LEADER+ STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING LEADER+ OBSERVATORY SEMINAR JUNE 2006 IN BRUSSELS/BELGIUM Peter Laan European Commission

Networking, drawing lessons from the past for the future 28 – 29 June 2006 Brussels Peter Laan MA LEADER+ East-Netherlands / RD Network - LEADER+ Network Netherlands

Network Experience NL (1)  Basic activity: setting up mutual exchange and ‘dynamics’ on rural development by connecting people (conferences, excursions, bilaterals)  2001: Start as combined network RD and L+  Organizational form of network based on connecting all actors (from national policy makers to local actors) in rural development  Advantage of cooperation with regional MAs (creating “short lines”)  Facilitating communication between ‘bottom up’ actors and policy-makers at regional level  Initiated joint conferences L+ / RD from onwards!

Network Experience NL (2)  Agenda-setting and policy-influencing activities  Experiment Rural Parliament (+Village Councils)  Focus on area development and area responsibility: special program “Pioneers in Local Governance”  From 2004 onwards: supporting cooperative actions both interregional and transnational according to the “push and pull” approach  LAG Self-evaluations in the perspective of future responsibility  Publicity on new RDP, focusing on synthesis between axes including Leader+

Aspects of future network in the Netherlands The National Network: 1. Should have a clear mission, vision and strategy 2. Is about connecting people, joining in actual processes and developments within the region 3. Should work together with those initiatives, that work in a ‘bottom up’ way and via a ‘PublicPrivatePartnership-approach’ in rural development 4. Is a learning organization 5. Is based on the demands of network-participants themselves and NOT on a top-down hierarchical steering of the network-team

Aspects of future network in the Netherlands Connects activities and actors working in either of the 4 axes of the new RDP, hence: - Stimulates cooperation between actors (governmental, entrepreneurs, public organizations; both horizontal and vertical) 7. Reinforces predominantly the regional rural development 8. Stimulates new forms of public – private partnerships and “governmental renewal” 9. Actively participates and invests in cooperating with other NNs and EU Observatory on European themes

Aspects of future network in the Netherlands Tasks derived from this: 1. Executes basic tasks according to the Regulation (PR, database managment etc,) 2. Transmits signals and solutions to rural problems to local and regional policy-makers 3. Communicates and uses (knowledge of) other local and regional networks 4. Facilitates transfer of experiences and skills in the solution of rural problems 5. Helps setting up cooperative actions and links (interregional and transnational*) * Partly together with other NNs and EU observatory

Aspects of future network in the Netherlands The National Network consists of: a) An independent network-team for management and co- ordination, facilitation, animation and connecting people b) A central management for running and maintaining databases and for monitoring, linked to the central Paying and Management Authority (being the Ministry) c) Regional and local networks, including knowledge institutions, that are incorporated into the network in supporting local rural processes Budget: In total € 4 Mio ( ): € 2 Mio EU / € 2 Mio National

Special Program Pioneers in Local Governance  Program developed and run by NNU  Objective: Prepare practical modes for peoples influence in various Rural Development programs  DG-Agri RD Framework : very courageous LAG mandate  key-principle: area based with public-private steering  working models for various RD progr’s ~ “mainstreaming L+”  spotlights on 6 emerging practices of regional PPP  analysis, strengthening, sharing in Community of Practice  learning points to be widely spread by end 2006

Self-evaluations LAG  NNU offer in work program  demand from LAGs : interest  15 out of 28 LAG did it  majority better informed and encouraged  local flesh on national network bones  game plaid both at national and local level  key: self-eval in perspective of future responsibility  ppt self-evaluation process available at NNU Portugal

the diamond of effective engagement influence knowledge + capacity organisation interest to realise