Legal Exchange Forum

Legal Exchange Forum (LEF) is a combination of seminar and facilitated discussions for people actively concerned about issues surrounding them. Forums provide space for exchange of experience and know-how concerning protection of the environment, participation in decision-making, human rights and good governance.

Participants of LEF have a wealth of experience and, at the same time, need to enrich their activities with effective legal instruments. They also need inspiration, since often they feel alone in their local struggle. Therefore we provide them with a space where they can learn from us and from each other, instruments which can be used in solving their local issues. This space is used not only by local civic activities and representatives of NGOs, but also representatives of self-governments and local governments.

In the years 2002-2005 VIA IURIS, with support of the DFID program of the British Embassy and the Ekopolis Foundation implemented six Legal Exchange Forums for about 130 participants focused on the following topics:

• Urban planning
• EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment
• Land use decision-making
• Public participation in nature protection decision-making
• Public participation in legislative proceedings on local, national and European levels
• Competencies of public authorities in environmental decision-making

Exchange of experience continues via two electronic conferences initiated by participants of the LEFs.