Hellenic Centre for Marine Research's presentation at the Final Conference of the U@MARENOSTRUM project on the 17th of February 2011

1. [email_address] Hellenic Centre for Marine Research HCMR -participation- Vasilis Valavanis <vasilis@her.hcmr.gr>

4. Dissemination short presentations

5. Thoughts Experience derived from U@MN for HCMR (a marine-oriented research center): 1. First participation of HCMR to an e-participation project on water management issues 2. It’s relatively easy to advertise and communicate e-participation tools and issues to the public authorities and the general public 3. It’s relatively difficult to initiate as well as keep on e-participation and e-discussions among public authorities and the general public 4. The success of a productive e-participation initiative relies on the quality of e-participation and not on any large number of e-participants 5. Reaction from Municipalities: Positive initially, then degrading. Reasons: Re-organization of Greek Municipality structure, dedicated personnel, first-time on e-Participation method 6. Reaction from Citizens-Stakeholders: Positive initially, then degrading. Reasons: Not used in this kind of interaction, takes time to get used to, no belief that opinion will count in any decisions

6. Thoughts 7. Next Steps?: Provision of developed e-participation platforms to public authorities in order to have a tool for easier and more direct communication with the general public 8. Dedicated-trained personnel on behalf of Municipalities in order to continually ‘tease’ general public to participate; takes time to get used to this type of participation 9. Use of NGOs: They have extensive public awareness programs; e-Participation tools may well be part of them 10. Any Commercial Exploitation?: Maybe only through Municipalities and/or Regions: -Municipalities/Regions receive public funds for public works through private construction companies (e.g. construction of a bridge or road or a public recreation park) -Municipalities/Regions may include e-Participation tools for public opinion prior to the planned public work and have construction companies to take this into account

7. Overall E-participation: A new ‘method’ for the majority of the general public -Relates to local environmental awareness levels -Takes time to become an established practice -Promising tool if it is ‘officially’ adopted by local Management Authorities THANK YOU