Forum Synergies' Newsletter 4/13

Entering the next round of Rural Development: review of the 10th Estonian Rural Parliament

Together with Kodukant Forum Synergies was organising the international conference "The new CAP- what can we CAPture for rural development”
True to the motto "from facts to visions to actions" the international conference offered an insight into the new framework of Rural Development Plans presented by Kerstin Rosenow, DG Agriculture and Rural Development. Then the floor was opened to discussions reflecting needs and visions from participants ranging from local to national delegates. The main message spread was "Become active now!"
The conference intended to motivate all stakeholders to make use of the window of opportunity to influence the new RDPs. Indeed, active groups may still be involved many decisions are up to the Member States, and stakeholders consultations and operational decisions are taking place at national and regional level.
For more background information please download the document "The EU's Rural Development Policy in the period 2014‐2020: Opportunities for action and cooperation in rural development", by Kerstin Rosenow, European Commission.

With the workshop "Innovation of Democracy" Forum Synergies tackled another important topic of today. The crisis we face all over Europe affecting the citizens' economic, social and health wellbeing demands a new conception of what civil society can undertake in order to promote a sustainable development based on fair solutions for everyone. The workshop focused on participation and civic engagement ( i.e. how people involve themselves in processes) and on dialogue (i.e. how to facilitate constructive communication between actors and stakeholders). Some of the results will be used to develop further FS activities on Democracy. For the report of the meeting click here.

10th Estonian Rural Parliament: "an example of emerging participative democracy"
“Rural Parliaments: emerging participative democracy” is the title of the booklet edited in 2011 by PREPARE and presenting the different aims, methods of organisations and lessons learnt from the existing rural parliaments (e.g. in Estonia, Sweden, Netherlands). The Estonian Rural Parliament is indeed an inspiring example of local participation for and from rural areas: from exchanges (field visits, living libraries,working groups) to proposals (to local people but also to decision makers) but always with a local and festive touch (local handicraft market, local food county buffet, village of the year prize). Here are photos of some activities:

European Local and Sustainable Food Systems: the right balance between hygiene rules and quatlity

Together with Slow Food Macedonia, Forum Synergies will co-organise an international workshop in Bitola, Macedonia from 22-24 March 2014.
More information will be available soon!

ARC Toolkit: CAP and rural Development Policy reform implementation. ARC developed a new toolkit giving support to stakeholders who want to become active now in the implementation phase of the new CAP. The toolkit is updated monthly and can be downloaded here or directly on the ARC website

Latest News on CAP Reform
To read more please visit the ARC website