L. recognising how the Hungarian Revolution contributed to the strengthening of cohesion in the democratic world and to the eventual founding of the European Communities in 1957, and was the antecedent to the democratic political changes that took place in 1989-1990 in Central and Eastern Europe, allowing the peaceful reunification of Europe through the European integration process,

L. recognising how the Hungarian Revolution contributed to the strengthening of cohesion in the democratic world and to the eventual founding of the European Communities in 1957, and was the antecedent to the democratic political changes that took place in 1989-1990 in Central and Eastern Europe, allowing the peaceful reunification of Europe through the European integration process,

M. Krautstrunk, German Aerospace Centre (moderator), F.Liello, Consortium of National Research and Education Networks, L. Maiani, CERN, N. Plate, Russian Academy of Sciences, P.A. Roberts, Int. Flame Research Foundation, M. Schneeberger, Energie AG Oberösterreich, I. Tetenyi, Hungarian Academic and Research Network Association

To this end, the Hungarian Foundation for the Development of Enterprises (HFEP) was set up. The HFEP grants loans to SME backed up by a credit guarantee system and finances risk capital and support services for the development of SME.

Examples of projects supported are : - A project in Russia, led by the Italian Association for Women in Development, which aims to increase knowledge and understanding of the condition of women in Russia and of international legislation relating to women; - A project in Slovakia led by the Institut de Coopération Sociale Internationale (ICOSI) designed to develop democratic practices in the Union of Cooperatives of Slovakia; - In Bulgaria, a project by the Dutch Novib Foundation to encourage citizen participation in local community decision-making processes; - In Tajikistan, a project to be managed by the German Counterpart Foundation ...[+++] aiming at the development of NGO's through training and information activities; - In Poland and Hungary, a project sponsored by the Hungarian Civil Society Development Foundation aiming to develop corporate giving to voluntary organisations as well as enhancing advocacy and fund-raising skills; - In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, a project by the UK Thomson Foundation aiming to provide skills training for 40 journalists in the areas of media and authority.

To this end, the Ministry of Public Welfare has set up the "Hungarian Foundation for the Development of Local Social Networks" with the task of promoting self-help initiatives in the area of social welfare, employment and economic development.