PP is being intensively promoted throughout whole Europe. In Central and Eastern Europe, ten years ago, started a real Pan-European process of working together on solving urgent environmental problems in that region and finding ways for a European Sustainable Future, based on Agenda 21, adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This process became known as "Environment for Europe".

 It was in 1991, in Dobris (Czechoslovakia), when the governments met for the first time to discuss the elements of a common European environmentally sustainable future and worked out a program for development of PP in Europe. Later in Lucerne (1993) and Sofia (1995) the Ministers met again to further elaborate on this problems. Aong the most important results of this process were the guidelines for PP and Access to Environmental Information, and a decision to develop Convention of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on this matter.

 The most recent event for PP promotion is Aarhus’98 Convention which was held during June 23-25, 1998 in Aarhus, Denmark. Convention on Access to Environmental Information, Public Participation in Decision making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters is one of the most important goal of the Aarhus’98 conference - Ministers for the Environment. Georgia, togethr with other 35 countries, joint this Convetion.

 Proceeding from all above mentioned, it is necessary to elaborate a program for development PP in Georgia, to catch-up with the reforms taking place in Europe and promote the democratic development of the country.

 An effective PP largely depends on formal provisions such as

 a) National level legislation

• Human right legislation (e.g. Constitution)
• Environmental Protection Laws (e.g. Access to environmental information, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), environmental permits, land use planning )
• Other laws and institutions (e.g. administrative law and procedures, right of standing, Constitutional Court, Ombudsman, referenda)

 b) International level

• International treats («hard» law )
• International declarations, conventions (soft law).

 While in real life an effectiveness of PP is provided by utilization of non-formal tools for its development such as:

• Environmental education and awareness raising (e.g. newsletters, public seminars, collaboration with schools)
• Lobbing (e.g. ranging from the organizations of round tables with public officials and petitioning to demonstrations)
• Parallel procedures (e.g. independent initiatives alongside the official decision making process to develop alternatives, hold parallel public hearings, monitoring implementation and enforcement).

 Therefore, this project should be regarded as one of the non-formal tools for PP promotion in Georgia.

 Aims of the project are:

• promotion of development of an effective Public Participation (PP) in Georgia;
• meeting the provisions of Aarhus’98 Convention, therefore the changes taking place in Europe; and
• identification of problems and the future needs for development an effective PP in Georgia.

 The establishment of environmental NGO participation data bank gives an opportunity to carry out annual PP progress monitoring activities. The follow-up of the project and all the activities connected with its future continuation will promote development of an open pluralist democratic civil society in Georgia. The recommendations and results elaborated after the project implementation will be presented to the environmental authorities and it is likely that they will be used for finding ways for better co-operation between these sectors. Thus, it will contribute to the improvement of the decision-making process.