Goran ŠosterPREPARE Coordinator

Lužnica, 27. November, 2014

Theoretical context of Rural Parliaments

Overview of the existing Rural Parliaments

Emerging Rural Parliaments

Common vision for the future

Negative trends◦ Economic crisis (polarisation, unemployment

rates)◦ Social crisis (depopulation of rural areas, growing

poverty, marginalisation of rural population)◦ Decrease of democracy (globalisation, political

parties without roots, administrative barriers)◦ Change of values (manipulations through mass

media, consumption fever)

Positive trends◦ Common European RD policy (mainstreaming the

LEADER, starting with CLLD 2014-2020, emergence of greening/greenwashing)

◦ Territorial approach to the regional Development competing with stubborn sectorial approach

◦ Call for the “Paradigm shift in rural development” by OECD in 2006, by the rural movements in the debate about future CAP

◦ The voice from the civil society is getting stronger (tradition of social partnership, networking)

- Supporting Rural Parliaments (RP) with co-financing (Estonian RP, Slovenian RP, Latvian RP)

- Helping people to attend different RP (travel costs)

- Information exchange (BOOKLET about RP, newsletter, website, conferences)

- Motivate movements in several countries to join initiative of RP

- Co-organizing European RP

- Synergies while joining the forces of similar movements

- Looking for further allies (ELARD, EESC, EC, ?)

- Stronger influence on policies to improve the living and working conditions in rural areas

- Hela Swerige Ska Leva began with initiative and developed it in the best possible way during many years since 1989

- Biannual 3-4 days event- More than 1.000 participants (≥0,5 MEUR)- Presence of highest politicians and press- Combined exchange of knowledge and opinions,

arguments, demands, presentations, workshops, field visits, meet each other

- Award „Village of the year“ - Important for rural policy and for international inspiration- Outcomes: gather people to exchange, changing rural

communities, influencing rural policy, social change through media, strengthening organization

- KODUKANT, village associations and LAGs- Biannual 3 days events since1996 - 350-400 participants- Presentations, workshops, field visits, international

part, exhibitions, celebration- Award the „The village of the year“- Presence of President of Estonia- Each time accepting Declaration and afterwards

evaluation of achievements- Outcomes and structure similar to Swedish RP

- Swedish Study Centre- Biannual event starting with similar activities to RP in

1990- 100 participants- Keanote speakers, debate, suggestions- Outcomes: activate Swedish speakig people, influencing

decission makers

- Landelike Vereiniging Kleine Kernen- One day event, organized every year- No field trips- The main aim is to gather and exchange

opinions, to raise the voice of 35% rural inhabitants

- Vidiecki Parlament – VIPA- One days event- Presentations, debate, exchange,

influencing decission makers

- Slovenian Rural Development Network- The first SRP in 2011: 150 people,

celebrating 20th aniversary of independence

- Second 2012: 300 participants, debate about CAP 2020

- Both SRP co-financed by the National Rural Network (TA MA)

- Open participation, no delegates- Outcomes: raising the rural voice,

influencing policy- Preparation of the 3rd SRP in 2015

- Latvias Lauku Forum- Two days event since 2013- Open participation, 200 participants, international

delegation- Presentations of the regions, experts, workshops, field

visits- Raising the voice of rural areas

- Lithuanian Rural Community Union- One day event since 2014- 150 participants, limiting the number of delegates- Strong political Declaration- Only Lithuanian participants, broad movement,

low budget- No respond from the MA, short presence of few

politicians

Scottish Rural parliament (2014) Croatia (April 2015) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2015) Catalonia (2015) Romania Germany England Others ?

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RURAL PARLIAMENTS

RPs are building the important BRIDGE between civil society and governments

RPs contribute to the urgent “PARADIGM SHIFT” RPs are manifestation of the PARTICIPATIVE

DEMOCRACY RPs are the place, where people MEET and

EXCHANGE experience RPs are the places where SMALL PEOPLE can

raise their voice RPs are giving priority to the people with the

VISION

goran@preparenetwork.org

www.preparenetwork.org