[fse-esf] CEE-ESF mobilisation news nr 2-2008: Invitation to CEE participation 26-27.4

[Tord Bj ö rk]

CEE-ESF mobilisation news nr 2-2008

Dear CEE ESF friends!


The NOC European Contact Group has now started to take initiatives to create
a better balance in the ESF preparations according to the EPA decisions to
prioritise CEE countries and new groups.

European mobilisation and fund-raising meeting in Malmö 26.4

The first proposal that have achieved approval from the board and the
programme group is to have a European mobilisation and fund-raising meeting
16.30 - 18.15 Saturday 26 of April in Malmö in connection to the European
programme meeting 26-27 of April. This mobilisation and fund-raising meeting
can also continue parallell to the programme meeting on Sunday if there is
sufficient interest. There is a need to have focus on the whole preparatory
process including funding and mobilisation if CEE countries and new groups
should be informed about ESF and be able to participate.

Funding for CEE participants at the European meeting 26-27.4

The second proposal have been to take a limited amount of money against
earlier principles from the Solidarity fund for CEE participants at the
European program, fund-raising and mobilisation meeting in Malmö 26-27.4.
This is the result of requests from Peter Damo from Romanian Social Forum.
They had to pay the whole participation at the EPA Berlin meeting from
domestic funds alone. RSF cannot participate at EPA in Kiev so they saw a
strong need to participate at the European program meeting.

Contrary to the intentions of the European contact group this decision thus
comes very late which makes it hard to come on such a short notice. It is
also necessary to use the rule that the first that applies will be the ones
that can recieve funding as the time is so short, something that also is
contrary to our intentions. We apologise for this shortcoming but saw it as
a necessary step to now prioritise CEE participation in the prepatory
process better.

We have proposed that that either 3 CEE participants are paid with 2/3 of
the low-budget travel costs or 2 CEE participants with the full low-budget
travel costs. We have told RSF that they only can count on 2/3 of the costs
repaid but if you as our CEE cooperation partners see it as better to pay
two CEE participants fully it is up to you. If only 2 apply the cost will of
course be paid in full. We are aware of that visa problem makes it more as
an guestuere to some countries but hope that there is understanding of that
our intentions are to strengthen CEE-CIS participation in general in the
process by this grant. Accomodation will be in private homes for free.

Request for funding, send an email to: tord.bjork at mjv.se

For more information about the venue and meeting: esf2008 at gmail.com

Better political CEE influence in the ESF process

There is a structural problem with the CEE participation in the ESF process
as the proportion of this participation is less for each step that one comes
closer to power over the content. Thus participation at the ESF is higher
than at EPA meetings while at European program group meetings there is none
or if one person from CEE countries comes his points are not taken very much
into consideration. During the first period for sending proposals for themes
including examples on seminar proposals only two of maybe a hundred came
from CEE countries. It is now necessary to gather the proposals that exists
and promote them and stimulate others in CEE countries to submit their
ideas. As the dead-line for sending proposals has been prolongend until 31st
of May there is now some more time for this. The proposals from the CEE
meeting on principles for the merging process has also to be promoted at the
European program meeting 26-27.4 as well as more effort has to be put into
funding CEE participation. Please contribute to the discussion about this!

New CEE-ESF mobilisation tour to the Balkans: Help us with Serbia!

Joel Borgström, member of the working committee  of the European Contact
group will start a new CEE-ESF mobilisation tour. The schedule for the tour
is as follows:
 
15/4 Arrive in Athens at 2 PM, meeting in the evening
16/4 Travel to Thessaloniki, meeting in the evening
17/4 Travel to Tirana, meeting(s) in the evening
18/4 Tirana, activity, meeting(s)?
19/4 Travel to Skopje, meeting(s) in the evening
20/4 Skopje, activity, meeting(s)?
21/4 Travel to Sofia, meeting(s) in the evening
22/4 Travel to Belgrade, meeting(s) in the evening
23/4 Belgrade, activity, meeting(s)?
24/4 Travel to Sarajevo, meeting(s) in the evening
25/4 Travel to Split, flight to Sweden

The great problem is lack of Serbian contacts. Nothing is arranged in this
central country on the Balkans. Please help us with the personal contacts
that you might have! Inform Joel Borgström as soon as possible: Email:
joel.borgstrom at gmail.com, Telephone: +46708116160

Delays

Unfortunatly the NOC treasurer, the coordinator of the information group and
the technical webb-group have resigned. This after a decision in the NOC
board against principles of consulting the working groups and economic
precaucation. An ad hoc solution is in place to solve the most immediate
economic responsiblities after this change.

The consequences has caused passivity among some working groups and in the
coordination of the NOC preparatory process with delays on many of the
issues which the European contact group is responsible for together with the
board. We hope to inform you more about your questions regarding the
Solidarity fund, EPA in Kiev and other issues soon.

Yours


Tord Björk

Coordinator, 
Contact group for Europe and the World, Nordic Organizing Committee ESF 2008

Finlandsgatan 2
291 31 Kristianstad
Sverige/Suede/Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)44 12 32 94 (evenings, sometimes am Monday-Tuesday)
Mobile: +46 (0)738 44 68 50 (occasionally)
E-mail: tord.bjork at mjv.se (best way for contacts)

Nordic Organizing Committee: esf2008 at gmail.com, www.esf2008.org


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