As part of the project “Environmental Partnership: Development of the Environmental Protection Capacity of the Public and Civilian Sector in Croatia through the Green Phone Service”, financed by the European Union, a seminar on public participation was held in Karlovac from 24.-27. November under the organization of the Eko-Pan Karlovac, The project is managed by Eko-Pan Karlovac, Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce – Split, Association Žmergo–Opatija, Ecological Association “Krka” Knin, Ecological Association Franjo Koščec, Ecological organization Nobilis, while associates of the project are: Eco Zadar, Green Osijek and Green Istria.
The seminar was opened by Ivana Krstulović Grubišić (Association Sunce) with a brief introduction to the theme of the day and it was held in three stages. The first was reserved for “Legal Tools in Environmental Protection” and the Legal Team of the Sunce Association – Mia Bašić, who exhibited the first instance procedure in exercising the right of access to information and Ivana Krstulović Grubišić who approached certain aspects of the environmental right to the seminar participants with her huge knowledge and positive energy. Krstulović Grubišić has detailed the procedure regarding the right of access to information under the applicable Croatian legislation, which is of crucial importance for people in Green Phone Network when solving certain cases that come on a daily basis. Also, during her lecture, Krstulović Grubišić left time for legal assistance to the participants regarding the cases received in the services of other counties, but also for a practical exercise that intrigued all the participants who were trying to solve it with great interest, each within their team.
The second stage was under the heading “Journalism and the Media in Environmental Protection“, and was conducted by communication coach and journalist Milan Koštro. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the rules of conduct when making media statements, writing press releases and media conference materials. Koštro thus made an interesting and fun way to elaborate the issue of public performance by keeping his listeners awake from the first to the last minute of his presentation. For example, some participants had the opportunity to find themselves under the camera light of a professional journalist for the first time, answering concise and provocative questions.
The third stage of the seminar was reserved for a working meeting of participants of the Croatian Green Network that elaborated a detailed plan and work program for the upcoming period of the Network.
The participants of the seminar program are highly qualified to conclude that such and similar gatherings of professionals are welcome, especially given the overall aim of this project, namely building a strong partnership and effective long-term cooperation between citizens, local and state authorities and organizations civil society involved in environmental protection and nature.