730 USD- promoting transparency by raising the level of Budget

topic, together with Konrad Adenauer Foundation and information about political funds

East West Parliamentary Practice Project. During this Partners: International Foundation for Election

conference we presented the results of the monitoring Systems (IFES)Achievements:

of partial local elections in May 2003 from the In a first phase of this project, specialists from IFES held for

perspective of the complying with Law 43/2003 on the the APD staff a training course on the financing of political

financing of political parties and electoral campaigns parties and of electoral campaigns and on the various

which was enacted just two month before the partial different tools that can be used in order to monitor the

elections.income and the expenditures of political parties.

Project period: February 1, 2003 - February 29, 2004 the type of elections. This Law would have replaced Parliament

Law 69/1991 on local elections, Law 68/1992 on the - determining the MPs to vote in favor of the draft law Cities/APD Clubs involved: All APD Clubs election of the Senate and House of representatives for the Electoral Code in the form proposed by

and Law 69/1992 on the election of the President of Asociatia Pro Democratia and its partners

Romania. Besides this change which is connected to

the structure of the Romanian legislation on elections, Achievements:

the Electoral Code would bring a series of modification Three of the above-mentioned objectives were

desired and requested by a large part of the Romanian completely or partially met. Thus:

society: the election of the senators and of the

representatives by uninominal vote, reducing the - following an open letter addressed to the leadership

number of seats in the Parliament, setting up a of all political parties represented in the parliament, in

Permanent Electoral Authority an autonomous the first stage the only affirmative answer came from

institution, independent from any other public the leaders of the National Liberal Party. This

institution, etc materialized in the fact that senator Paul Pacuraru filed

in the name of his party the draft law for the Electoral

: code at the Parliament: persuading the members of both Chambers of ObjectivesGoal

- persuading one or several MPs to sign the draft law - at a later stage, the leaderships of the Democrat the Parliament to produce a genuine and significant

of the Electoral Code and thus put it up for debates in Party and of the Humanist Party of Romania made reform of the electoral legislation by adopting the

his/her own name in the parliament public their support for the Electoral CodeElectoral Code draft law elaborated and supported by

- gathering 250,000 support signatures from the - throughout three month, APD and its partners Asociatia Pro Democratia and its partners.

citizens gathered 161,042 signatures in favor of the Electoral

- determining the members of the permanent Code. A copy of the lists with the signatures gathered The Electoral Code was supposed to be a general law

bureaus of the two Chambers to put on the draft law for in each county was given to every elected MP from regulating everything connected to the organizing and

the Electoral Code on the debate agenda of the those countiescarrying out of the elections in Romania, regardless of

The campaign for Electoral Reform

| 22 |

>>

- the filing at the Parliament of the copies of the obtained only four votes pro, out of seventeen. Budget: 76,025 USD - NED and 24,540 USD GMF

signature lists, which was accompanied by a series of Another variant of uninominal vote based system

actions in front and inside of the Parliament (protest (proposed only for the Senate) belonging to PSD was Partners: The National Unions Bloc, The National

rally and meetings with the parliamentary groups on also rejected in the Committee. The other aspects Union Confederation "Cartel Alfa" and the Federation of

the day the lists were filed, meeting pro electoral contained in the draft law for the Electoral Code were Free Unions in Education and a series of NGOs that

reform in the balcony of the Chamber of Deputies, the not debated upon. The members of the Committee gathered signatures

second day) opened the way for a series of debates on preferred to work on the texts of the already existent

the subject on numerous local and national TV and laws, to propose and adopt amendments to these

radio stations laws.

- the parliamentary committee for the revision of

electoral laws, founded by decision of the Permanent At the time this report is being edited, the Law 68/1992

Bureaus of the two Chambers considered debating, on local elections is already amended following the

among others, the draft law of the Electoral Code, adoption of the draft law for the amending of this law

especially the electoral system for parliamentary by the two Chambers of the Parliament. In what

elections. In fact, the PD and PNL representatives in concerns parliamentary elections, theoretically there

the Committee supported this proposal. Moreover, are still chances for the solutions contained in the draft

APD representatives took part in four of the sessions of law of the Electoral Code to be winners during the

the Committee and they had the opportunity to debates that will take place in the Joint Session of Both

express their points of view. Chambers. But these chances are very small.

In the end however, the variant of electoral system Funders: National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

contained in the draft law of the Electoral Code and German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF)

| 23 |

The campaign for Electoral Reform>>

Project period: September - October 2003 hierarchical levels - of political parties in order to

determine the costs of an electoral campaign for

Coordinator: The National Coordination Center of parliamentary elections. We also wanted to get a clear

APD, Bucharest picture on the manner in which politician relate to the

legislation on the financing of political parties and to the

Goal: a study on the situation of the financing of role money has in the political life.

political parties in Romania

The study also contained a description of the situation

Objectives: of political parties in Romania and also a presentation of

- presenting the political environment, the legal the legal framework on the financing of political parties.

framework and the current situation in what concerns

the financing of political parties and of electoral Also we added in the annex a series of studies on the

campaigns in Romania monitoring of the 2000 elections, on the state of mass-

- calculating the costs of being elected as a media vis a vis the political parties and the legislation on

representative at national level political parties

This study was part of a world research on the financing Donor: National Democratic Institute for International

of political parties National Democratic Institute carries Affairs (NDI)

out in 25 countries with the financial support of United

Kingdom's Department for International Development. Budget: 3,240 USD

Achievements:

This study is based on a series of interviews with

representatives in different positions and on various

Political parties financing - research

| 24 |

| 25 |

Project period: December 2002 - January 2004 conference organized by the APD Clubs involved in the institutions and authorities to offer public information

project on the basis of Law 544/2001 was carried out on 126

Cities/APD Clubs involved: All APD clubs, except for central and local public bodies in 25 counties. In this

Tandarei APD Club. The Clubs which are resource Achievements: respect, every institution out of the 126 received,

regional centers (Bacau, Brasov, Bucuresti, Cluj- The monitoring process was carried out in two different throughout a period of four month, eight requests (one

Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Timisoara) coordinated directions: every two weeks) for information of public interest.

the project in the respective regions - on one hand, we tested the manner in which local and The answers to these requests were monitored and

central public authorities respect the provisions of article evaluated taking into consideration the following

Goal: Monitoring and evaluating the way in which Law 4 of the Law on the free access to information. factors: the reply period, the accuracy of the

544/2001 on the free access to public interest - on the other hand, we tested the availability and information and their complexity and the cooperation

information is being applied and enforced capacity of public institutions and authorities to offer of public authorities

public information (article 4 stipulates that it is mandatory

Objectives: that every public body set up a department or delegate a The component regarding the improvement of the law

The project was structured in three directions: public servant to ensure the enforcement of Law consisted of 7 round-tables (in Bacau, Brasov, Cluj-

- monitoring the Law - consisted in soliciting 544/2001). In this respect, during the first stage of the Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Timisoara and Bucharest)

information from the central, county and local public monitoring process, we conducted a research on 884 in which the conclusions of the monitoring process

authorities and monitoring the received answers public bodies all over the country. The purpose was to were debated with representatives of the public

- improving the law - focused on elaborating a series identify the information and public relation departments bodies. There were also identified the problems the

of recommendations for the public authorities about and/or the delegated servants in charge with ensuring institutions are facing in the implementation of the Law

the means to improve the implementing process of the the access to information of public interest. 544/2001

Law

- demonstrating the utility of the law for the citizens, The second stage of the monitoring process in which The results of the monitoring process and of the law

by elaborating a report and presenting it in a we were testing the availability and capacity of public improvement component were presented in the report

Testing Free Access to Information (Law 544/2001)

>>

"Testing Free Access to Information - Law 544/2001" Donor: the project was financed by USAID through the

officially launched in a series of conferences held in the 21 RASP Programe managed by World Learning

localities in which this project was carried out. The report

was printed in 1,000 copies (800 in Romanian and 200 in Budget: 103, 803 USD

English) and distributed to the monitored public

authorities. The report can be accessed on our internet Partners: The IRIS Center for Institutional Reform in the

page http://www.apd.ro USA non-formal sector

Excepts from the report: Out of the 957 requests

addressed during this project, only 400 of them received a

complete answer, which means 42%. This low percent

suggests the fact that, in Romania, the access to public

interest information is more likely a question of luck than a

legally respected right."

| 26 |

Testing Free Access to Information (Law 544/2001)

>>

| 27 |

Project period: July - November 2003 newspapers and soon turned into a public debate (see

articles)

Cities/APD Clubs involved: Timisoara

One year after the monitoring process the Timisoara

Goal: Monitoring the observing of article 17 of the Law APD Club intends to start on a new monitoring

52/2003 by the local public administration institutions campaign in order to evaluate the evolution of the

and the public governmental services in the Timis situation

county.

Donor: self financing APD

Objectives:

- monitoring the way article 17 of Law 52/2003 (on the Partner: the journalist Cristian Patrasconiu from the

transparency of the decision-making process in the daily "Ziua de Vest"

local public administration) is applied by the public

institutions in Timisoara

- drawing the attention of local public institutions to

the topic of transparency of the decision-making

process

Achievements:

The poor abiding observing of the above-mentioned

law by the local public institutions was in the

Monitoring the Enforcement of Law 52/2003 (art. 17)

- offering assistance Project period: March - provide, for free, a series of services which will help us to the public authorities December 2004 achieve our purposein what concerns the - creating and developing a portal containing implementing of the Cities/Clubs involved: information on the Law 544/2001, forms, procedures, Law 544/2001 on the Buzau, Ramnicu-Valcea, studies and reports of various institutionsfree access to public Oradea, Suceava and

informationZalau Achievements:- t r a i n i n g a n d In a first phase, APD together with the representatives assistance of the Goal: increasing the of a few NGOs interested in supporting the authorities in elaborating documents containing public capacity of the civil society implementing of the Law on the free access to public information in a user friendly formatorganizations to monitor information and representatives of the former Ministry - assisting the citizens in formulating their requests a n d s u p p o r t t h e of Public Information elaborated, on one hand the set for public information on the basis of Law 544/2001implementing of the Law of criteria at the basis of the selection of the localities in - collecting the information the authorities should on access to public which a resource center will function and established, make public ex officio and putting them at the disposal information and to act as on the other hand, the set of services to be provided by of the citizens. This information will be also available on an intermediary between the Centers.the web portal c i t i z e n s a n d p u b l i c

- monitoring the manner in which public bodies institutions. The five Access to Information Resource Centers were answer the requests of the citizens and respect the set up in the counties, Ramnicu Valcea, Oradea, provisions of the Law 544/2001. Taking legal action in Objectives: Suceava and Zalau. These Centers were named case of infringement of the law- founding five Access to Access Centers and they provided the following - addressing information requests and organizing Information Resource services:"campaigns" of informing the citizens (NGOs, C e n t e r s w h i c h w i l l

Support to the Implementation of the Law on Access to Public Information in Romania

| 28 |

>>

businesses and unions included) about the way in In order for these five Access centers to become, on Zalau, NGO Regional Resource Center - CenRes which Law 544/2001 can be used long term, independent from financial point of view, an Suceava, NGO Regional resource Center - CERAS - organizing training courses for NGOs, journalists, expert set up a business plan. Ramnicu Valcea, Regional Centre of Ecological etc about the way in which they can use the Law Surveillance Apuseni Mountains Oradea, Pro Civic

At the same time, in September 2003 we launched the BuzauBetween July and December 2003 the Access Centers web portal www.accesinfo.ro where citizens can find

informed over 10,000 citizens about the existence and forms, procedures, studies and reports of various

the utility of the Law 544/2001 and about the services bodies. In five month the portal was visited by 1,600

provided by the Centers. In the same period, 350 persons.

citizens wishing to obtain public information benefited

the consulting services provided by the Access Donor: United Nations Development Programme

Centers.

Budget: 135,000 USD

Throughout the project, approximately 100 NGOs, 60

public institutions and 35 media institutions have been Partners: Governmental Strategies Agency (former

trained and informed by the Access Centers. Ministry of Public Information), Volunteers Center

| 29 |

Support to the Implementation of the Law on Access to Public Information in Romania

>>

Project period: 2003 - being currently carried out

Goal: promoting participation of young people in the public decision-making

concerning them

Cities/APD Clubs involved: Timisoara

Objectives:

- making young persons responsible in what concerns the identifying their own

problems and the solving of their own problems

- better participation of young people in then identifying and solving of the problems

of the local community

- young people as partners of the local authority in projecting local development

Donors: Up till now, the project was financially supported by the organizing

institutions (APD and IIT), The Timis County Board of Education and the Timisoara

Local Council

Partners: Master Forum Association and Timisoara Intercultural Institute

Education for democracy

Timisoara Local Youth Council

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4

Project period: March 1, 2003 - February 29, 2004 in political science, administration,

economics and law, the chance to Cities/APD Clubs involved: Brasov, Bucuresti, Cluj- work as interns in the parliamentary Napoca, Iasi, Miercurea-Ciuc, Oradea, Sibiu and committees and in the departments Timisoara (The project was coordinated on national of the local and central administration level by the Cluj-Napoca APD Club) in Cluj-Napoca and in 7 other

localitiesGoal: facilitating the institutionalization of the - improving the local and central internship program by 3 universities in Romania in the public administration with assistants, form of a viable and durable partnership between translators and talented researchers universities and public institutuions. The most in view of an improvement in the important institutional results of this program would quality of their activitybe: - facilitating the institutionalization

collaborated, the Public Administration Department of - a mechanism, projected on long-term, which would of the internship program in three universities, by the Babes-Bolyai in Cluj Napoca is the only one to initiate enable the students to complete their theoretical encouraging them to initiate their own internship a one-year internship pilot program following the model knowledge with practical skills programsimplemented by APD in the past year. In 2004 this - enabling the local and central public institutions to - establishing a permanent dialog between public project will continue, trying to institutionalize the concept have in their staffs and in their research departments institutions and universities in view of the of internship in the other universities as well.well-educated, motivated and well-prepared young development of a long-term mechanism placement of

persons interns in public institutionsDonor: National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

Objectives: Achievements:Budget: 38,411 USD- developing a partnership relation between APD and The 40 students who took part in various training

universities in view of implementing the internship sessions and successfully achieved the stages of the Partners: all universities and public institutions program internship program.involved in the project in the 8 locations- giving 40 college students in the third year majoring In exchange, among the universities with which we

Interns in Public Institutions in Romania

| 31 |

Project period: October 8 - 17, 2003 as on the referendum for the amended Constitution. Partners: The Bacau County Board of Education, The

Civic Alliance Bacau branchthOn the 10 of October, in a meeting with the education Goal: Raising the awareness of students about the

directors, there was a presentation of the main importance of the institution of the ballot in an

modifications sanctioned by the Law on the amended authentic democracy

Constitution and we answered the questions asked by

the participants.Cities/APD Clubs involved: Bacau

The directors of the education units in Bacau as well as Objectives:

a number of 200 students were better informed about - informing 200 students on the main changes in the

the main changes adopted by the Law on the revising Law on the amended Constitution

of the constitution. A number of 200 students got a - understanding the importance of the vote in a

better understanding of the importance of the vote in a democratic society (200 students)

democratic society and a number of 500 high-school - persuading over 500 students to participate in the

students were persuaded to take part in the October 19, 2003 referendum

referendum.

Achievements:

: self-financingWe organized debates with the students on the issue Donor

of the importance of the institution of the vote, as well

| 32 |

My vote - a Brick at the House of Democracy

| 33 |

Other APD activities5

PROTEST: The Executive is limiting the freedom of association

At the beginning of February 2003, Asociatia Pro Democratia together with APADOR - CH, Legal Recourses Center,

CENTRAS, Civil Society Development Foundation, Open Society Foundation, Pluralism Foundation, Pro Europe

League and Transparency International Romania made public their protest against the Ordinance no. 37/2003

meant to modify and bring corrections to the Ordinance no. 26/2000 concerning associations and foundations. The

NGOs that were signatories of this release protested against some of the provisions of this new normative act,

which, ignoring previous efforts for a modern legislation that would encourage dynamism of the civil society brought

unacceptable restrictions of the freedom of association.

The Advocacy Academy Association together with NGOs as well as on the adequate ways of regulating

Asociatia Pro Democratia and with the Center for Legal these types of activities. The public hearing on the 18th

Resources organized on February 18, 2003 a public of February was conceived as to ensure that all parties

hearing on the topic "How do we regulate the lobby involved are heard. More than 200 persons observed

activity in Romania?" the hearing and approximately 25 representatives of

Lately, the civil society initiated debates on the issues the civil society and of the Parliament presented the

of lobbying, the profession of lobbyist, the role of the depositions.

Public hearing on the topic "How do we regulate the lobby activity in Romania?"

| 34 |

Asociatia Pro Democratia participated with a "chain his support, both in his quality of Prime Minister and

link" of approximately 100 persons at the protest of President of the Social Democrat Party, of the

"Human Chain around the Parliament" organized by activity of public uncovering of the former secret

Academia Catavencu, the National Union Bloc and police officers by the CNSAS. He was requested to

Media Monitoring Agency on March 11, 2003. solve the situation of blockage in which this

Following this event, at the end of the meeting held institution had been for some time. APD received

with the members of the Analysis and Coordination of approximately 100 adhesions from representatives

the Activities of Corruption Prevention Central Group of NGOs and union structures. They signed a letter in

(CNSAS), the prime minister Adrian Nastase received which they were soliciting President Iliescu to

an open letter from Academia Catavencu, Media assume his constitutional role of mediator in the

Monitoring Agency, the National Union Bloc and conflict between the society and the state and among

Asociatia Pro Democratia. This letter was a request of the state institution in what concerned CNSAS.

The principle of subsidiarity

APD in the human chain around the Parliament

Asociatia Pro Democratia, together with Active The project initiated by Active Citizenship network features of horizontal subsidiarity. In the period April-

Citizenship network organized on April 18, 2003 a started taking shape at the first meeting of the May 20 such meetings took place in different

debate on the topic "The principle of subsidiarity" "This working group, which took place in Bruxelles. The European countries. The conclusions were the

project was born in the summer of 2002, a few participating members of the civil society and of the subject of a final report to the members of the

months after the Laeken Declaration announced the Convention took part in an exercise of reflection upon Convention for the Future of Europe and to the

emergence of a Convention for the Future of Europe. the mechanisms that can enable the applying of the members of the Intergovernmental Conference.

This initiative started from the premise according to subsidiarity principle and upon the defining of the

which the principle of subsidiarity is a very large one horizontal dimension of European subsidiarity.

and is not limited to the system of competences and

responsibilities specific to the relation between the There were organized working meetings in order to

European Union and the member states. identify new contributions to the debate on the

| 35 |

On March 30, 2003, Asociatia Pro Democratia, Media The three organizations considered that the Anti- and the Parliament from the process of elaboration of

Monitoring Agency Academia Catavencu and Corruption Law Package does not serve the objectives this Law Packet.

Transparency International Romania made public their mentioned in the National Plan for Prevention and Unfortunately, the initiative of Asociatia Pro Democratia,

decision to cease their participation at the meetings of Fighting of Corruption. There is the major risk for this Media Monitoring Agency Academia Catavencu and

the Analysis and Coordination of the Activities of packet of laws, in the form proposed by the Executive, Transparency International Romania was not

Corruption Prevention Central Group and recommended to protect and encourage corruption acts more than the successful. The Law Packet was validated by the

the MPs, in a well-argumented letter, to support the current legislation does. Also, we drew the attention to Parliament and the motion was voted against.

parliamentary motion "The Mob Chokes Romania". the fact that the Executive eliminated the civil society

Protest against the Anti-Corruption Law Package

On May 14, 2003 Asociatia Pro Democratia organized a Executive and adopted by the two chambers of the Constitution to be presented to the Parliament, the

press conference in which it presented its position on Parliament make the Permanent Electoral Authority an opinions of the citizens and of the representatives of civil

the law stipulating the setting up of a Permanent institution subordinated to the political power. society were only superficially taken into account.

Electoral Authority. Important topics such as: establishing and

In the same press conference, Asociatia Pro administrative region, one-chamber Parliament,

In the Fall of 2002, the Executive submitted to the Democratia presented a comparative study on the clarification of the relation between the President, the

Parliament a draft law on the amendment of the Law issue of amendment of the Constitution. The study Parliament and the Executive, better regulations of labor

68/1992 on the election of the Senate and Chamber of indicated the aspects about which citizens expressed were ignored by the Committee. The issue of

deputies with regulations referring to the setting up and their opinion during the Constitutional Forum (project parliamentary immunity intensely debated upon, not

functioning of a Permanent Electoral Authority. coordinated by APD and the Chamber of Deputies only during the Forum was solved in a very

Therefore, the Executive chose to regulate the activity of between July and October 2002). unsatisfactory manner for the ones who took part in this

public authorities that are to be in charge with the At the end of the consultations the coordinators of the consultative process.

organizing and carrying out of local, parliamentary and Forum elaborated an extensive report about the

presidential elections in a Law that regulates the election opinions and proposals expressed. The report was It is worth mentioning however two successes the civil

of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies. In the submitted to each member of the Parliamentary society achieved in its effort to influence the process of

draft law proposed by the Executive we found entire Committee on the Amendment of the Constitution. amending the Constitution: the changes regarding the

paragraphs copied, word by word from the Electoral citizen legislative initiative (reducing the number of

Code draft law proposed by Pro democracy Association. The conclusion of the study was that, in spite of an needed signatures from 250,000 to 100,000) and the

However, the many aspects that differentiate the text of apparently great number of proposals included by the opportunity Romanian citizens who no longer hold

the Electoral Code and the draft law proposed by the Committee in the draft law on the amendment of the Romanian citizenship have access to public office.

Asociatia Pro Democratia clarified some details regarding the amendment of the Constitution and the law of the Permanent Electoral Authority

| 36 |

On October 8, 2003, APD sent a press release in which Public Informing and Transparency Commission. This detriment of the other acquisition procedures such as

it made public its position about the draft law for the body was founded on basis of the H.G. 1104/2003 and competitive negotiating or offer requests, as being

amendment of the Constitution, considering that, in its main attribution is the supervision of the way in profoundly non-transparent.

spite of the delaying of important institutional reforms, which the funds for the organizing and carrying out of

it brought improvements to the 1991 Constitution. That the referendum are being spent. The second day after the Referendum, on October 20,

is why, even if during the process of elaboration and APD and AMP informed the Central Electoral Bureau

adoption of the draft law the Romanian Parliament did As members of this Commission, the representatives about the many law infringements and administrative

not debate a series of proposals expressed by different of the two organizations noticed that the most of the irregularities that could be noted at the national level on

segments of the public opinion and in spite of the allocated funds had been spent before the first meeting the occasion of the referendum for the Constitution.

attempts to turn this project into a political matter, of this Commission. This was breaking article 3 of the These irregularities question the validity of the results

Asociatia Pro Democratia recommended all the H.G. 1104/2003 that states that these expenditures can and, implicitly the legitimacy of the new Constitution.

members of the Association to vote in favor of the be done only under the supervision of the Commission. The representatives of the new constitution Cristian

Amendment draft law. We also considered that the choice of the Executive to Pirvulescu and Mircea Toma presented the text of this

On the same day, October 8, 2003, APD and Media regulate the closing of the public acquisitions contracts notification and commented the events of the two

Monitoring Agency - Academia Catavencu presented in the form negotiated with one source, choice referendum days in a press conference that took place

their position after taking part at the first meeting of the materialized in art. 11 of the H.G. 1104/2003, in the on the same day, October 20, 2003.

APD and the Referendum for the amendment of the Constitution

APD and LADOM (The Human Rights Defense League from Moldova Republic) organized on November 14, 2003 a videoconference with the subject Promoting interethnic

dialogue among young people in South-Eastern Europe. Representatives of the two countries took part in the event.

The purpose of this videoconference was to familiarize the representatives of majority and minority youth organizations in Moldova and Romania with the needs, expectations in

what concerns the promotion of good interethnic relations and especially with the role young people have in this respect. The subjects tackled during the conference were: the

situation of young people in Moldova and Romania and the legal framework regulating the majority-minority relation in both countries, practices and success experiments in

promoting interethnic relations, evaluating the situation in Moldova and Romania and taking a position.

Promoting interethnic dialogue among young people

Financial Report

| 38 |

Donor

United Nations Development Programme

United States Agency for International Development

National Endowment for Democracy

The German Marshall Fund of the United States

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Matra Programme)

European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

United States Agency for International Development

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

Project type

national

national

national

national

national

national

national

national

Percent of total budget for 2003

31.36%

24.12%

17.66%

5.70%

14.47%

3.14%

1.70%

1.10%

0.75%

100.00%

Projects with the National Center of Coordination as grantee

Project

Support to the Implementation of the Law on Access to Public Information in Romania

Testing Free Access to Information (Law 544/2001)

The Campaign for Electoral Reform

APD and Local Communities

Supporting Participatory Democracy in Romania

Legislatures and Citizens

Money and Politics

Political parties financing research

TOTAL

Budget granted by the donor*

$135,000

$103,803

$76,025

$24,540

$99,970

$113,633

$80,216

$4,730

$3,240

$641,157

Period

March - December 2003

December 2002 - January 2004

February 2003 - February 2004

June2002 - May 2004

May 2001 - May 2003

January 2002 - January 2004

March 2003 - June 2003

September 2003 - October 2003

| 39 |

Donor

National Endowment for Democracy

European Union through PHARE Programme

The Royal Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

National Endowment for Democracy

Deventer Municipality

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Matra Programme)

Project type

national

local

regional

local

local

local

local

Percent of total budget for 2003

38.37%

27.54%

12.15%

10.14%

9.14%

2.20%

0.46%

100%

Grantee

Asociatia Pro Democratia - Club Cluj

Asociatia Pro Democratia - Club Brasov

Asociatia Pro Democratia - Club Bucuresti

Asociatia Pro Democratia - Club Brasov

Asocia]ia Pro Democratia - Club Brasov (Community Foundation Sibiu-grantee)

Asociatia Pro Democratia - Club Sibiu

Asociatia Pro Democratia - Club Brasov

Budget granted by the donor*

$38,411

$27,149

$11,981

$20,000

$9,767

$2,260

$451

$110,018

Projects with APD Clubs as grantees

Project

Interns in Public Institutions in Romania

Citizens' Counseling Bureau - Brasov

At Three Quarters of a Mandate

DIALOG Program

Good Governance Through Public Participation

Efficient Management in Valea Aurie Neighborhood

Citizens Involvement in Waste Management in Brasov City, Romania

TOTAL

Period

March 2003 - February 2004

March 2003 - January 2004

February - August 2003

January 2003-December 2004

January 2003 - January2004

November 2002 - July 2003

March 2000 - June2003

* The budget represents the grant total amount, not the amount received in 2003** For other currencies, we used this exchange rate: 1Euro = 1,13 USD1GBP = 1,69 USD

| 40 |

United Nations Development Programme

31.36%

World Learning

25.22%

Charles Stewart Mott

Foundation

14.47%

Dutch Ministry of Foreign

Affairs (Matra Programme)

3.14%

European Initiative for

Democracy and Human Rights

and Dutch Ministry of

Foreign Affairs

1.70%

1.70%

14.47%

25.22%

31.36%3.14%

17.66%

5.70%

0.75%

World Learning

United Nations Development Programme

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Matra Programme)

National Endowment for Democracy

The German Marshall Fund of the UnitedStates

European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

Financial sources (CNC as grantee)

National Endowment for

Democracy

17.66%

The German Marshall Fund of

the United States

5.70%

National Democratic Institute for International

Affairs

0.75%

| 41 |

The Royal Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest

12.15%

Deventer Municipality

2.20%

National Endowment for

Democracy

47.51%

European Union through PHARE

Programme

27.54%

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

10.14%

Dutch Ministry of Foreign

Affairs (Matra Programme)

0.46%

27.54%

10.14% 12.15%

47.51%

2.20%

0.46%

The Royal Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest

National Endowment for Democracy

Deventer Municipality

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Matra Programme)

European Union through PHARE Programme

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Financial sources (APD Clubs as grantees)

| 42 |

total income

non-reimbursable loans and aid

incomes from non-profit activities

bank interest income

member fees and contributions

incomes from differences in the exchange rates

sponsors

donations

19,563,650,411 LEI

17,665,779,371 LEI

1,704,272,000 LEI

105,004,000 LEI

55,469,480 LEI

28,005,560 LEI

120,000 LEI

5,000,000 LEI

$589,267

$532,102

$51,333

$3,163

$1,671

$844

$4

$151

100%

90.30%

8.71%

0.54%

0.28%

0.14%

0.00%

0.03%

Income 2003

| 43 |

total costs

consultant fees

wages of the permanent staff

publications

administrative

accomodations and meals

wages taxes of the permanent staff

communications

transportation

supplies

equipment

other costs

collaborator fees (taxes included)

banking services

expenses with differences in the exchange rate

Expenses 2003

16,984,310,000 LEI

4,094,091,672 LEI

2,836,119,824 LEI

2,480,807,150 LEI

1,979,360,000 LEI

1,204,893,307 LEI

1,038,824,526 LEI

744,757,858 LEI

702,377,999 LEI

682,013,416 LEI

479,991,529 LEI

479,443,074 LEI

153,383,688 LEI

70,087,189 LEI

38,158,768 LEI

$511,576

$123,316

$85,425

$74,723

$59,619

$36,292

$31,290

$22,432

$21,156

$20,543

$14,458

$14,441

$4,620

$2,111

$1,149

100%

24.11%

16.70%

14.61%

11.65%

7.09%

6.12%

4.38%

4.14%

4.02%

2.83%

2.82%

0.90%

0.41%

0.22%

| 44 |

communications

Expenses 2003

total costsconsultant feeswages of the permanent staffpublicationsadministrativeaccomodations and mealswages taxes of the permanent staffcommunicationstransportationsuppliesequipmentother costscollaborator fees (taxes included)banking servicesexpences with differences in the exchange rate

100.00%24.11%16.70%14.61%11.65%

7.09%6.12%4.38%4.14%4.02%2.83%2.82%0.90%0.41%0.22%

wages of the permanent staff

wages taxes of the permanent staff

collaborator fees

accomodations and meals

transportation

supplies

equipment

other costs

administrative

publications

banking services

expences with differences in the exchange rate

consultant fees

total incomenon-reimbursable loans and aidincomes from non-profit activitiesincomes from differences in the exchange ratesank interest incomemember fees and contributionssponsorsdonations

100.00%90.30%

8.71%0.54%0.28%0.14%0.03%0.00%

ank interest income

donations member fees and contributions

sponsors

incomes from differences in the exchange rates

incomes from non-profit activities

non-reimbursable loans and aid

Income 2003

APD Structure

These are the APD branches where our volunteers and members are active. Each Club has a Committee and a President, elected by the General Assembly of the Club.

In 2003, Asociatia Pro Democratia had 25 Clubs in 22 counties and Bucharest. Seven of them (Bacau, Bucharest, Brasov, Cluj, Constanta, Craiova and Timisoara) are Clubs that coordinate the activity of the Association at regional level.

The Clubs

Club Alexandria Club Brasov - regional resources center Club Bucuresti - regional resources center

Club Bacau - regional resources center Club Caracal Club Braila

Club Cluj-Napoca - regional resources center Club Breaza Club Botosani

Address: Str. Confederatiei nr. 3, Alexandria, Address: Str. Mihail Sadoveanu nr. 3, Brasov, Address: Bd. Unirii, 45, bl. E3, sc. 3, ap. 76, et.6, jud. Teleorman jud. Brasov sector 3, BucurestiTel.: 0247/316 178 Tel./fax: 0268/475 992, 410 192 Tel.: 021/327 77 57 Fax: 0247/316 315 E-mail: apd.brasov@apd.ro Fax: 021/321 67 44E-mail: apd.alexandria@apd.ro President: Septimiu Franculescu E-mail: apd.bucuresti@apd.roPresident: Daniel Dinca Regional coordinator: Andreea Stinghe President: Ana-Maria Mosneagu

(since October Horatiu Iancu) Regional coordinator: Sorina Bunescu

Address: Mihai Eminescu nr. 10, cam. 6-7, OP. 1 CP.4, Bacau, jud. Bacau Address : Calea Bucuresti nr. 5, Caracal, jud. OltAddress: Str. Calarasilor nr. 56, bl. 11, ap. 107, Braila, Tel./fax: 0234/570 057 Tel./fax: 0249/512 755jud. BrailaE-mail: apd.bacau@apd.ro E-mail: apd.caracal@apd.roTel.: 0239/626 951President: Atena Topala President interimar: Misu Slatculescu President: Maricela MrejeruRegional coordinator: Costica Topala

Address: Str. Gral. Traian Mosoiu nr. 70, et. 4, sala 2, Address: Str. Republicii nr. 35, Breaza, jud. PrahovaCluj-Napoca, jud. Cluj Address: Str. Marchian nr. 9, cam. 12, Botosani, Tel.: 0244/343 177Tel./fax: 0264/597 316jud. Botosani E-mail: apd.breaza@apd.roE-mail: apd.cluj@apd.roTel./fax: 0231/532 717 President: Florin NicolaPresident: Gabriel BadescuPresident interimar: Dumitru AioneseiRegional coordinator: Iulia Manolache

| 46 |

Club Constanta - regional resources center Club Onesti Club Suceava

Club Oradea Club Tandarei

Club Craiova - regional resources center*

Club Piatra Neamt Club Timisoara - regional resources center

Club Galati

Club Ramnicu Valcea Club Tulcea

Club Iasi Club Zimnicea

Club Resita

Club Miercurea Ciuc

Club Arad

Club Sibiu Club Bistrita

Club Focsani

Address: Str. Mercur nr. 12, Constanta, Address: Str. Emil Rebreanu, bl. 5, ap. 2, Onesti, jud. Bacau Address: Str. Mitropoliei nr. 3, Suceava, jud. Suceavajud. Constanta Tel.: 0234/323 646 Tel./fax: 0230/206 348Tel./fax : 0241/520 060 E-mail: apd.onesti@apd.ro E-mail: apd.suceava@apd.roE-mail: apd.constanta@apd.ro President: Liviu Neagoe President: Stefan PuscasuPresident: Victor LoghinRegional coordinator: Andrei Seitan

Address: Str. Gen. Traian Mosoiu nr. 16, Oradea, jud. Bihor Address: Str. Bucuresti, bl. 52H, sc. C, ap. 8, Tel./fax: 0259/234 505 Tandarei, jud. Ialomita

Address: Str. M. Kogalniceanu nr. 13, Craiova, E-mail: apd.oradea@apd.ro Tel./fax: 0243/273 552jud. Dolj President: Tiberiu Catona President: Floarea SavaTel./fax: 0251/510 235E-mail: apd.craiova@apd.roPresident: Cornelia Burchis Address: Str. M. Kogalniceanu nr. 3, et. 1, cam. 16, Address: Calea Al. Ioan Cuza nr. 12, ap. 12, Regional coordinator: Marius Grigorescu Piatra Neamt, jud. Neamt Timisoara, jud. Timis

Tel./fax: 0233/229 656 Tel./fax: 0256/201 488(Club founded on October 18, 2003) E-mail: apd.pneamt@ apd.ro E-mail: apd.timisoara@apd.ro

Address: Bd. Dunarea nr. 44, bl. B7, ap. 42, Galati, President: Cristian Savin President: Cristian Bratujud. GalatiTel./fax: 0236/463 701

Address: Bd. Tineretului nr. 1B, et. 5, Rm. Valcea, Address: Str. Mihai Eminescu nr. 8, Tulcea, jud. TulceaE-mail: apd.galati@apd.rojud. Valcea Tel./fax: 0240/516 215President: Gheorghe TiberTel.: 0250/711 440 President: Adrian PalTel./fax: 0250/711 454

Address: Aleea Copou nr. 7, ap. 3, Iasi, jud. Iasi E-mail: apd.rmvalcea@apd.roAddress: Str. Mihai Viteazu, bl. 18C, sc. C, et. 1, ap. Tel./fax: 0232/311 055 President: George Robu2, Zimnicea, jud. TeleormanE-mail: apd.iasi@apd.roTel.: 0247/368 229President: Diana Andron

Address: Str. Piata 1 Decembrie 1918 nr. 7, et. 2, President: Dorin PrunaResita, jud. Caras Severin In 2004, three other APD Clubs were founded:

Address: Str. Kajoni Janos nr. 47, Miercurea Ciuc, Tel.: 0255/220 773Jud. Harghita E-mail: apd.resita@apd.ro

E-mail: apd.arad@apd.roE-mail: apd.mciuc@apd.ro President: Dumitru BogoeviciPresident: Baniazs Lazslo

Address: Bd. Vasile Milea, bl. P1, sc. D, ap. 64, Sibiu, E-mail: apd.bistrita@apd.rojud. SibiuTel./ fax: 0269/212 999

E-mail: apd.focsani@apd.roE-mail: apd.sibiu@apd.roPresident: Sorin Budnariu

| 47 |

*in 2004, the center was moved in Rm. Valcea

APD is run by a Board constituted of seven members (including the

President) elected by APD general Assembly for a two-year

mandate.

In 2003, the Board was constituted of:

Before the General Assembly from July 25-27, 2003:

President - Cristian Pirvulescu

Members:

! Adriana Albu

! Viorel Balaci

! Dorin Berbescu

! {erban Chiosan

! Radu Ticiu

! Vasile Chiru

After the General Assembly from July 25-27, 2003:

President - Cristian Pîrvulescu

Members:

! Oana Bahnaru Preda

! Dorin Berbescu

! Bucur Bogdan

! Vasile Chiru

! Cornel Negrea

! Florin Nicola

THE BOARD

| 48 |

This is the executive structure of the Association. Located in Bucharest, it

coordinates APD's activities at national level.

In 2003, the National Coordination Center was constituted of (it also

includes the regional coordinators that work within the regional resources

center):

Adrian Sorescu - Executive Director

Oana Bahnaru Preda - Deputy Director (since July - Costel Popa)

Iulian Burghelea - Financial Manager (since August - Alina Lavinia Tanislav)

Gabriel Ionescu - Accountant

Mariana Bogzoiu - Financial Assistant

Mioara Hrebenciuc - Network Coordinator

Eugenia Rotaru - Coordinator for the relations with the Parliament

Andreea Sandu - Public Relations Coordinator

Raluca Gagiu - Staff Asistent

THE NATIONAL COORDINATION CENTER