REPUBLIC OF POLAND

Launching meeting of the
Council of Europe Forum on the Future of Democracy
Warsaw, Royal Castle, 3-4 November 2005

- Programme -


Theme of the meeting: “civic participation”
 
Thursday, 3 November 2005

2.30 p.m. Opening Session

Welcoming – Stefan MELLER, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Honorary Chair – Mr. Lech WAŁĘSA: “Democracy under way”

Ambassador Joaquim DUARTE, Permanent Representative of Portugal at the Council of Europe, Chair of the Committee of Ministers
Mr. René VAN DER LINDEN, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Mr. Giovanni DI STASI, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe
Ms Maud DE BOER-BUQUICCHIO, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe: “The Council of Europe’s acquis in the field of democracy”

Break (10 min.)

3.30 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. First session

“Civic participation as a challenge for the future”

Moderator: Mr. Adrian SEVERIN – Romania, member of PACE

- Opening Keynote

Prof. Timothy GARTON ASH, Oxford University

- Plenary discussion

Special discussants:
o Mr. Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI, former President of Malta, European Commission for Democracy through Law („Venice Commission“);
o Prof. Lena KOLARSKA-BOBIŃSKA, Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw – Civic participation – key questions
o Lyudmila GRYAZNOVA, Deputy Secretary General of the Congress of Democratic Forces of Belarus;

- Conclusions (presented by the Moderator), remarks from participants

7.30 p.m. Buffet dinner hosted by the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, restaurant “Bistrot”, 2, Foksal str.

Friday, 4 November 2005

9.30 a.m. Second session

“Exchange of experiences and practices in the field of civic participation”

Moderator: Prof. Jerzy HAUSNER, Poland

Ms Annelise OESCHGER, President of the Council of Europe’s INGO Conference:
Introductory remarks

- Panel discussion: Some examples of current challenges and practical proposals

(1) New developments in the field of e-democracy
- Mr. Robert KRIMMER, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration

(2) Engaging young people
- Mr. James DOORLEY, Vice-President of European Youth Forum, Brussels

(3) Democratic transformation: the Russian experience
- Mr. Boris KUZNETSOV, CIRP, St. Petersburg, Russia

(4) The Swiss experience with direct democracy
- Mr. Andreas GROSS, member of PACE

(5) Engaging citizens in deliberative processes and dialogue
- Mr. Paul ROWSELL, UK Deputy PM Office: The UK experience

- Plenary discussion

- Conclusions (by the Moderator), remarks from participants

12.00 p.m. Break

12.30 p.m. Closing session: Conclusions and proposals

Chair: Mr. Bogdan BORUSEWICZ, President of Polish Senate

Prof. Dr. Gesine SCHWAN, Rector of Viadrina University, Frankfurt/Oder
Closing Keynote

Mr. Bogdan BORUSEWICZ, and Senator Andrzej WIELOWIEYSKI (PACE): Forum’s conclusions (by the Chair)

Mr. Terry DAVIS, Secretary General of the Council of Europe:
The Forum as a Process: Where do we go from here?

1.30 p.m. Press briefing (Conference Hall) / Lunch, hosted by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.