CAT/OP/HUN/R.2 Commissioner. This funding shall be at such a level as to allow the NPM to carry out its visiting programme, to engage outside experts as and when appropriate, to increase its human resources and to regularly access training, in accordance with its own work plan. 25. In order to ensure the functional and operational independence of the NPM and with a view to clearly identify the nature and extent of these additional needs, the NPM has to enter into constructive dialogue with the relevant State authorities in order to ascertain what is needed by the NPM to permit it to properly fulfil its NPM mandate in accordance with the provisions of the OPCAT. 26. The Subcommittee recommends that the national preventive mechanism evaluate its financial needs in order to more effectively fulfil its mandate under the Optional Protocol, and that it submit proposals to the governmental authorities, as a matter of priority, concerning its financial needs. 27. The above-mentioned exercise will make it possible to design concrete plans for development and future activities of the mechanism. Based on this exercise, the NPM can enter into constructive dialogue with the State authorities for concrete proposals, and that it may be provided with sufficient resources through a separate budget line. Cooperation with the Civic Consultative Body (CCB) 28. The Subcommittee welcomes the cooperation established between the NPM and civil society organizations. Taking into consideration that NPM has only limited resources and given the number of places of detention in Hungary it is not feasible with such capacity to cover all the places of deprivation of liberty as well as to undertake other activities NPM is mandated to. Better communication and an improved coordination between the NPM and the Civic Consultative Body (CCB) is a key element for them to work efficiently as a collegial body. 29. While recalling that the Optional Protocol envisages the NPM as a collegial body of experts, the Subcommittee urges the NPM to improve information sharing through regular meetings and other channels of communication in a collaborative manner as well as to adopt clearly defined working methods. It is recommended that the NPM in cooperation with the CCB establish clear and productive framework for cooperation and mutual enforcement. 30. The Subcommittee further recommends that the NPM engage more directly and independently with civil society organizations, including, at a minimum, through their increased participation in NPM visits, internal trainings, outreach activities, in report writing and in dialogue with the authorities. 31. In this connection the SPT encourages to follow-up to the concrete proposals put forward during the joint CBB – NPM meeting held on 22 March 2017. This includes involving civil society experts in detention activities; creating a database of experts and including also the experts by experience in the monitoring teams; increasing the number of visits up to 25; consulting the CCB on the selection of the places to be visited by the NPM (one third to be selected by the CCB); discussing with the CCB the NPM report at least 2 weeks prior to its publication as well as following-up to the NPM recommendations with the latter; consulting with the CCB about the types of places to be visited and the methodology to be used; adopting Terms of Reference of the cooperation with the CCB, including on chairmanship and the venue of the NPM-CCB meetings. 32. In addition, the Subcommittee recommends that the NPM ensure that the standard operating procedures are uniformly applied by all its staff and members of the CCB, with a view to ensuring consistency of working methods and sharing of knowledge among all. Adequate training for all persons participating in visits, including external experts, is essential and should be sought, including through the development of handbooks and assistance of international partners. 6