Mission statement 2009-2010

1.                     Introduction

The Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Europe will continue to encourage and support young greens in Eastern Europe by providing them with opportunities and resources to develop and grow. We will continue to carry out activities that will educate young people on green politics and principles and provide them with  possibilities for mutual cooperation. 

After the tragic happenings in the Caucasus, the crises in and the poor development of democracies in the Balkans and all over the Eastern Europe, CDN is even more dedicated to work and grow. With the belief that the green vision is the best and safest way towards a peaceful and prosper society based on democracy, human rights and sustainable development, CDN continues to support young people open to the green idea and their vision of a greener world.

Even though youth mobility is essential to build up democracy, young people in Eastern Europe face visa obstacles which violate their freedom of movement. Young green organizations still don’t have enough influence in their societies. There is a need for changes, especially since green parties and movements all over Eastern Europe remain weak and divided. We believe that international cooperation is crucial to empower a new generation of greens. To this end CDN takes responsibility o encourage, support and actively involve young greens and their organizations in Eastern Europe.

2.                             Work plan

The focus of CDN has always been Eastern Europe and the countries of the former USSR. Recent political turbulences in these areas stressed how much work still has to be done. Since CDN is the main link between green organizations in these regions, we are aware of our role and importance in spreading green values and principles. To promote and practice active engagement of youth in building civil societies and in peace keeping, CDN is devoted to strengthen their will and political standpoint and to develop skills and methods as well as the position of young greens in these countries.

In that sense, we aim to involve as many activists as possible by organizing activities, by offering support to organizations and individuals and by establishing ties with and between them. Being aware that the green movement is much stronger in Western Europe nowadays, we believe that it is even more important to be developed in the East of Europe as well. Putting the Balkan and the Caucasus regions in the limelight will bring about the progress of the green movement itself, not just in the geographical sense, but also by opening doors for a whole new perspective. Thus, many more motivated, effective, skilled individuals and organizations will join the green community.

CDN will actively engage in the Caucasus. The previous years of work on youth initiatives has given us the knowledge and experience to move our focus further on to the East and help our new Member Organizations in South Caucasus. This change in focus will be no obstacle to our work and communication with previously active organizations, mainly in the Balkans. Acknowledging the success of CDN in the Balkans, we believe in the role of our Member Organizations as an intermediate which can help passing on its experience with green ideas and values to our new partners in the Caucasus.

The countries of the former USSR and in particular Russia are of special importance for the future development of CDN and the green movement in Eastern Europe. By acknowledging the importance of these countries CDN should find possibilities to actively engage and create a solid base for successful work in that region.

In order to further enhance all our activities, as well as our organizational and professional level we consider the cooperation with other green partners very important. Not just the same cause but also the same way of working makes us fellow partners par excellence. In that sense, exchanging experience and learning form each other will broaden our views on the green ideas while not leaving out any essential green aspect.                                                                                             

3.                             Internal structure

In order to enhance our efficiency, we are dedicated to improve the active work of our Executive Committee. We expect bigger engagement of all EC members through constant involvement, coordination and achievement of educational responsibilities by EC members during CDN activities. This demands more frequent discussions, a better information flow and constant uploading of personal engagements in between the meetings.

In order to have a clear and legitimate mandate for the practical and political work of CDN, we will organize the Network Meeting in the autumn of 2009. In the meanwhile, we will search for potential young green organisations in Eastern Europe suitable and interested to become members of the Network.

CDN wants to benefit from the experience of former active members by forming an Advisory Group. We are aware that not all of us can stay active within CDN, but we strongly believe that more experienced members can contribute a lot by helping with advice and experience the new-coming activists.

We will strongly support the development of the Gender and the Culture Group by establishing a permanent workflow and a well supported group of young people which will implement the group activities. Both groups are expected to implement at least one activity during 2009.

Since the Gender Group proved to be an important and successful tool of our work, CDN will continue to support it by providing it with communicational tools such as the website, the organization of meetings and the promotion within our activities and throughout the network. The Gender Group will continue to cooperate with the FYEG Gender Initiative and has the ability to promote political standpoints beyond the possibilities of CDN.

The Culture Group is expected to organize cultural activities of CDN as a tool to promote green principles and visions of a more open, democratic and diverse society. Activities of the group (music festivals, theatre performances, exhibitions, educational meeting and conferences etc.) will depend on our financial and organizational possibilities; still they will be strongly encouraged.

Furthermore, we will support the creation of new working groups which will be focused on the implementation of CDN’s aims and objectives.

CDN will continue to support initiatives from Member Organizations and individuals to work deeper on topics such as democracy, human rights, peace building and sustainable development. In previous years we have witnessed various levels of engagement of our Member organizations. While some were taking active roles in their societies, as well as at international level, others showed lack of motivation which even led to serious passivity. CDN will do its best to motivate and support all of its Member Organizations to take a more active role in their societies by promoting green values. We want to fulfill our mission by spreading motivation and experience across the borders in order to make the promotion of green values more efficient. 

4.                             Conclusion

In its work so far, CDN has found self-confirmation and motivation for going on and looking to the future. Being recognized by the green community as a relevant and important part of it tells us that we are following the green path. Having good evaluations of our events and a rising number of people and organizations willing to get involved in our activities shows that we are working successfully. We are promoting and implementing the green idea and values and, thus, expanding the green community. It is enough to give us motivation, magnitude and ideas for the future work.

Being a young but already experienced organization, we are setting ourselves as a green base for Eastern European and Caucasus countries. Having good fundaments through our previous work, our credibility and a solid level of knowledge and skills, we want to help green organizations to develop themselves in a political and operative sense. Using our previous experience, being open to new initiatives, working hard and professionally, we have become a serious partner and a relevant part of the green family. By developing ourselves we will also develop a green society in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

CDN is committed to give political, technical, informational and even direct financial support to both national and international activities developed by green organizations in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus for the well being of the global green movement.

Young people are the future, so are the Greens.

We shall work and grow!

Decided by CDN Network Meeting in October 2008