event to activex/Com object/application or the other way around

Is there anyway for a application to catch an event from another application (or activex/COM object) without the applications "knowing" about each other?? What I mean is can application number 2 just send out a public event of some kind that can be caught by any other application? If this doesn't work how do I catch a event from for example another application in the same probject?! Atleast in .NET you you won't find the other application on the list that appears after typing for example:
"Private WithEvents myEventName As " <- a list will appear and I'd like to choose the form from the other application but it ain't available. I guess it's the same problem with catching events from an activex component!? Does anyone know what to do?