On the experience gained in introduction of the project “Reducing prison population: advanced tools of justice in Europe”
With financial support from the
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMME (2007-2013)
Call for Proposals JUST/2013/JPEN/AG
Centre for Public Policy

Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014
Restorative Justice vs. Juvenile Delinquency: the Baltic States in the European Dimension (15.12.2007.-28.02.2010.)
The aim of the project was to promote the effective development of Restorative Justice as a response to youth crime in the Baltic States and to enhance mutual knowledge of best practices and initiatives in the field of Restorative Justice in this region and beyond. The Project was focused on Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, but nevertheless it has a strong European dimension through its activities.
Support for Victims of Crime: Substantial or Nominal. Latvia and Beyond (01.06.2011.-31.05.2013.)
The overall objective of this project is to prevent victimization by enhancing support for victims of crime and fostering a more holistic and healing response to crime, where the needs of the victim, offender and society are equally acknowledged.
Closed projects: Projects which were implemented with the financial support of the European Commission in previous years

Closed projects: Projects which were implemented with the financial support of the European Commission in previous years (2)
Improving Protection of Victim’s Rights: Access to Legal Aid (15.02.2013.-14.07.2014.)
In February 2013, the Center for public policy PROVIDUS, together with partners from 3 EU Member States (Poland, Italy, Bulgaria), started a project “Improving Protection of Victim’s Rights: Access to Legal Aid”, supported by the European Commission. Project is led by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland.
During 18 months project:
increased the information available for the victims on the legal aid as a means to facilitate the protection of their rights;
identified common standards to handle victim of crime cases in order to have a just compensation;
reinforced the capacities of practitioners in dealing with victims, through the implementation of a training course;
facilitated the information of those categories of citizens less aware of their rights, notably the population of rural areas, through the production and delivery of a set of communication tools.
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014

Ongoing projects which are implemented with the financial support of the European Commission (1)
Keeping Youth Away from Crime: Searching for Best European Practices (07.01.2013.-06.01.2015.)
Financed by: With financial support from the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme of the European Union; with financial support from State budget programme 2013, administrated by Society Integration foundation
Overall objective: To find, identify and apply the best European practices in work with the children from risk groups thus improving the welfare and social inclusion of the children, reducing risks for crime and rejection, and creating safer environment for a successful child development within Europe.

Ongoing projects which are implemented with the financial support of the European Commission (1)
Reducing prison population: advanced tools of justice in Europe (01.06.2014. - 31.05.2016.)
Activities of "Reducing prison population: advanced tools of justice in Europe" will be aimed at improving the knowledge and at exchanging innovative measures of practices alternative to imprisonment, both in pre and in post trial phase.
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014

Briefly on the content of the project “Reducing prison population: advanced tools of justice in Europe” (1)
Partners:
Coordinator: Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII Association (CPGXXIII) - Italy;
Co-beneficiaries:
Interdepartmental Center of Research on Victimology and Security (CIRVIS) - Italy; Synergia - Italy; Crime Prevention Fund (IGA Foundation) - Bulgaria; Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS - Latvia; University of Dundee (UK); Young Generation (UNGA-LIV) - Romania; International Society of Criminology (ISC) - France; University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration Bremen – Germany.

Briefly on the content of the project “Reducing prison population: advanced tools of justice in Europe” (2)
Expected deliverables:
The Project Website to share the results and the outputs of the project with free access to all stakeholders interested in deepening the key issues implemented by the project;
Final document containing the Guidelines for the implementation of alternatives to detention targeted to policy and decision makers and judicial systems of the countries which are involved in the project;
Realization of a final document containing the Training Package with some operative indications coming from good practices related to alternatives to prison;
CD-ROM containing the Training Package and the Guidelines.

Briefly on the content of the project “Reducing prison population: advanced tools of justice in Europe” (2)
The project built on a strong European dimension: to identify and implement sanctions in European countries without isolation from society and to reduce application of custodial measures and penalties, also to promote the use of sanctions, which are not related to isolation from society

What preparatory steps must be taken in order to successfully prepare and submit a project proposal to the European Commission
You should:
study carefully and on a regular basis the information in DG Justice website;
very clearly define values of your organizations and analyze them in context with objectives of Justice programme 2014 – 2020;
adequately choose the types of actions funded by European Commission.

What preparatory steps must be taken in order to successfully prepare and submit a project proposal to the European Commission
In project proposal should be provided activities, which implementation would be directly related to the program objectives identified and supported by Commission as well.
For example - under the Programme 2014 - 20120 the European Commission supports the following activities: Training activities; Mutual learning, cooperation activities, exchange of good practices, peer reviews; Awareness-raising activities, dissemination, conferences, different support for key European NGOs and networks, Member States' authorities implementing Union law and analytical activities - studies, data collection, development of common methodologies, indicators, surveys, preparation of guides etc.
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014

Project partners (1)
In order to convince partners of the need to participate a common project it is necessary to develop a brief description of the project and send it to your potential partners.
The description should include: the project objectives, main tasks and the responsibilities of the partner and also funding conditions.
Bearing in mind our experience, it is important that partners are professional, sustainable and highly motivated to implement the project in most effective manner.
Should be taking in to account that for non-governmental organizations and for public bodies (including municipalities) are some different funding conditions. Therefore you should be thoroughly familiar with the financial guidelines of call for proposals.
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014

Project partners (2)
The project implementation is able in three types of partnership:
You are a leading partner (you are responsible on submission and management of the whole project);
You are a project partner;
You are an associate partner.
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09181.2014

Experience in project development process
The drafting process of the project contains such steps:
a) Identifying open call for proposals;
b) Defining of the project responsibilities of each partner;
c) Creating of the project submission forms and the budget;
c) Submission of the project proposals by PRIAMOS: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants1/priamos/index_en.htm
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014

From my experience:
The project must be submitted in appropriate time (time difference with Brussels);
You should check whether all documents have been added to project proposal;
You should bear in mind that all the partners gave to you partnership agreements; Curriculum vitae and other relevant documents.

Finance & Risk Management (1)
In particular, if you are a leading partner of the project, you should divide all the project iimplementation risks among the partners in accordance with their responsibilities in the project (changes in the project staff, absence of the co- financing etc.)

Finance & Risk Management (2)
Each project partner must be able to provide co-financing of 20% of their share of the funding in the project;
Project leading partner should be confident that their partners will be able to provide that (20%) amount of money;
For each project there is objective risk of the personnel changes. So in a timely manner should be planned measures to avoid those risks.
Timely should be planned the reporting system, which is well known for all partners ( reporting system among leading partner and other partners, also among EC and leading partner)
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS

Co-financing from the project partners
In our project each partner is co- financed their part of the project expenses (20%);
In Latvia this co-financing amount is able to cover by support of the Society Integration Foundation: http://www.sif.lv/index.php?lang=en

Sustainability and the benefits of the European Commission-funded projects
These projects have a sustainable impact on Latvia sectorial policies;
These projects strengthen our common European values in Latvia;
These projects in the field of criminal law strengthens the long-term values of justice in our common Europe.

Many thanks for your attention!
Ilona Kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS,
Ilona.kronberga@provius.lv
www.providus.lv
www.politika.lv
Ilona kronberga,
Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
www.providus.lv Riga, 09.18.2014