Chapter III
Public Participation in Central and
Eastern Europe
by Stephen Stec and Magdolna Tóth Nagy
Introduction
This Chapter covers three avenues for public participation as they exist today in Central and Eastern Europe -- the political process, the legal process, and non-formal mechanisms such as public actions. It begins with a general and broad examination by Stephen Stec of the American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative of recent historical events in Central and Eastern Europe as they relate to some problems in acceptance of the concepts at the root of public participation. Due to the rapid pace of change we deal with the political process only in general terms, without specific reference to individual countries. Thus, Magdolna Tóth Nagy of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe follows with a brief analysis of political conditions and obstacles affecting environmental public participation in the region. Ms. Tóth Nagy also presents general observations about developments in public participation through non-legal avenues, such as using the public fora. Between these two sections is Mr. Stec's discussion of some of the conclusions that can be drawn from an analysis of the law as reflected in the country reports.
REC * PUBLICATIONS * MANUAL ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION * PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
