Chapter 1
Kick-Off: Introduction

1.4 Research questions

1. What features and behavior of environmental NGOs are/is needed for East-East cooperation and what are the determining factors for it?
2. How can REC promote East-East cooperation among environmental NGOs in the region for the future, when desirable?

These two questions can be divided into eight smaller ones, which can guide the process and progress of the research.

• What are the general characteristics of East-East cooperating NGOs in the region?
• What are the positive and negative experiences of leading environmental NGOs in CEE with East-East cooperation?
• What were the results of and hindering factors for East-East cooperation for these NGOs?
• What is, according to them, the surplus value, if experienced, of East-East cooperation?
• How did RECs Earmarked Grants Program define the goal of East-East cooperation and are they able to reach the goal under this definition?
• Should REC change its definition of East-East cooperation, or should REC give up the goal of East-East cooperation?
• If the goal of East-East cooperation remains one of RECs criteria for earmarked grants, how should it be (re)defined and what policy should be implemented to facilitate East-East cooperation?