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Policy - Work Plan 2006

European Forum Work Plan 2006
The European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity is dedicated to support the transformation and democratisation processes in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. By serving as a platform for co-operation between social democratic parties, organisations and personalities it aims to contribute to the development of (social-) democracy. The European Forum informs the international social-democratic movement on the political situation in the countries of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe with an emphasis on the developments of social democracy. In addition, the European Forum co-ordinates projects in these countries.

Within the European Forum 12 social democratic foundations and 20 social democratic parties play an active role.

The European Forum has the following focus, following the enlargement agenda
1) Acceding countries: Bulgaria and Romania
2) Candidate countries: Turkey and Croatia, FYR of Macedonia
3) Potential candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244
4) European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP): Eastern Dimension: Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan
5) The Russian Federation
6) The ENP Southern dimension: the Steering Committee decided this is not something the European Forum should be involved in.

Draft programme for 2006:

Conferences:
- Improving employment opportunities in the Western Balkans; a better future for all. A conference in Serbia and Montenegro.
- EU Enlargement and public support; the role of political parties, public participation, referenda and the dialogue with civil society. The cases of Romania and Bulgaria and the referenda on the EU constitutional treaty will serve as examples. A conference in Croatia.
- Fair trade: the consequences of WTO policies for the Western Balkans; a conference of youth organisations in the Western Balkans in Slovenia.
- The Turkish road to EU Enlargement; setting the priorities. A conference in Turkey.
- The Russian Federation and the European Union: a conference in Moscow in cooperation with the SDPR on the EU- Russia relations (1 day) and an experts seminar with the FES (1 day)

Initiate assessment visit to:
- Albania; Fatos Nano stepped down as party leader of the Socialist Party of Albania and Edi Rama is his successor. Rama is well known as mayor of Tirana, was elected world mayor in 2004 and famous for his Tirana clean and green programme.

Coordinated efforts:
- Belarus: coordination of activities and support in the run up to the March 2006 presidential elections.
- Belarus Solidarity Fund: a continuation of the activities in 2005. The Fund will support social-democrats.
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: coordination of activities in the run up to the October parliamentary elections.
- Promising politicians in Former Yugoslavia and Albania; year four.

- Gender equality through the Gender Network

- Information Service: country updates, newsflash, website.