Two Public Events During the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum General Assembly in Sofia

Two public events will highlight problems with corruption in energy sector and challenges faced by civil society in the European Union and Russia. The events are organised by the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum during the Forum 8th General Assembly that will take place on May 15-18, 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

A public discussion entitled “Going Hand in Hand? Energy and Corruption in the EU and Russia” will take a look at the "real battlefield" the energy sector in Bulgaria has become. The event will take place on May 15, 2018 at 19:00 in the Red House in Sofia. The speakers are: Daniel Kaddik, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (Bulgaria), Anastasia Kirilenko, Independent Journalist, Forum Fighting Transborder Corruption Expert Group (Russia/France), Mikhail Krutikhin, RusEnergy (Russia), Martin Vladimirov, Centre for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria). The discussion will be moderated by Harry Hummel, Netherlands Helsinki Committee / Forum Board Member (Netherlands).

On May 17, 2018 at 20:00 in +tova in Sofia will be presented challenges ahead of civil society organizations in Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Russia, as well as other European countries. During a public discussion entitled “EU-Russia State of Civil Society Report: Challenges and Innovations” first hand by researchers from all named countries will share ruslts from the brand-new Report on the State of Civil Society in the EU and Russia by the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum. In the discussion will take part: Pavel Antonov, BlueLink Foundation (Bulgaria), Ieva Petronytė-Urbonavičienė, Civil Society Institute (Lithuania), Simone Poledrini, University of Perugia (Italy), Yulia Skokova, Higher School of Economics (Russia), Pamala Wiepking, Rotterdam School of Management (Netherlands). The discussion will be moderated by Kristina Smolijaninovaitė, Forum Secretariat (Germany).

The EU-Russia Civil Society Forum was established in 2011 by non-governmental organisations as a permanent common platform. At present, over 140 NGOs from Russia and the European Union are members or supporters of the Forum. It aims to foster cooperation among civil society organisations from Russia and the EU and enhance participation of NGOs in the EU-Russia dialogue. The Forum has been actively involved, inter alia, in the questions of facilitating the visa regime, the development of civic participation, protection of the environment and human rights, understanding history, and civic education.