In 16 communes around Poland, excise fund monitoring has been launched. The residents and local non-governmental organisations will be checking what the money from the excise fund is spent on.

What is the scope of our monitor activities? We monitor a small fragment of the commune’s budget originating from charges for alcohol sale permits. The funds obtained in such a manner should be allocated for the activities designed within the Communal Programmes for Prevention and Solving Alcohol-related Problems and Drug

Organizer: The Association of Leaders of Local Civic Groups. Within the program entitled ‘Powerful Watchdogs’.

1. Persons and organizations presented at the meeting: Danuta Przywara, Dominika Bychawska, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (human rights) http://www.hfhrpol.waw.pl/en  Jacek Zadrożny, Foundation Institute for Regional Development (rights of the disabled persons) http://firr.org.pl/uploads/file/eng.pdf  Małgorzata Szumańska, PANOPTYKON Foundation (privacy) http://www.panoptykon.org/node/112 Róża Rzeplińska, 61 Association (elections and rigth to know) http://www.art61.pl/ Maria Niełaczna, Association for Legal Intervention

Agenda of the meeting entitled: Citizens for transparent, accountable and open government -  discussion seminar of FOI watchdogs in Central and Eastern Europe. To be held on 23-25 November 2011 /language of the meeting – English, possible translation for Russian speakers/.

23 November 2011 – 10.00-18.0010.00 -11.45  Introduction to the meeting, presentation of participants Introduction to the meeting goals and getting to know representatives of the participating organizations /each organization presents its experience in the field of access to information e.g. civic education and information campaigns, monitoring, legal help, strategic litigation/.11.45-12.00

The local monitoring within the Social Action EURO 2012 funded under CEE Trust has approached to the end of its first phase. The subject of the monitoring was how the local authorities inform and consult important decisions concerning local residents.

The pretext to take that activity was given by the football championships EURO 2012 which is both interesting for people and engaging them. Therefore, the project leaders expected that this will be the best opportunity to meet citizens and the authorities together and to dialogue. The