Newsflash
6th European Forum of Citizens’ Advice Services on the Exercise of European Citizenship Rights 24-25 February 2009 - Brussels The 6th European Forum of Citizens’ Advice Services will bring about more than one hundred professionals in the field of information and legal advice for the citizens, as well as interested general public. They will have an opportunity to share their experience, good practices in advice and evidence based social policy work, and make recommendations for the better application of the rights related to the European citizenship in the future. |
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008 09:41 |
6th European Forum of Citizens’ Advice Services on the Exercise of European Citizenship Rights 24 - 25 February 2009Venue:
European Parliament
(room no. A3E-2, rue Wiertz 60, Brussels) Scotland House
(8th floor, Rond-Point Schuman 6, Brussels) PROGRAMME* marks the speakers who have not replied yet to the invitation
24 FEBRUARY
| | VENUE: SCOTLAND HOUSE | | | | 10:00 - 12:00 | Citizens Advice International General Assembly – Internal meeting of CAI members and friends | 12:30 - 13:30 | LUNCH BREAK | 13:30 - 14:00 | REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS | 14:00 - 15:00 | OPENING PLENARY SESSION | Chair:
| Tony Venables, Director, ECAS
The way we came from 5TH Citizens' Advice Forum till now - Cascade system in 2008 | Keynote Speakers: | David Harker, CEO Citizens Advice England and Wales
The citizen's ADVICE - the need, the concept and perspectives
Pilar Rodriguez, Director Citizens Advice Bureau Gibraltar and CAI Chair
Citizens' ADVICE in practice - meeting citizen's needs Ideas Factory Introduction for workshops to follow | | 15:00 - 16:45 | IDEAS FACTORY | | | Delivery of Information and Advice Services to Citizens and follow-up mechanisms | Three parallel workshops aiming to capture the systems and infrastructure of the different organisations - providers of citizens' advice and information services. WORKSHOP 1: TOOLS FOR CITIZENS' ADVICE How to take the pulse of the European citizens' problems and how we prove most effective advice. Trainers: Citizens Advice practitioners (tbc) Topics covered: - Advice and information systems that write domestic / European law into plain language that is meaningful and understandable for citizens.
- All aspects of training/learning opportunities to ensure competent advising including use of electronic media for training purposes.
- Consolidation of advice services – the “one-stop shop” approach
- New technologies and advice giving.
Chair:
| Pilar Rodriguez, CAI Chair | Speakers: | Matthew Elton, Citizens Advice Scotland
Olimpia Neagu, National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, Romania (NACAB)
Joe Forrest, Citizens Advice Direct UK | | Rapporteur: | Dorothy Buchanan, Citizens Advice Scotland | WORKSHOP 2: QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS How to ensure the right piece of advice for the European citizen. Topics covered: - Different compliance systems, including audits – how we know the advice being given is appropriate/right advice?
- How do we train in quality assurance?
- Role of new technologies in ensuring quality
Chair:
| Noirin Farren, NACIS Director | Speakers: | Antoine Fobe*, ECAS Citizen Signpost Service
Fran Targett, Citizens Advice England and Wales
Cristinel Neagu, National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux Romania | | Rapporteur: | Chloe Clemmons, Citizens Advice Scotland | WORKSHOP 3: BEYOND ADVICE - SPECIALISM How to take a citizen through the process of information, advice and beyond advice - with active help to the enforcement. Topics covered: - How citizens can obtain special advice and further support for specific problems?
- How to provide specialised advice in Citizens Advice Bureaux and when to refer to specialised mechanisms?
- How to ensure coordination?
- When referral to specialised structures is necessary, what is available?
Chair:
| Kaliani Lyle, CEO Citizens Advice Scotland | Speakers: | Derek Alcorn, Citizens Advice Northern Ireland
Vita Habjan, Legal- information centre for NGO- PIC, Slovenia
Paul Peralta, Citizens Advice Gibraltar
| | Rapporteur: | Hynek Kalvoda, Association of Citizens Advice Centres, The Czech Republic | 16:45 - 17:00
| COFFEE BREAK | 17:00 - 17:45 | PLENARY SESSION - IDEAS FACTORY WRAP UP Citizens Advice practises and resources required to develop the system.
Report on the key asks in workshop presentations and discussions | Speakers: | Chairs of previous workshops
| 17:45 - 18:00
| Multimedia session on social policy work in the UK - an introduction to the next day's work
| Chair:
| Kaliani Lyle, CEO Citizens Advice Scotland
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| | VENUE: SCOTLAND HOUSE | | | | 09:00 - 09:30
| Welcome Coffee | 09:30 - 11:00
| PLENARY SESSION: CASCADE SYSTEM AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL POLICY FEEDBACK
| Chair:
| Derek Alcorn, CEO Citizens Advice Northen Ireland
Citizens' advice and social policy
| Speakers: | Jimmy Jamar*, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
How important is the social policy feedback to policy makers
Jana Špániková, Directors CAI member organizations (Slovakia and Slovenia)
Making an impact - from advice to social policy
David Martin, CEO Citizens Advice England and Wales
Feedback mechanisms related to citizens advice work
Sören Haar, Citizens Signpost Service
CSS feedback reports and their impact | | | | | 11:20 - 13:20 | WORKSHOPS ON SOCIAL POLICY THEMES
| Three parallel workshops aiming to show the possibilities of advising te policy maker in three selected problem areas of citizens advice. WORKSHOP 1: DISCRIMINATION TACKLED BY CITIZENS' ADVICE BUREAUX
Topics to be discussed: - Discrimination issues dealt by Citizens Advice organisations
- Migrant workers case studies and analyses
- Organisation of services towards migrant workers – the idea of one-stop shop
Chair:
| Vita Habjan, PIC Slovenia | Speakers: | Geralyn McGarry, NACIS Ireland
Olimpia Neagu, NACAB Romania
David Martin, Citizens Advice England and Wales
Bernadette McAliskey, Director, South Tyrone Empowerment Programme
| | Rapporteur: | Gerard Crofton-Martin, Citizens Advice England and Wales | WORKSHOP 2: CREDIT CRUNCH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENS' ADVICE WORK Topics to be discussed: - The impact of credit crunch and of the financial turmoil on citizens
- What advice can be provided by Citizens Advice and other bodies
Chair:
| Olivera Mirkovic, PIC Slovenia | Speakers: | Derek Alcorn, Citizens Advice Northern Ireland
Susan MacPhee, Citizens Advice Scotland
Ija Ostrowska, Union of Citizens Advice Bureaux (UCAB), Poland
Jacques Delpla, Commission “Releasing Growth in France”
| | Rapporteur: | Mary Keane, Waterford Citizens Information Centre, Ireland |
WORKSHOP 3: FAMILY LAW IN THE EU
Topics covered: - Evidence of problems encountered by citizens in the cross-border exercise of family rights
- Marriages, divorces and child custody across the frontiers – what mechanisms of advice are available
- The case of making the cooperation in family law the area of reinforced cooperation
Chair:
| David Dumas, Citizens Advice Gibraltar | Speakers: | Alexandra Vicova, Citizens Advice Bureau Bratislava
Véronique Chauveau, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Claire Genta, Citizen's Rights and Constitutional Affairs Policy Department, European Parliament
| | Rapporteur: | Izabela Henning, Citizens Advice Bureau Radlin, Poland | 13:00 - 14:30
| LUNCH | | | | | | CHANGE OF THE VENUE: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT | | | | 14:30 - 16:00
| Conclusions from the workshops and wrap-up of the workshop discussions | Panel:
| Tony Venables, Director ECAS
Graham K Blount, Citizens Advice International
| | | Rapporteurs from the previous workshops:
Gerard Crofton-Martin, Citizens Advice England and Wales
Mary Keane, Waterford Citizens Information Centre, Ireland
Izabela Henning, Citizens Advice Bureau Radlin, Poland | 16:30 - 18:00
| Evening session - ENFORCEMENT OF THE EU LAW
How to improve judicial and non-judicial remedies for the European citizen
| Keynote speaker: | (tbc) | Chair: | Tony Venables, ECAS Director | Speakers:
| Fergal Ó Regan*, Head of Legal Unit, Principal Legal Advisor to the European Ombudsman
Monica Frassoni*, MEP, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
Emer Daly, European Commission, DG Internal Market and Services
Dr. Rodolphe Munoz, lecturer at Liège University | Questions for debate - What are the problems related to enforcing new European legislation, particularly for the most vulnerable groups in the migrant community?
- Does the application of Directive 2004/38 have the potential to strengthen the position of the European citizens asserting his or her rights?
- How to bridge the gap between the fine principles of the Court of Justice case-law, the much improved, consolidated and simplified legal framework and what happens on the ground in everyday administrative practice?
- European Union- Market Place or Town Hall?
- Other questions coming from civil society organisations present at the Forum.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION: At the Forum there will be exhibition space for Citizens Advice organisations, if you would like to use this opportunity please contact us by 31 January 2009. Registrations forms must be sent to:
Ms Laura Pipponzi
Tel +32 2 548 04 96
Fax + 32 2 548 04 99
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The number of places is limited and the registrations are accepted on the “first in, first served” basis. This is why we advise prompt registrations. Thanks to the European Commission’s financial support, the assistance in travel costs and in accommodation for participants from the 26 EU member states (except Belgium) and from Croatia could be provided to up to 100 participants.
IMPORTANT!
We are no longer able to reimburse newly registered participants because the event is fully booked. However, if you are able to cover all travel and accommodation expenses by yourself, you are welcome to register to and attend the Forum. Thank you for your understanding. For any further information please contact:
Mr. Daniel J. Kaminski
Tel +32 2 548 98 21
Fax + 32 2 548 04 99
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For more information on the project please visit:
www.ecas-citizens.eu
www.citizensadvice-international.org CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PROGRAM AS A PDF FILE
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