Greek Rural Network

The Greek Rural Network cooperates with the local people for the sustainable future of the countryside. They create dialogue between farmers and researchers, and facilitate the inclusion of all stakeholders in the knowledge sharing process.

Contacts

Εθνικό Αγροτικό Δίκτυο (ΕΑΔ)
58, Leof. Athinon
GR-114 41 Athens
Greece
Telephone number: 
00302105275100
Email address: 
Contact persons: 
Gabriela Michail
+302105275027
Pery Thomopoulou
+302105275059
Vaso Chalvantzi
+302105275229

Links

NSU operation

Objectives

The Greek NRN defined four objectives:

  • Improve the quality of RDP implementation
  • Increase the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of rural development.
  • Inform the broader public and potential beneficiaries on rural development policy and funding opportunities.
  • Foster innovation in agriculture, food production, forestry and rural areas.
    • Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and relevant practices on rural development issues.
    • Create a dialogue between farmers and researchers and facilitate the inclusion of all stakeholders in the knowledge sharing process.

Greek NRN also defined 2 horizontal objectives for the NRN:

  • Encouraging cooperation through setting up an Innovation Sub-network within the NRN
  • Supporting LEADER, including strengthening the cooperation and trust between LAGs and LEADER practitioners through setting up a LAG Sub-network within the NRN.
Membership

How to become a member?

  • Everyone representing an organisation involved directly or indirectly in rural development, is “eligible” to become a member of the NRN. Interested stakeholders need to request to become a member by letter or email to the Network Support Unit (NSU).
  • All requests are evaluated by both the NSU and the Managing Authority (MA) and a final approval is decided by the Secretary General.
  • In case the membership is approved, the NSU requests a permanent and delegated representative of the applicant organisation, to ensure participation in activities and consultations.

Who the members are?

  • Applicants can register according to specific stakeholder categories (farmer/forestry organisations, business organisations, LAGs, etc.).
  • During the 2007-2013 programming period there were 92 members within all categories.
  • The Greek NRN has now the new membership, which include the members of the RDP Partnership Agreement and every member of the Monitoring Committee including stakeholders from all stakeholder group categories. Today has 191 members.

How to get involved?
Greek NRN members can be funded for a part of a project or even for an entire project (always linking project actions to the Greek NRNs´ objectives and action plan). In order to get funding:

  • A meeting is carried out to discuss the aim of an action, the roles and responsibilities and the funding needs.
  • A letter of interest on behalf of the member should be sent to the NSU.
  • The NSU informs the General Secretary through a letter about the planned actions (including objectives, links to action plan cost-assessment).
  • Following an informal approval, the action is implemented
NSU & RDP management

The NSU and the Managing Authority

The NSU (Unit of Networking and Publicity) is established within the Managing Authority  and has three main responsibilities:

  • the NRN operation
  • the RDP Publicity
  • the Technical Assistance (for both above actions)

The NSU and the Monitoring Committee

The members of the Monitoring Committee are also NRN members and therefore can closely follow/ can get involved in all NRNs actions.

Governance

There are three levels of governance bodies. They meet depending on the needs.

NRN Plenary
The NRN Plenary is a platform where all NRN members are involved.

Coordination Committee (CC)

  • It has a guidance and advisory role in the planning and implementation of the NRN Action Plan.
  • It may propose topics for Thematic Working Groups as well as convene meetings of the NRN Plenary and the Sub-networks.
  • In the current programming period the composition of the Coordinating Committee is enlarged, including representatives from all the sectors representing the RDP priorities.

Two Sub-networks

  • The NRN´s tasks is to support the setting up of Operational Groups and to disseminate their results. The Innovation Sub-network will include members interested in RDP innovation & Operational Groups of Measure 16. Part of the NRN website will be dedicated to ‘innovation’ (posting information and facilitating a forum for Operational Groups.
  • The LAGs Sub-network aims to connect LAGs in order to improve the quality of implementation of their local development strategies. This Sub-network will also contribute to the collection and dissemination of LEADER good practices; promote and support inter-territorial and transnational cooperation; and work in improving implementation procedures.
  • Both Sub-networks can propose topics of their interest to the NRN Plenary and to the NSU.
Financial resources

Budget (€)
Total NRN public funds: 2 000 000  
Out of which national co-financing: 300 000
Out of which EAFRD: 1 700 000

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