A Coruña European Network of Environmental Authorities Update of NGO activities Rachel Lee, Coordinator of the BirdLife Internationals Regional policy Task Force

RSPB/BirdLife European Funding Seminar, Cardiff, March 2006: 15 countries represented In partnership with the managing authority (WEFO), environment authority (CCW) and local authority (Newport City Council) Aim: to get conservationists to think about what they want to achieve within a social and economic context

The Seminar used the RSPBs Arent Welsh Birds Brilliant project as a case study: official day – presentations from project partners and a field trip to Newport Wetlands set the scene in Wales 2 days of workshops on – scoping a super-project, who you need to know, impacts on small organisations, project management and development, and continuity and exit strategies

Competition! Participants were invited to submit: a project idea, draft financial plan and timescale and potential funds and partners The winning BirdLife Partner will benefit from expertise of RSPB Waless experienced fundraising team to prepare a full project proposal

Main focus of coalition activities: Partnership Article 10, for the inclusion of environmental partners and NGOs Article 14bis on Sustainable Development and environmental protection and improvement Earmarking of funds for Lisbon growth and jobs agenda Community Strategic Guidelines

Joint statement on the sustainable and fair use of EU funds, March 2006 Focusing on: partnership; equality and non-discrimination; environmental protection and improvement; Article 51 GR and Article 2 of the ERDF regulation

Other NGO activities: BirdLife – letters to Member State Governments on earmarking and financing Natura 2000 EEB – report on SEA and biodiversity and focus on biodiversity 2020 Action Plan FoEE/CEE Bankwatch – recommendations to the Commission on the financing of major projects WWF – scorecard project ongoing, delays mirror programming process! Our partner organisations involved in the programming process, commenting on NSRFs, OPs and SEAs

Thank you! Visit our site: contacts: Stefanie Lang, WWF, Rachel Lee, Birdlife International, Victoria Bruce, Birdlife International, Martin Konecny, FOE and CEE Bankwatch, Pieter de Pous, EEB,