15th International Conference e-Society.mk
Open Institutions and Accountability
27-28.11.2019, Holiday Inn, Skopje

The Conference is the final event of the 4 year project ACTION SEE (Accountability, Technology and Institutional Openness Network in the South East Europe region) where 7 organizations from the Western Balkans and UK conjoined their efforts in promoting and ensuring government accountability and transparency in the region of South-East Europe. The main aim of the project is to increase the inclusion of civic society and media organisations in decision making processes and the creation of public opinion and policies, as well as to raise the capacity of civic societies to address sensitive issues. The Conference is expected to gather approximately 150 representatives of institutions from the Western Balkans, civil society and media organisaitons, and individuals from the Western Balkan Region.

Agenda

 

Day 1, 27.11.2019

09:30 – 10:00 Registration of participants
10:00 – 10:30 Opening speeches

  • Bardhyl Jashari, Foundation for Internet and Society Metamorphosis
  • Nicola Bertolini, Head of cooperation at the EU Delegation
  • Robert Popovski, Minister without portfolio in the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, in charge of Communications, Accountability and Transparency
  • Fani Karanfilova – Panovska, Foundation Open Society – Macedonia

Moderator: Bardhyl Jashari
10:30 – 11:30 4 years of advocating for open institutions and transparency
(Presentation of results)

  • Aldo Merkoci, Levizja MJAFT! (Albania)
  • Blerina Ramaj, Open Data Kosovo (Kosovo)
  • Danira Karovic, Why Not? (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Mila Josifovska, Foundation for Internet and Society Metamorphosis (North Macedonia)
  • Milena Gvozdenovic, Center for democratic transition (Montenegro)
  • Tamara Brankovic, Center for research, transparency and accountability (Serbia)

Moderator: Mila Josifovska
11:30 – 12:30 International Perspective on the Importance of Regional Cooperation for the Advancement of Good Governance

  • Emil Atanasovski, Regional Representative for Western Balkans, Westminster Foundation for Democracy
  • Albert Hani, Head of Local Branch Office of RYCO in Skopje
  • Dafina Beqiri, Programme and Grant Manager at Western Balkans Fund

Moderator: Dona Kosturanova
10:30 – 12:30 Parallel sessions

Forum: Legal consistency of the GDPR and Police Directive 2016/680 in the national legislation

  • Prof. Trpe Stojanovski, Faculty of Security
  • Mr. Jan Ellermann, Europol
  • Mr. Igor Kuzevski, Expert on Personal Data Protection, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Ms. Dragana Stojkovic, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Data Protection, Republic of Serbia
  • Mr. Viktor Dimovski, Agency for National Security, Republic of North Macedonia

Moderator: Elena Stojanovska

Workshop: Methods for disseminating media literacy and critical thinking

  • Tanja Andonova Mitrevska, Councilor for standards and exams, State Exam Centre
  • Biljana Gjoneska, Research Associate, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
  • Elida Zylbeari, Editor of CriThink.mk (Albanian version)
  • Goran Lazarov, CriThink.mk Project Coordinator, Eurothink

Moderator: Filip Stojanovski
12:30- 13:00 Networking Break
13:00 – 14:00 Open Government partnership: How do international initiatives contribute towards the advancement of good governance?

  • Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska, Ministry of Information Society and Administration (North Macedonia)
  • Vedrana Faladzic, Member of the Advisory Council for implementation of OGP (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Aldo Merkoci, Levizja MJAFT! (Albania)
  • German Filkov, Center for citizens communication (North Macedonia)

Moderator: Dona Kosturanova
14:00 – 14:15 Closing of Day 1
Moderator: Mila Josifovska
14:15 – 15:00    Cocktail

* A Grantee Fair will be held with the best practices of the ACTION SEE Grant Scheme from the Western Balkans throughout the first day of the Conference, in parallel with the sessions.

 

Day 2, 28.11.2019

09:30 – 10:00 Registration of participants
10:00 – 11:00 Presentation of the Strategy for Government transparency 2020-2021 – North Macedonia

  • Lidija Cvetanovic, Cabinet of the Minister for Communications, Accountability and Transparency Robert Popovski
  • Dance Danilovska Bajdevska, Foundation Open Society Macedonia
  • Qendresa Sulejmani, Foundation for Internet and Society Metamorphosis
  • Oliver Serafimovski, Commission for protection of the right to free access to public information

Moderator: Qendresa Sulejmani
11:00 – 12:00 Media and good governance (Combating misinformation)

  • Sead Dzigal, International Balkan University
  • Vladimir Petreski, Truthmeter
  • Marjan Zabrchanec, Special advisor for PR to the PM Zoran Zaev

Moderator: Goran Rizaov
12:00 – 12:30 Networking break
12:30 – 13:30 Local self-governance: How to improve the institutional openness on a local level?

  • Aleksandar Odzakov, Strumica Municipality
  • Gresa Deda, Pristhina Municipality
  • Emil Angelov,  Program analyst in Democratic governance (UNDP)
  • Dushica Perishic, Association of the Local Self-Government Units of the Republic of North Macedonia – ZELS

Moderator: Danira Karovic
13:30 – 14:30 Parallel workshops

Workshop 1:
Open data – What’s the point of Open Data and how do we use it?
Moderator: Blerina Ramaj, Open Data Kosovo

Workshop 2:
How do social networks influence the transparency of the institutions?
Moderator: Ilija Županovski (Sector for social media and digital transparency, Government of the Republic of North Macedonia)
14:30 – 15:00 Conclusions from the workshops
Blrerina Ramaj (Open Data Kosovo)
Ilija Županovski (Sector for social media and digital transparency, Government of the Republic of North Macedonia)
15:00 – 15:15    Closing of the conference
Moderator: Bardhyl Jashari
15:15  – 16:00  Cocktail

 

 

This project is co-financed
by the European Union.