U@MARENOSTRUM project overview presentation at the project final conference 17th of February 2011

2. Project Profile Start January 2009 – March 2011 Participating Regions: Ionian Islands Region (IonR) – Greece Valencia Region (Spain) e-Participation Call for Proposals 2008 Informational website URL: www.uatmarenostrum.eu

3. The U@MARENOSTRUM project: facilitates an online dialogue between citizens and official representatives of the Ionian Islands Region – IonR (Greece) and the Valencia Region (Spain), on issues regarding water protection and management in the Mediterranean. The project involves two collaborative platforms one for each participating region. Platforms URL: Greek – http://www.uatmarenostrumionianislands.gr Spanish - http://marenostrum.gva.es/

4. About the project The deliverable is an open-source software solution and methodology to help local decision-makers to improve the quality, legitimacy and transparency of their policies in the eyes of the citizens; The online tools provided by the U@MARENOSTRUM platforms are: the forum, the interactive map (GIS), ePetitions, eSurveysand Letters to Officials.

5. The project aims: to engage citizens and local actors (community groups, associations etc.) from the Mediterranean costal zones in decision-making processes for the adoption and implementation of water and marine environmental protection in the Mediterranean region with the help of ICT and GIS; to advance the idea and use of eParticipation in environmental decision making by empowering citizens and local associations to use the state-of-the-art infrastructure in order to debate and engage in the implementation of EU environmental legislation; Citizens : are being involved in decision-making with the help of ICT overcoming geographical barriers; are able to address key issues on water, giving their opinion to the public authorities and learn more about water related issues, the specific policy field and decision-making process in general; become familiar and involved in the functioning of democratic processes and monitor the implementation of the EU environmental law on water management and protection in their regions.

6. Informational Website: Overall ActivityPeriod between: March 2009 - January 2011 There have been a total of 2,751 Visits, from which the 49.98% was New Visits, with 1,375 Absolute Unique Visitors and with 8,103 Page-views. The 2,751 Visits at the public project website within the specific period came from 30.53% direct search, 33.84% referring sites and 35.62% search engines. The 2,751 Visits to the public project website came from 78 countries/territories. The top 10 of which are the following: Greece, Spain, Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Italy, United States, Germany, China and Netherlands.

7. The Platforms

8. Overall Participation Results for both platforms 1839registered users in total with 1289posted arguments in the forums, 228 markers on the interactive maps, 1005electronic signatures via the ePetition tool, 492completed online surveys and 22 Letters to Officials were sent via the platforms.

9. Issues to consider eParticipation tools need to be adjust to specific requirements of implementing body; Marketing and media campaigns are necessary to support the adoption of such tools; Major constraints but at the same time key success factor: the responsiveness and degree of involvement of policy makers; User friendly applications are prerequisite; Issue of trust (security , privacy of data…); Difference in degree of citizens involvement based of the issue of discussions, geographic areas (there is a tendency that local; - everyday issues attract more the attention of citizens ).

10. Suggestion for better implementation of ICT fostering Environmental Democracy More intensive citizens’ awareness raising regarding environmental issues Wider dissemination of environmental information Better access to environmental information Better ICT literacy for public administrators Development of fast, independent and low-cost mechanisms for answering citizens needs

11. For further information: www.uatmarenostrum.eu