Plese note the details of a conference being arranged by the Finland-Russia
Society. Anyone interested should contact them directly.
Together for the future – Forum on civil society cooperation of European
Union and Russia
17-18.11.2006 Lahti, follow-up programme 19-20.11.2006 Saint-Petersburg
Invitation to participate
The forum brings together those active in Russia -cooperation and experts
from EU countries to discuss together with their most important Russian
partners the future forms of cooperation with Russia and possibilities on
civil society level. The Forum offers an opportunity to exchange views on
matters that civil organizations want bring up in connection with the
realization of four common spaces of cooperation and the roadmaps approved
for them.
The European Union regards Russia as its strategic partner. Genuine
partnership is also based on well functioning contacts on civil society
level. Within the Barents area and Baltic Sea cooperation civil society
organizations have already to some extent developed networks and Russian
organizations have participated in the cooperation. Within European Union
scale so far before have earlier not been brought together Russia actors
on the civil society level to discuss in cooperation with North Western
part of Russia as well on the federal level the process of networking as
well as the prospects of the development of cooperation. The forum offers
as well a possibility to examine the activities within the Northern
Dimension from the civil society perspective.
The aim of the forum is:
· To gather NGOs from EU countries cooperating with Russia, and their
Russian partners to Lahti on November 17-18, 2006 during Finland's EU
chairmanship
· To introduce NGOs co-operating with Russia to each other and to Russian
NGOs
· To give NGOs a forum for bringing forward their views and creating their
own agenda concerning different issues in EU – Russia dialogue
· To produce mutual partnership, networks and create project ideas for
future cooperation
· To produce recommendations to EU about developing co-operation between
NGOs and contacts with citizens.
250-300 participants are expected to participate in the forum in Lahti, 17
– 18 November 2006 representing NGOs from EU countries and Russia. The
participants of the forum will have an opportunity after the forum to
visit Saint Petersburg and get acquainted with the activities of Russian
NGOs.
· To the Forum are invited among others representatives of cultural
organisations, friendship societies, environmental organisations and
organisations in the field of social security and health care as well as
youth and women organisations. In the forum will participate also
scholars invited in connection with special themes from EU countries and
Russia.
· The forum will be organized on a high level and participation is
expected from the European Commission and Russia on a federal level.
· The forum is organized by Finland-Russia Society and Aleksanteri
Institute from Helsinki University.
· The chairman of the organizing committee is Ambassador Heikki Talvitie
and the vice-chairman MP Jouko Skinnari.
Helsinki 10.5.2006
Heikki Talvitie
Chairman, Finland-Russia Society
Together for the future – Forum on civil society cooperation of European
Union and Russia
Programme 17-18.11.2006 Lahti
Thursday, 16.11.
– first participants arrive to Lahti and are accommodated
Friday, 17.11.
– before noon participants arrive
11.00 Opening of the forum
11.20 1. plenary session
Together for the future – EU and Russia
– Four common spaces for cooperation between ЕU and Russia and the
roadmaps
– Nothern Dimension in the framework of the cooperation
– Citizens in the cross border cooperation: support from EU and Russia to
the civil society cooperation, the future of financing NGO cooperation and
influencing EU programmes
13.00 Lunch at the Sibelius House
14.00 2. plenary session
Strengthening of democracy and civil society
– The role of NGO´s in the society and the means of civil influence
– Information society and the media in connection with the strengthening
of democracy
– Different dimensions of equality
– Remeding the hinds of the civil cooperation
15.30 Coffee break
15.50 3. plenary session
Social justice
– Panel discussion: Social rights in the framework of EU-Russia
cooperation from the point of view of NGOs
– Panel discussion: Non-discrimination and equal opportunity
17.30 Transfer to Hotel Cumulus
Free time
19.40 Departure from the hotel to the Lahti City Hall
20.00- Reception hosted by the City of Lahti
21.30 Transfer to Hotel Cumulus
Saturday, 18.11.2006
– breakfast at the hotel
Possible to organize workshops and meeting and use the services of the
contact-desk.
11.00 4. plenary session
Our common environment
– Climate change
– Energy
– Nuclear safety
12.30 Final plenary session
13.30 Lunch
14.30 Part of the participants depart for home, part leave on the evening
train to Saint-Petersburg
Together for the future – Forum on civil society cooperation of European
Union and Russia
Follow up-programme 19-20.11.2006, Saint-Petersburg
Saturday 18.11.
– arrival with the evening train to Saint-Petersburg, accommodation at the
hotel
Sunday 19.11.
– breakfast at the hotel
09.00 Leaving for the meeting with NGO´s
12.00 Lunch
14.00 The meeting with NGO´s continues
16.00 Leaving for the hotel
18.0 Leaving for different cultural programs on one´s choice
Monday 20.11.
– breakfast at the hotel
09.00 Leaving for city tour and making acquaintance with city sights
13.00 Lunch
16.40 Leaving from Saint-Petersburg to Helsinki and home
Practical arrangements and organization of the forum:
Finland-Russia Society
Phone +358-9-693831, Fax +358-9-6938630
Mail address: PL. 194, 00531 Helsinki, Suomi-Finland
www.venajaseura.com/lahtiforum
Merja Hannus, secretary general , phone +358-9-6938600
[removed]
Markku Kärkkäinen, project manager, phone +358-9-6938610, +358-50-62676
[removed]
Tapio Vilkama, project secretary, +358-9-6938634
[removed]
REGISTRATION FORM
Together for the future – Forum on civil society cooperation of European
Union and Russia
17.-18.11. 2006 Lahti, follow-up programme 19.-20.11.2006
Saint-Petersburg
Organization represented by the participant
Name
Address
Phone
Fax
Website
Address for invoicing, if not the same as above
Name
Contact information
Name of the participant and contact information
Name
Position in the organization
Address, if different from that of the organization
Phone
Fax
Participation package for the Lahti forum 95 ? per participant includes
written forum material, 2 lunches, coffee and the evening reception
I reserve accommodation at the Hotel Cumulus for the period of
__________________
A single room________, a double room________, for extra payment Superior
class ______
Price for one day and night accommodation in a single room 80 ?, in a
double room 50 ? and extra payment for the Superior class 25 ? for one day
and night.
I am interested in participating also in the trip to Saint-Petersburg and
the NGO meeting in Saint-Petersburg 19.-20.11.2006 ________ (for extra
payment)
The registration form is asked to be returned preferably by e-mail to:
[removed]
or by fax +358-9-6938630 or
by mail to: Finland-Russia Society, The Lahti forum, PL 194, 00531
Helsinki, Suomi-Finland