PASOS members' joint projects 2005

Feasibility Study for Consular and Visa Co-operation among Visegrad States for Residents of Ukraine and Moldova
Lead partner: Institute of Public Affairs, Poland
PASOS partners: EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, Czech Republic, Center for Policy Studies at the Central European University, Hungary, Institute for Public Policy, Moldova, International Centre for Policy Studies, Ukraine
Other partner: Slovak Foreign Policy Association

The primary purpose of the feasibility study was to explore ways in which the practice of issuing visas could be improved and whether co-operation among the Visegrad consulates in issuing visas was possible. The key conclusions were that political will was necessary for any co-operation, and that the EU exerted a considerable impact upon the way consulates conducted the visa-issuing process. Other barriers to co-operation included incompatibility of procedures and insufficient technology. Among the countries concerned, Poland and Hungary were more liberal in their visa practices, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia were more cautious.

Specific recommendations were made based on an in-depth examination of the legal and institutional framework of current policies, and the study included interviews with ministry officials and consuls, and on-site assessments by visa applicants. Two publications, The Visegrad States Between Schengen and Neighbourhood, published by the Institute of Public Affairs, and The Visegrad States on the EU‘s Eastern Frontier, published by the Center for Policy Studies at the Central European University, resulted from the project, which was funded by LGI.

Strengthening Democracy in South-Eastern Europe through Accountable Control of Political Parties

Lead partner: Institute for Public Policy, Romania
PASOS partners: EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, Czech Republic, Institute of Public Affairs, Poland, International Centre for Policy Studies, Ukraine

The purpose of the project was to provide a tool for comparing legislative frameworks and control practices for monitoring party finances. It brought together experts from policy centres and public officials from the countries involved. The conclusions included a set of recommendations to strengthen efficient control in the area of political party funding, in particular through a statutory independent oversight institution supervising the whole electoral process, a clear set of statutory sanctions to be used in the event of infringement of rules, and guaranteed public access to data on political party funding to strengthen transparency and public accountability.

Recommendations were made to increase the knowledge and institutional capacity of each of the four states‘ Audit Courts in dealing with the control of party finances. The conclusions have been published in Romanian and English (Legislation and Control Mechanisms of Political Parties‘ Funding - Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine).

The project was funded by LGI and the Open Society Institute‘s East-East: Partnership Beyond Borders Programme.

Development of Public Policy and Centres for Public Policy in Russia
Lead partner: Strategia - St. Petersburg Center for Humanities and Political Studies, Russia
PASOS partners: EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, Czech Republic, Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS, Latvia, International Centre for Policy Studies, Ukraine

The aim of the project was to examine the role of 30 policy centres in north-west Russia in policy formulation and to strengthen their capacity to work effectively to shape public policy reform, to engage with public authorities, to engage in international policy networks, and to further democratic participation in the policy process. Subsequent to the project, Strategia is publishing an almanac Public Policy 2005, as well as a directory of public policy centres in north-west Russia. The project was funded by LGI, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Consulate General of Great Britain in St Petersburg.