Jean-Michel Courades, DG AGRI F3 European Rural Development Network

Rural networking 2 European Network for Rural Development (Art. 67)  Networking of national networks, organisations and administrations active in the field of rural development at Community level  Roles include: –Collecting, analysing and disseminating information on RD measures; –Collecting, disseminating and consolidating at Community level good rural development practice; –Providing information on developments in rural areas in the EU and 3 rd countries; –Organise meetings and seminars on RD at Community level; –Setting up and running expert networks to facilitate exchange of expertise and support implementation and evaluation of RD policy; –Supporting the national networks and transnational co-operation initiatives.

Rural networking 3 Administrative Structure for the European Network for Rural Development  Coordination Committee as a permanent Structure –Leader sub-committee –Thematic working groups  Expert Committee on Evaluation of Rural Development Programmes

Rural networking 4 Coordination Committee  composed of representatives of each national network unit (the main structure referred to under Article 68, the national competent authority (national managing authority or authority in charge of the national network), and European level organisations (including organisations members of the Advisory Group for Rural Development).  It would meet at least once a year.  Its role would be to:  Ensure coordination between the European network, national networks and other European organisations.  Advise the Commission on the activities of the European Network for Rural Development and the annual work programme.  Contribute to the choice and coordination of thematic work of the European Network.  Monitoring of transnational cooperation.

Rural networking 5 Leader Sub-Committee  Chaired by the Commission  Same composition as the Coordination Committee  The role of the Sub-Committee would be to: –Advise the Coordinating Committee on the activities of the European Network for Rural Development and the annual work programme as regards Leader. –contribute to the choice and coordination of thematic work in this field. –monitor Leader transnational cooperation.

Rural networking 6 Thematic Working Groups  The Coordinating Committee will identify each year 3-4 themes and the products that it wishes to see developed for each theme.:  Thematic working groups will be established : members, would normally be designated by the coordinating committee. Its membership could be supplemented by non-permanent experts nominated by the Commission. The group would be responsible for the organisation and delivery of the products (reports, brochures, databases, etc.) presented through dissemination technical seminars

Rural networking 7 Technical assistance contract for the contact point of the EU rural development network  A call for tender to be prepared  Pre information notice was published on 6th February 2007

Rural networking 8 National rural network Minimal community requirements –Deadline for establishment  National rural networks shall be established by 31 December 2008 at the latest. –Objectives  to group the organisations and administrations involved in rural development  to facilitate at Member State level an exchange of expertise and support implementation and evaluation of the rural development policy and to secure and coordinate the information flow between the local, national and European level.  - duties : action plan contains at least  transfer of knowledge (identification and analysis of good transferable practices and the provision of information about them, the organisation of exchanges of experience and know-how)  training (the preparation of training programmes for local action groups in the process of formation)  Technical assistance for inter territorial and trans-national cooperation.”

Rural networking 9 Common networking tools suggested (Thematic Axes)  Project database based on the use of a common pilot project form (basis for the identification of best practices)  Expert database

Rural networking 10 Common networking tools suggested (Leader axis)  Transnational project database  Local action groups database based on the use of a common LAG form  Transnational cooperation partner search tool