International projects

Study visit of Mayors in Serbia to the Czech Republic

MEPCO, in cooperation with the Serbian Association of Towns and Municipalities (Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities), organised a 4-day study tour of Serbian Mayors in the Czech Republic, aimed at preparing local governments for entry into the European Union as an official candidate country.

Participants in the study tour attended lectures aimed at sharing knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• The system of local government in the Czech Republic;
• The role of local government in EU accession negotiations;
• The impact of the EU accession process on local government;
• Helping communities in the process of EU integration;
• Raising public awareness about the EU;
• Preparing local governments to draw funds from the EU;
• Intermunicipal cooperation;
• Lobbying at EU level on behalf of local governments.

The lecturers were experts from MEPCO, the Ministry of Regional Development, Czech Association of Towns and Municipalities (SMO), Ministry of Interior, European House and representatives of the City of Pilsen.

As part of the study tour, a visit was made to the City of Pilsen to exchange experience in accessing European funds.

The meeting of the Serbian delegation with representatives of Czech organizations and governments can, among other things, lead to the emergence of new networks for potential cooperation between the Czech Republic and communities in Serbia.

Non-Repressive Model to Reduce Corruption at Municipal Level

MEPCO organized a 3-day study tour of representatives of the Municipality of Sofia to the Czech Republic on the theme of the fight against corruption at various levels of government, with an emphasis on local government. The delegation visited the Ministry of Regional Development to learn about corruption in the area of public procurement, and the Municipality of Liberec to learn about concrete measures employed to fight corruption at the local level. Participants also met with representatives of the Government Office, under the auspices of which falls the fight against corruption, and with representatives of non-profit organizations.

MEPCO was also involved in developing a system of indicators for internal monitoring in relation to anti-corruption activities on which were based a model for an annual monitoring report. At the same time, MEPCO helped to prepare an anti-corruption strategy for the City of Sofia.

RegPol² – Socio-economic and Political Responses to regional Polarisation in Central and Eastern Europe

MEPCO is a partner in international scientific research project ITN RegPol2 (Socio-economic and Political Responses to Regional Polarisation in Central and Eastern Europe) funded by the EU’s 7th Framework Programme and falling under the category known as ITN (Initial Training Networks), whose main task is to help novice researchers and support them at the beginning of their scientific career.

Other consortium members include both private companies operating in the field of regional development (or statistical data analysis, and social entrepreneurship) and universities and research organizations from seven countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Finland).

The main task of MEPCO is to provide training to several researchers, especially on the topic of regional policy and development. MEPCO is also responsible for dissemination activities associated with the project, ie. for processing the dissemination strategy and ensuring its implementation, and for the management of quality outputs and processes within the project.

For more information, please visit the project website: http://www.regpol2.eu/

Supporting the Development Department of the City of Sarajevo and its boroughs

The project aims to support the City of Sarajevo and its four boroughs (Stari Grad, Centar, Novi Grad, Novo Sarajevo) in drawing funds, mainly from the EU pre-accession funds (IPA) and other available national and international funds. The project is based on the fact that the City of Sarajevo and its boroughs are faced with a shortage of well-trained staff who would be able to prepare successful project applications in order to obtain necessary funds. The support thus seeks in particular to link theoretical knowledge acquired through training with practical preparation of specific project proposals, supported by experts from the Czech Republic and elaborated in the project application submitted to the appropriate subsidy programs, European and other.

MEPCO’s role in this international project is to lecture on the spot, in subsequent ongoing consultation activities and in the guidance of project application preparations. MEPCO is also engaged in project administration and the organisation of planned activities.

Socially Responsible Municipality (2020)

The project Socially Responsible Municipality (2020), based on the needs of Czech towns and villages, urgently addresses high unemployment and its impacts in its territory and in particular in socially excluded localities. The project involves 10 cities of the Usti Region (Rumburk, Decin, Trmice, Obrnice, Kadan, Vejprty), Moravian-Silesian Region (Bruntal, Havirov, Frydek-Mistek) and Central Bohemian Region (Kutna Hora), where the problem manifests itself most acutely. See more at: http://www.socialnimesta2020.cz/o-projektu/#sthash.WWrvc2fE.dpuf.

The project aims to transfer foreign best practices and know-how through thematic networks working in the field of social entrepreneurship and socially responsible procurement involved Czech towns and villages.

The project has four main objectives:

• To map the current situation in the area of local employment (social entrepreneurship and socially responsible procurement) in the participating municipalities.
• To introduce examples of good practice from Austria, Poland and the Netherlands, describing the function of the tools.
• To train representatives of towns and villages in the creation of social enterprises and socially responsible procurement and to prepare a model for the manual, including project plans on these topics.
• To discuss and exchange good practices between municipalities and other foreign partners.

See more at: http://www.socialnimesta2020.cz/o-projektu/#sthash.WWrvc2fE.dpuf

Transfer of the Czech knowledge in support to Local Government Associations of Macedonia, Moldova and Kosovo to strengthen capacities for policy advocacy for improving/establishing fiscal incentives for energy efficiency measures in public schools

The main objective of the project was to provide knowledge and advice in implementing effective financial incentives to encourage the implementation of energy efficiency measures in public schools in targeted countries. The main project partner on the receiving side is the Network of Associations of Local Governments in Southeastern Europe (NALAS).

The project had several main activities:

• Creation of evaluation reports
• Collection of data and creation of databases and indicators
• Data Analysis
• Implementation of a study tour for representatives of local governments of the target countries to the Czech Republic

Creation of a final study (policy study)

Transfer of Czech Knowledge to the Local Municipalities of Georgia on Urban Development/Strategic Planning, Community Waste Management and Citizens’ Participation in Local Self-Governance

The aim of the project was to strengthen the institutional and organizational capacity of the central government (especially Parliament and the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure) and local governments, so that they are better able to implement decentralisation reforms in Georgia. Thematically, the project focused on urban development, waste management at the local level, and public participation.

The project included a fact-finding mission and subsequent situation report, which was followed by a 3-day training event for representatives of state administration and local governments. The outcome of the project was a set of recommendations for individual areas. The final report can be downloaded here.

Municipal Benchmarking – waste management and wastewater management in Serbia

The aim of the benchmarking project was to create a communication and knowledge platform for towns that contribute to the improvement of waste management and wastewater management in Serbia. The project implementation through the use of the benchmarking method was to map the situation in the areas surveyed, identifying strengths and weaknesses, comparing results between municipalities, and formulating concrete conclusions. The outcome of the project was a web application, a comprehensive comparative and individual report for each participant, which included comparing the situation with other comparable cities and presenting individual recommendations. The platform provided for a dissemination of good practice. The project involved a total of 15 Serbian municipalities and was implemented within the framework of a larger project, IMPACT – Municipal Waste and Waste water management.

Roma Platform – Working with the Roma community in Karvina

The project with the Roma community in Karvina was created in close cooperation with the City of Karvina and MEPCO. The project is funded by the ESF through Operational Programme Human Resources and Employment and the State Budget. Foreign partners of the project are the City of Nieuwegein (The Netherlands) and the City of Diest (Belgium). The Czech partner MEPCO carries out activities related mainly to the coordination of international activities.

The main objective of the project is to build a thematic network that will enable the exchange of best practices and experience from advanced foreign partners. Activities are focused on working with the residents of socially excluded Roma localities, specifically in the following areas:

1. Examples of social entrepreneurship and other tools to increase private sector employment
2. The advisory work with job seekers and preparation of specific programs
3. Addressing the issue of the quality and availability of housing

Among the key activities of the project will be organized an introductory meeting, 4 foreign study trips, 4 workshops and a final international conference. Furthermore, the project will create a web application and a collection of examples of good practice.

More information about the project can be found on the website http://www.romaplatform.cz

Towards a Strong Congress of Local Authorities in Moldova – Transfer of the Czech Experience

The project is aimed at strengthening the institutional, operational and organisational capacity of the Association of Moldovan Authorities (CALM). Its aim was to support CALM as an effective functioning and equal partner in the course of decentralization reforms in Moldova with the help of the transfer of Czech experience in local government.

The project included three workshops in Moldova and a study trip to the Czech Republic. Individual workshops focused on organisational structure, functioning legal issues, financing, lobbying and marketing. During the study tour, representatives of CALM and Moldovan towns visited a number of institutions in the Czech Republic (ministries, government, Association of Towns and Municipalities (SMO), etc.). The project outcome was a set of recommendations for further action for CALM.

The role of cities in integrating socially excluded Roma localities – Prague 14

This international project is aimed at the exchange of good practice in working with the Roma community at the local level. Within this framework, Prague 14 cooperates with foreign partners who solved similar issues in recent years with success.

The City of Madrid as a foreign partner represents IRIS, Instituto de Realojamiento e Integración Social, the cooperation from which emerges two internships for representatives of primary target groups: officers and employees of the City District Prague 14, and representatives of other boroughs and other partners in the social field. The program will focus on strategic planning with a view to integrating people living in socially excluded Roma communities. Priority activities will be focused on employment, housing, social care and communication with the public.

The second foreign partner of the project, the City of Veldhoven, will participate as a partner on two internships abroad for the primary target group. The program of these study tours will again be focused on obtaining information on issues of strategic planning with the aim of integrating people living in socially excluded Roma localities.

The outcome of the project will be a collection of good practice and the updated community plan of social services for the City District of Prague 14.

More information about the project can be found on the website www.romplan.cz.

Analysis of networks and potentials in the Vysočina Region

The project consists of three stages. In the first stage – analysis of networks – the cross-border
cooperating networks from the Vysočina Region and Lower Austria will be identified. Afterwards
their qualitative research will be carried out and an analysis in Czech and German will be
drafted. In the second stage – analysis of potentials – SWOT analysis of the cross-border
cooperation will be prepared and strategic steps and key projects in the area of cross-border
cooperation for 2014-2020 will be suggested. The third stage consists of drafting of the
final report and harmonization of the results with other contractors from Lower Austria and
Southern Moravia.

Re-Turn – Regions benefitting from returning migrants

Re-Turn aims at re-attracting economically motivated migrants who left poorer European regions for
high-income European countries on one hand. On the other hand its goal is to support those migrants
who already returned to their original regions and to make use of their skills in order to develop
these regions. Migration trends in the Central Europe will be mapped in the first stage.
Afterwards new tools and services (i.e. one-stop-shops, trainings) for returning migrants will be
developed and tested. In the last stage a transnational strategy and a joint action plan will be
drafted and implemented. MEPCO is delivering project management support to one of the Czech project
partners.

Town twinnings supported by municipal associations from Slovak and Czech Republic

The project aims at creating and maintaining the international cooperation of Czech and Slovak
municipalities. MEPCO will prepare and evaluate a comprehensive questionnaire which will be
distributed to Czech municipalities. The questionnaire will tackle such fields as: cooperating
cities abroad and the intensity of the partnership, areas of the international municipal cooperation,
its financing, benefits and obstacles, development in the future and other fields. Within
the project a brochure with best practices will be published, database of partnerships will be
updated, project webpage will be created and services for Czech municipalities will be improved.

Study Tour on Transfer of Knowledge and Expertise from the Czech Republic in the Field of Data Collection at the Local Level

Within a large project co-financed by the Romanian Government and European Social Fund MEPCO
organized a five-day study visit for thirteen higher level officers from Romanian Ministry of
Interior and Finance and representatives of local government. The study tour was aimed at
presentation of the concept of e-government and collection of financial and other data at the
local level and their processing. The participants met their relevant counterparts during
theoretical sessions and they were able to observe several examples of practical use of the
theoretical concepts.

Integration of Roma minority at the local level: best practices from Dutch and Czech municipalities (seminar)

The main goal of the seminar was the meeting of thirty representatives of Czech municipalities
with a municipal delegation from the Netherlands, presentation of best practices of Roma integration
and discussing about possible cooperation in the future. Part of the seminar was focused on sharing
best practices in three separate working groups: school attendance, employment and media
relations.

Labour Market Thematic Network Development in Ústecký Region

The aim of the project is to create a regional thematic network with national and international
overlap. The main product of this networking activity – based on the exchange of best practices
with the foreign partners – will be a handbook of process innovations in following areas:
consultation work with job seekers, cooperation between the employees of Labour Offices
and NGO’s and the role of self-government bodies within the process of designing
coordinated programmes for unemployed.

Study Tour on Transfer of Knowledge and Expertise from Czech Republic in the field of Good Governance at the Local Level to Chernobyl Affected Areas of Belarus, The Russian Federation and Ukraine

The goal of this project was to promote accountable, transparent and inclusive local governance
in Chernobyl–affected territories of Belarus, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine through
capacity development and transfer of Czech knowledge and expertise. Particularly through
enhancement of the management and leadership effectiveness in relation to local development
and citizen involvement. MEPCO organized a six-day study visit to relevant ministries and one
regional municipality and other national, regional and local actors.

Study tour on increasing accountability and transparency at the municipal level in Montenegro

This study tour contributed to fostering transparency at the local level in Montenegro.
Representatives of municipalities and NGOs of Montenegro visited wide range of Czech organizations
(Ministry of Interior, Transparency International, etc.) and received first hand experience
about the situation and development in the Czech Republic.

Knowledge Transfer of the Czech Experience in the Field of Good/Local Governance towards More Efficient and Democratic Municipal Assemblies in Montenegro

The goal of this eleven-month project was to strengthen effectiveness, democratic functioning and
outreach of the Montenegrin Municipal Assemblies through adapting leading Czech experience in
the field of local administration. Following activities were carried out during the project:
review of the parliamentary services, identification of relevant experience abroad, creation
of a set of learning modules, holding training session and seminars, organization of 2 study
visits to the Czech Republic, reviewing material needs of the municipal assemblies and drafting
final reports.

From adversaries to advocates: filling the communication gap in the regions of Armenia

MEPCO participates in another international project aimed at improvement of local governance,
particularly in the regions of Armenia. The main goal is to develop local democracy in the regions
of Armenia through support of civil society and media. More specifically, it improves the
communication between local governments, media and population for better understanding of
democracy and transition issues. This complex project involves, among other activities,
training of Armenian trainers in communication of local policies by local government,
development of training manuals, trainings for local government officials, organization of
seminars or trainings for media representatives. MEPCO provides relevant and experienced Czech
experts for the project, transferring best practice examples to Armenia.

ET-Struct (EconomicEducational Territorial – Structure) – international project

The project creates instruments in order to link the supply and demand on the labor market
in the region of Olomouc, promoting adaptability of educational programmes and raising awareness
of the private sector about the human capital in the region. One of the goals is the
intensification of co-operation among the private sector, local and regional administrations,
and educational institutions. MEPCO provides project management services for
municipality Hranice.

International Project CEBBIS

The project CEBBIS (Central European Branch Based Innovation Support) forms a platform for Central
European transfer of technologies in the field of application of alternative sources of energy
using ICT. At the same time, the programme intensifies the cooperation among science,
innovation companies, and public administration. MEPCO provides project management
services for this international project.

Uzbekistan – study tour on rural and local development planning and practice

The overall objective of the training study tour was to contribute to a better understanding of the
role of the local administration in supporting rural development and advocating for change.
MEPCO organized a 10-day study visit to the Czech Republic for various local development
actors from national, regional and local level.

Support to the Development of Local Self-Government in Belarus

MEPCO, being one of the key implementing partners, is involved in the complex development project
aimed at supporting of local self-government in Belarus and other relevant stakeholders. Besides
provision of experts and trainers for the project activities implemented in Belarus
(seminars, trainings, consulting sessions), MEPCO is responsible for organization
of a study tour and a couple of internships to the Czech Republic.

NATLC – New approaches to the training of local councillors in the Czech Republic

The aim of the project is the creation and subsequent pilot implementation of modern methods for
training of newly elected officials of local authorities in the Czech Republic and the preparation
of new instructors selected from among former or current representatives of the authorities.
The project is being realized in co-operation with the Norwegian Association of Local and
Regional Authorities (NALRA, in Norwegian, Kommunenes Sentralforbund, or KS) and the
Centre for Education of Public Administration. The project is to serve as a platform for
development of a comprehensive training programme for local councilors in the Czech Republic.
MEPCO is responsible for project management, organization of the study visit to Norway and
methodology development.

Municipal Support Programme North-Eastern Serbia

This project is financed from the EU funds, and realized by the European Agency for Reconstruction.
The project was launched in June 2007 and involves 30 municipalities in 5 regions of North-Eastern
Serbia: North, Middle, and South Banat, and the Branicevski and Podunavski Districts.
The realization of the project is accomplished within the consortium, with MEPCO as one of the
members. The main goal of the project is the improvement of local administration of 30
municipalities of North-Eastern Serbia, including the support aimed at co-ordination of
taken steps with the state offices, acquiring sufficient sources for the development of the local
administration, encouragement of the application of an effective horizontal link between the
local administration, sphere of entrepreneurial activities, non-governmental sector, and business
companies, as well as encouragement of socio-economic coherence among local communities,
increasing capacity of regional development agencies, and preparation for the implementation
of priority projects in the sphere of infrastructure.

Support to the Sustainable Development of the Municipality of Gjakova

The twinning project of towns Pardubice and Gjakova has strengthened the expert capacities of the
Kosovo Municipality in the area of strategic planning and its ability to communicate with FDI as
an instrument useful for LED. MEPCO was in charge of project management, organization of a study
visit to the Czech Republic for responsible civil servants from Gjakova, as well as expert consulting
on LED issues.

Bridging the Czech Local Development Planning Policies and Instruments with Bosnia and Herzegovina

The project provided policy-makers, local practitioners, socio-economic partners and municipalities
from Bosna and Hercegovina with practical knowledge on Local Integrated Planning in the Czech
Republic. MEPCO developed manual for a standardized local development planning methodology
for Bosna and Hercegovina and conducted two study visits to the Czech Republic. This project
contributed to a successfully implementation of a standardised local development planning
methodology for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ENPIRE – Energy and Urban Planning in Restructuring Areas

The project helps to develop the possibilities of use of the so-called intelligent energy,
following the territorial planning. It is accomplished by local administration, being
primarily designed for local administrations of the 7 participating countries.
The ENPIRE programme is headed by international experts; with the involvement of developers,
inhabitants, and power companies, via case studies.

Study Trip for Inspectors and Auditors from the Local Administrations of Kosovo

The one-week study trip introduced to the participants the control mechanisms on local, regional,
as well as national level in the Czech Republic, including examples of good and bad practice
and defining the linkage of the auditors’ work to the membership of the Czech Republic in the
European Union.

Study Trip to the Ukraine – Handing Down Experience About Public and Local Sources of Energy and About Energy Efficiency

The one-week study trip introduced to the participants the control mechanisms on local, regional,
as well as national level with respect to environmental end energy issues in the Czech Republic.

Joint Feasibility Study Concerning the Support of Regional Development in Northern Albania

The Joint Feasibility Study assessed the feasibility of the future joint Swiss-Austrian support
programme of regional development in Northern Albania in 2009 – 2014. The programme focused on
regional development and decentralization. Further, it aimed to build up absorption capacity
for pre-accession programmes of the EU. The work of the expert in regional development included
elaboration of preparatory studies for the project (EU programmes), and participation in an
international team of experts on a two-week mission to Albania.

Support and Reinforcement of Local Administration Within the Process of European Integration – Study Trip to Serbia

The aim of the study trip was to introduce the system of education of public administration in the
Czech Republic in the context of creating the Serbian National Plan of Education. The participants
from the Republic of Serbia Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government had the
opportunity to visit the most significant educational institutions for public administration in the
Czech Republic in order to experience, by way of an example of a particular municipality, how
education may be applied in practice, for instance in relationship to legal requirements placed on
Czech administration offices.

Technology Park in Celje

The Regional Development Agency in Celje prepared an extensive integrated project focused on the
development of the town and region, in total amounting to 400 million EUR. The project included a
construction of a technology park of total area 50 thousand square metres. MEPCO, thanks to its
experience with technology centres and pro-investment policy in the Czech Republic, was asked to
play the role of a foreign advisory consultant of the plan.

Development of the Innovation Potential Czech Lands – Saxony

Within the VITEC project (INTERREG IIIA), we have prepared a study of possible activities, which
would elaborate the innovation potential of Czech – Saxon co-operation. While there is an existing
network of advanced technology parks and centres for transfer of technologies on the side of Saxony,
these instruments of regional development necessary for the growth of knowledge-based economics are
rather scarce on the side of the Czech Republic. MEPCO has followed the preceding activities
concerning the Action Plan for the Regional Innovation Strategy as well as the currently elaborated
Integrated Plan for the Development of the City of Ústí nad Labem in order to prepare the initial
study for the Technology Park in the region of Ústí nad Labem.

Study Trip to the Czech Republic for the Representatives of the AKM (Association of Kosovo Municipalities)

The one-week study trip for the representatives of the union of municipalities of Kosovo was
focused on the activities and role of the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic,
including the introduction of the system of public administration and the visit of the town
of Havlíčkův Brod as an example of good practice.

Support of a Democratic Development of Towns and Regions in Belarus

The goal of the project was to widen the knowledge of the representatives of local administrations
and representatives of chambers of business in the sphere of democratization and institutional
support of development agencies. The project has strengthened the co-operation of Czech and
Belarusian towns, opening a discussion in the Czech Republic concerning the political situation
in Belarus.

Knowledge transfer on effective local governance and implementation of local development strategy from the Czech Republic to Ukraine – Study Tour of Ukrainian local development actors to the Czech Republic

MEPCO organized a 7-day study visit for various development actors from national, regional and
local level. During this study tour participants gained knowledge on effective local governance
and implementation of local development strategies in the Czech Republic. The delegates where
informed on the local and regional development policies of the national authorities as well as
on the structure of public government and its ability and competencies to affect the local and
regional development. The second part of the tour focused on the strategic planning process and
contained concrete transfers of best practices examples from the selected towns
and municipalities.

MATEO – Project Designed for the Support of Research and Development

The goal of the project MATEO was to increase the potential of involved regions in relation to the
economic growth through analyses of needs, with respect of the use of
research and development.

HeriTour

The main focus of the project was conservation, thematic organization, and promotion of local
cultural heritage through the creation of transnational cultural trails. One of the major
activities was the selection of the cultural heritage to be included, elaboration of
feasibility studies and marketing strategies. The project furthermore involved architectural
proposals for further investments.

Study Trip to the Czech Republic for the Representatives of the AAC (Albanian Association of Communes, Albania)

The one-week study trip for mayors and representatives of the AAC (Albanian Association of Communes)
focused on the activities and roles of the Association of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech
Republic, including the introduction of the system of public administration and visit to the towns
of Vsetín and Liptál, representing examples of good practice.

Study Trip to the Czech Republic for the Representatives of KwaZulu Natal

A one-week study trip mapping the theme of local economic growth in the Czech Republic,
including the development of tourism and social enterprise.

Municipal Finance Management – Accountability and Capacity Building for Policy Makers and Local Officials II; Partnership with banks and financial institutions

The project named Financial Management of Municipalities has been helping the target municipalities
to find out what their possibilities are in making the financial management effective, and what
instruments are important for creating partnership of the public and private sectors. The
project included two two-day training courses focusing on the theme of partnership between
municipalities and banks aiming at economic benefits resulting from the realization of the
projects concerned. The result of the project was the publication of the handbook named “Partnership
models between municipalities and banks where the implementation of projects with concrete economic
benefits”.

Study Trip to the Czech Republic for the Representatives of the Municipal Association of Macedonia (ZELS)

A two-week study trip focused on the activities and role of the Union of Towns and Municipalities
of the Czech Republic, including the introduction of the system of public administration and
the visit of the town of Ústí nad Labem as an example of good practice.

Study on innovative financial management practices in the area of local economic development in the CEE countries

The study covering innovative processes of financial management was prepared for the project named
Overcoming legislative impediments for local economic development in Serbia. An analysis of
approved practices with reference to LED (local economic development) in the regions of Central
and Eastern Europe was prepared, stressing the instruments and mechanisms
of financial management.

Central-European Network C2ENET

The goal of the project was to assist the municipalities in new European countries to deal with
the problems concerning environmental issues with respect on technical, organization, and
financial aspects.

Thematic Study Trip Focusing on Modernization of Public Administration for the Representatives of the People’s Republic of China

A study trip focusing on the exchange of experience in the process of implementation of the
reform of public administration of the Czech Republic and of the People’s
Republic of China.

LARA – INTERREG TOOL BOX

The main goal of the project was to strengthen the involvement of local and regional subjects
in the INTERREG programme and to increase the quality of the projects that were submitted
within the programme.

Support of the democratic development of towns and regions in Belarus

The aim of the project was to increase knowledge and experience of Belorussian representatives in
the field of transformation and reform of public administration and functioning of modern
autonomous government. The project further included support focused on the institutional
development and encouragement of democracy at the local level in Belarus.

Strategic Plan for the Economic Development of Bela Crkva Municipality

The project resulted in strengthening local economic development in the municipality of Bela
Crkva (Serbia) through the creation and implementation of a Strategic plan for development.
MEPCO created a detailed Strategic plan containing SWOT analysis and strategic vision on
four main topics: economy, infrastructure, civil society and development of local government.
In this participatory process local government representatives, citizens, entrepreneurs
and non-profit organizations were involved. As part of this project a study visit to the
Czech Republic was conducted for local government representatives, and civil society members to
the Czech Republic.

Improving the Environment Ada – Soběslav

MEPCO and the experts from the municipality Soběslav provided technical assistance to the
municipality Ada in order to improve the environment, cultivate effective strategy of
nvironmental protection as a groundwork material for landscape planning, strategic decisions,
and regional development. The trainings and consultations concerned the field of waste management
and environmental protection in the region, as well as landscape planning and decision-making.
The target group involved the employees of the local authority from the environmental department,
and from the departments of landscape planning, community services, finance, and regional
development. During their study trip to the Czech Republic, the representatives of the municipality
Ada also collected basic information about the PCM (Project Cycle Management) and raising funds
from EU sources.

PPP Principle; Employing the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund of the EU

The aim of the project was the realization of two training modules, focusing on the themes of
the PPP principle, and on employment of finance resources from the Structural Funds and the
Cohesion Fund at the local level, and preparation of towns / cities and municipalities for the
realization of European projects.

Fostering innovations and improvements in the local government sector, Serbia

MEPCO supported Serbian municipalities in applying for and implementing EC grants. MEPCO developed a
grant manual for this purpose and conducted a study visit to the Czech Republic to provide the
participants with practical examples from a country which recently
experienced EU-accession.

Bridging the „Distance“ between authorities and their citizens in the Russian Federation

The aim of the project was to improve communication and transfer of information between local
authorities and the citizens in four pilot locations of the project, taking advantage of using
the experience of the Czech Republic.

Conference “ New Shape of the Cohesion Policy ”

In November 2005, the company MEPCO organized a conference on the topic of New Shape of the
Cohesion Policy, focused on the existing opportunities for European towns / cities and
municipalities.

Exchange

This seminar organized by MEPCO focused on the improvement of the capacity and the EU procedures,
and on the training of the implementation unit in the lead of the programme of the Fund EXCHANGE
in Serbia (collective team of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities
of Serbia and of VNG).

Bosnian Study Tour

During the study trip, the delegates from Bosnia and Herzegovina had the chance to get to know the
functioning of the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic, and to gather
information concerning the possibilities of co-operation with Czech municipalities and
the possibility to draw resources from the funds of development aid of the Czech Republic.

Conference – Pre-Accession Experience

MEPCO offered and passed on the pre-accession experience of the Czech Republic within two
conferences. The target group involved the mayors of Bulgarian and Romanian towns.
The experts of the company MEPCO introduced their experience with the programmes like
PHARE, SAPPARD, and the Structural Funds. The seminars were focused on the project
cycle management, project plans, and examples of good practice.

Romania – Development of Local Administration and the Modernization Fund

MEPCO took part in the expert supplies within the project. The EuroBiz expert was responsible
for the activities related to the support of state administration when drawing financial
resources from European funds and of various programmes in Romania.

Conference “European Structural Funds” – Hengelo

The partner cities Pilsen and Hengelo (The Netherlands) organized on 16th and 17th March 2005 a
conference, the main topic of which was the establishment of international partnership in order
to use European Structural Funds by municipalities and regions. The company MEPCO
secured all preparation, organization, and logistics of the entire event.