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EU Organisations

PREPARE Network - Partnership for Rural Europe

Introduction

The aim of the PREPARE programme is to strengthen civil society and to promote multi-national exchange in rural development. The PREPARE partners wish to promote dialogue, trust, confidence and co-operation between local actors, governments and all stakeholders of rural development, at all geographic levels.

Their desire is to see rural communities empowered to participate in decision-making related to sustainable rural development.

Structure, key stakeholders and partners

The context for starting the PREPARE programme in 1999 was the prospect of the enlargement of the European Union to embrace 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The PREPARE programme was built on the experience of a travelling workshop organised by a group of Estonian and Swedish NGOs’ in order to promote an active partnership and exchange of experience between people involved in rural development in the pre-accession countries.

PREPARE, as a partnership of national umbrella organisations and of pan-european NGOs, has a system of governance based on key decisions made by the PREPARE Organising Group, which consists of one representative from each of the PREPARE partners:

  • Forum Synergies, transnational network for sustainable development;
  • ECOVAST, the European Council for the Village and Small Town;
  • Croatian Rural Development Network;
  • Czech National Rural Observatory;
  • Finnish Village Action Association;
  • Hungarian Rural Parliament;
  • Kodukant, the Estonian Movement of Villages;
  • Macedonian Rural Development Network;
  • Latvian Rural Forum;
  • Lithuanian Rural Communities Union;
  • Polish Rural Forum;
  • Rural Development Network of Serbia
  • Slovakian Rural Parliament;
  • Slovenian Rural Development Network;
  • Swedish Popular Movements Council.

Priorities and activities

Main priorities of Prepare Network Programme are:

  • support national campaigns in EU member states and accession countries, to strengthen civil society at local, regional and national level
  • organise or support multi – national exchanges between people and organisations in different countries in the rural development field
  • contribute actively to the debate on European policy and funding for rural development
  • promote networking in rural development throughout Europe
  • establish trustful dialogue and cooperation between governments, business and civil society organizations.

Country-specific national programmes vary according to the needs of each country, but may include national seminars, regional workshops and other exchanges. The first PREPARE national programme was launched in 2001 in Slovenia: this led to the creation of the Slovenian Rural Development Network. PREPARE has also encouraged the creation of the Polish Forum for the Animation of Rural Areas. PREPARE is now focusing on potential national initiatives in the following countries: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Rumania, Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey.

Multi-national exchanges of experience and ideas in the field of rural development e.g. Travelling Workshops enabling key people to see and discuss the active involvement of local communities in rural development and annual multi-national Gatherings of the Network that bring together people from the EU member states and accession countries. Following the excellent example of Swedish Rural Parliament, Prepare Network launched initiative for international exchange among similar movements and events, demonstrating the common need for stronger civil society. In 2011 the booklet “Rural Parliaments – Emerging Participative Democracy”was published and disseminated throughout Europe.

Further information