Transparency - transparency in the broadest sense means that concerned stakeholders know what is going on. This means both getting information and participating in relevant proceedings and decisions. Activities promoting transparency include, for example, a patient's right to know about the treatment they receive to open and clear procedures for public tenders. When government meetings are open to the press and the public, when budgets and financial statements may be reviewed by anyone, when laws, rules and decisions are open to discussion, they are seen as transparent and there is less opportunity for the authorities to abuse the system in their own interest.
News
Second European Pro Bono Forum / May 10, 2008
The Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) is pleased to announce that it will host the second annual European Pro Bono Forum in Budapest, Hungary at the Mercure Budapest Buda Hotel on 6-7 November 2008. This year’s event will bring together over two hundred lawyers, NGOs, and academics to explore emerging trends in pro bono law across continental Europe. More information on the PILI webpage.
Legislative opportunities for the EU to improve corporate accountability / May 28, 2008
After comprehensive legal research and by advancing some of the European Parliaments’ recommendations of its resolution on CSR, European Coalition for Corporate Justice together with MEPs, lawyers, and representatives of the civil society, has presented a range of proposals that aim at strengthening EU legislation to provide greater accountability for EU companies when acting abroad at a conference at the European Parliament in B russels. More information on the web of the ECCJ.
“Smart regulation” Conference on corporate accountability / March 10, 2008
After comprehensive legal research and by advancing some of the European Parliaments’ recommendations of its resolution on CSR, ECCJ together with MEPs, lawyers, and representatives of the civil society, will present a range of proposals that aim at strengthening EU legislation to provide greater accountability for EU companies when acting abroad. More information can be found on the ECCJ webpage.
Justice and Environment watchdog reports / January 10, 2008
Justice and Environment Network prepared analysis, case studies and position papers on its members monitoring of EU environmental legislation in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Poland. The issues covered include Aarhus Convention and related legislation, Environmental Liability Directive (ELD), Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) and Natura 2000. The general conclusion is, that the major problems in all areas are transposition to national legislation and actual implementation of the legislation. In some cases there are other issues as well.
Meeting with donors presentation / December 18, 2007
The presentations made by keynote speakers during the “Who will feed the watchdog” meeting were added to the webpage. You can find them in the “Meeting with donors” section.
Sharing pro bono ideas in Brussels / December 17, 2007
“Justice in a globalised economy: What can lawyers do?“ was the name of a two-day conference that took place in Brussels, Belgium 13th - 14th of December this year. Thanks to support of the watchdog incubator project one young Czech lawyer was able to take part in this event and bring new experience.
The meeting, held by the Belgian organisation Avocats Sans Frontiéres (www.asf.be), was aimed to bring together scholars, practicing lawyers and NGOs representatives for sharing their experience in current global legal issues.
Contact
Viteslav Dohnal
Watchdog Project Coordinator
Environmental Law Service
Prevratilska 330
390 01 Tabor
Czech Republic
phone: +420 381 253 904
email: tabor@eps.cz