The European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) in cooperation with the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic organised a conference on Community Led Local Development (CLLD), which took place in Brussels, on 28th May of 2014. The event saw the participation of representatives from many MSs, DG AGRI and FARNET. The event provided valuable information on MSs that will be implementing multi-funded CLLD. The event also gave an insight into the way MSs are preparing for the 2014-2020 programming period. For more information on the event visit ELARD’s website

The conference "Telling the Story – Communicating European Structural and investment Funds 2014-2020" was organised by the European Commission in Brussels on 9-10 December 2013. More than 700 participants, from and outside the EU, took part to this event co-organised by DG-REGIO, DG-EMPL, DG-AGRI and DG-MARE of the European Commission. For more information visit the website of FARNET.

In recent years, the World Bank has invested significantly in evaluating its Community-Driven Development (CDD) programmes. This workshop was organised by the European Commission and FARNET in Brussels on November 8th 2013 with a view to exchanging on both approaches and building up on mutual benefits. For more information visit the website of FARNET.

On the 1st - 3rd of October 2013 the town of Hranice in the Olomuc region of the Czech Republic, will host the National Conference "VENKOV" (RURAL) 2013. The conference is intended for representatives of the public and non-profit sector entities operating in rural areas and also to the general public. The main focus of this event will be CLLD and the future for rural areas in the context of the coming programming period. The conference will include panel discussions with experts debating on CLLD, sessions aiming at preparing practitioners for the next programming period, interesting study visits, exhibitions and social events. For more information on the event visit the website of the Association for Rural Renewal Czech Republic (main organizer of the event).

The purpose of the conference was to bring together key stakeholders from different policy fields, with particular focus on managing authorities responsible for the management of EAFRD, ERDF, ESF and EMFF. The conference aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the added-value of the CLLD approach, as well as to create an opportunity to discuss the main concerns with regard to CLLD programming and implementation for the 2014-2020 period.

The international conference held in Tenby in Pembrokeshire in May 2013 and organised by PLANED celebrated the community work of PLANED and the significance of community work in rural areas across the EU. Delegates from across the EU heard presentations about the changing nature and challenges facing rural areas and how critical the future funding of the EU Rural Development Programme is.

For further information on the seminar (including presentations) visit the conference website.

Warsaw, the capital city of Poland, and the Region of Mazovia were hosts of this year’s edition of the Seminar on Sustainable Urban-Rural Partnerships that took place on 24-25th of April 2013. The high-level event brought together various stakeholders, including representatives of: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, European Commission, European Parliament, Committee of the Regions, Polish authorities, networks of urban and rural development stakeholders, researchers and other interested. During two days a number of issues related to urban-rural partnerships were discussed and proposals made for the post-2013 EU programming.

For further information on the conference click here.

More than 100 representatives from EU Managing Authorities attended the seminar on CLLD on 6 February 2013, in Brussels. The seminar provided guidance and advice on CLLD regarding the programming aspects within the parameters of the Common Strategic Framework 2014-2020.

For further information on the seminar (including presentations) visit the INFOREGIO website on ‘Future cohesion policy’.

The objectives of the workshop were to exchange information and ideas for the future programming period and to identify the needs of stakeholders in this context and the possible role of networks in the preparatory phase.

Located in the headquarters of the Committee of the Regions, the Meeting Place is a location where participants can meet informally, network, make contacts and develop new or existing partnerships. It is also a central place where a large part of the OPEN DAYS workshops with a CLLD focus were taking place.

For further information please click here.

More than 120 participants took part in this “laboratory” event, including FLAG representatives from around Europe and a variety of other EU stakeholders. Representatives from EFF managing authorities, the European Commission (DG MARE, AGRI, REGIO and EMPL) and FARNET experts also took part.