Representatives of Balkan Assist Association participated in the international conference Mobility and Volunteering in Town Twinning. Toward the creation of an exchange methodology for LA&CSO that took place in Venice, Italy, on 15-16 November 2011. The conference was held in the framework of the StandUP project, where Balkan Assist is partnering with the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA).

The agenda of the second international event on the project included presentation of good practices from Malta, Romania, Croatia, France, and discussion in working groups over the following topics:

• Building partnerships with CSOs and private sector to enhance mobility;
• The contribution of mobility and volunteering to intercultural dialogue in Europe;
• Volunteering and active citizenship: promoting citizens engagement.

The deliberations in the working groups, where Balkan Assist actively participated, led to proposals on the improvement of the legal framework regarding the volunteering and citizens participation that will be summarized and send to the relevant European bodies.

StandUP, is an ALDA’s project under the Europe for Citizens Programme, Supporting Measure 2.2., that was launched with an international conference in April, held in Riga, Latvia.

Its main aim is fostering citizens’ participation and interaction with local and EU institutions through debates on vivid EU related topics in the field of twinning.

Balkan Assist Association, being a full member of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), is one of the leading project partners.