Presentations given by Slovenian, Czech, Luxemburg and Finish National Rural Networks at the European National Rural Networks meeting held in Prague on February 13th, 2009.

1. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FOOD
REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA www.mkgp.gov.si, e: gp.mkgp@gov.si
Dunajska cesta 58, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
t: +386 1 478 90 00, f: +386 1 478 90 21
SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL
STAKEHOLDERS
Breda Kovačič
Section for rural development and structural policy
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2. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• SLOVENIAN RURAL AREAS
– Share of rural areas is above average, OECD
criteria NUTS 5 – 77% of area and 41% of
inhabitants
– NUTS 2 – Slovenia is one region, completely rural
– 73% of agriculture land in LFA
– 99% (77.000) of farms are family farms (5-10ha)
– Only 43,5% specialized farms (EU15 – almost
85%)
MINISTRSTVO ZA KMETIJSTVO, GOZDARSTVO IN PREHRANO
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3. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
– Agriculture employs 10,5% of all employed population in the
country.
– Agriculture contributes 2,2% of the total GDP
– 74.4 % of agricultural holding operators made their income also
from other activities.
– 3% of farms have subsidiary activities
Increase of other agriculture functions – multifunctional role
–
48% of area – ecological important areas
–
50% of agriculture land – HNV areas
–
30% of agriculture land and forests in NATURA 2000 sites
–
33 LAGs, covering 95% of Slovenia, 97% of inhabitants
–
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4. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• WHAT ARE OUR REALITIES?
• Structure of Slovenian rural population is not
uniformed.
• On relatively small area a lot of different factors,
needs and development options.
• It is hard to establish strict and compact groups of
single stakeholders, with very specific interest.
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5. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
– Established in April 2008
– Operational within Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Food, part of technical assistance
– Works horizontally (between axes) and vertically
(from Ministry to local level)
– Works two -way flow of information
– Almost 200 members from all three sectors
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6. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• RURAL NETWORK DATABASE
– Tool for members – exchange of information,
ideas, contacts
– Tool for Ministry – getting database of contacts for
further activities (news, cooperation, …)
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7. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• RURAL NETWORK DATABASE
– Registration:
• Contact information (name, address, e-mail,…)
• Registration type
– I am only interested in information (13%)
– I wish to participate (87%)
• Type of organisation
EU institution
–
Public administration institution / public service / public institute
–
Local community / local community unit
–
Company
–
Developmental institution
–
Union, association, society
–
Local action group
–
NGO
–
Individual
–
International organisation
–
MINISTRSTVO ZA KMETIJSTVO, GOZDARSTVO IN PREHRANO
other
–
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8. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• RURAL NETWORK DATABASE
– Registration:
• Thematic fields of interest (multiple choices)
agriculture
–
forestry
–
processing of agricultural and forestry products
–
food safety and quality
–
environmental protection
–
spatial planning and management in agriculture and rural areas
–
LEADER
–
diversification in non-agricultural activities
–
entrepreneurship
–
integrated rural development
–
tourism
–
other
–
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9. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• MEMBERS
– 50% private sector
76% natural persons (including farmers)
•
7% NGO – rural development
•
7% development institutions/ associations/ unions
•
10% others –mostly tourism and rural development
•
– 28% public sector
• 65% state administration, public service, educational institutions,
agriculture advisory service,…
• 20% public development institutions (regional development agencies)
• 15% local community
– 22% economic sector
• 49% companies (advising, agriculture, planning)
• 36% development companies
• 15% unions, associations, societies
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10. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
DATABASE allows us to group members according to
their interest.
directed information
useful information
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11. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• THREE MAIN ACTIVITIES
• Communication
• Training
• Cooperation
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12. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• COMMUNICATION
– Information material about network as well as
measures and programme as whole
– Homepage (programme and network)
– Network database
– Monthly newsletter (activities, events, good
practice, opinions and articles of network
members)
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13. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• EXPECTATIONS
– based on the research, made among axis
coordinators as well as network members , most of
future network activities should focus on:
• Axis 1 - information and promotion
• Axis 2 and 3 - training, information and promotion
• Axis 4- training and cooperation
– common and group - oriented information is
needed
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14. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• TRAINING
– Knowledge pool
– Experts pool
– Seminars, workshops, meetings
– Good practice
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15. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• EXPECTATIONS
– based on the research, most of future network
activities should focus on:
• Axis 1 - application and payment procedures, business
plan,…
• Axis 2 - animation, application procedures, rationale of
measures,…
• Axis 3 - animation, application procedures, reporting,
management of endogenous potentials, funding,…
• Axis 4 - implementation procedures, self-evaluation,
cooperation projects
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16. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• COOPERATION
– Yearly meeting of network members
– Meetings for Leader cooperation (potential LAGs)
– Experts pool
– Leader subcommittee (for Leader cooperation)
– Partner - project search tool
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17. SLOVENIAN RURAL NETWORK
ENGAGES RURAL STAKEHOLDERS
• Additional support to our activities can be
given through cooperation with:
– Agriculture advisory service
– development institutes
– research institutions
– Municipality unions
– Other ministries
– Tourist information centres
– Youth and women associations
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18. THANK YOU
HVALA
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19. Capacity building of the National
Rural Network of the Czech
Republic
Involvement of the stakeholders
from axes I. and II. RDP

20. National Rural Network (NRN)
Involvement of stakeholders from axes I. and II. is very
essential for the capacity building of the Network.
On the other hand it is very problematic task.
Nevertheless these stakeholders are essential key to
form a partnership in rural areas which is fundamental
networking principle.
How to face these challenges?
There are many ways and we would be very pleased to
present you our solution.

21. Structure of the NRN
We decided that it would be great opportunity to use our
own structure of Agencies for agriculture and rural
development (AARD).
Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) operates 63 units of AARD
among the Czech Republic.
This agencies are operating in the region for last few
years.
They are in contact with local stakeholders regarding all
axes but especially axes I. and II.
They are providing information service for stakeholders
on regional and local level.
They are experienced and have strong position inside
the territory.

22. Structure of the NRN
Coordinating
EC
MoA Coordinating
Committee
Committee
decision-making
Managing
function
Authority
advisory function
decision-making advisory function
function
Leader
Sub-committee Secretariat Members of the
Network at the
executive national level
function
RDP
Evaluation
Committee
Members of the
Network at the
local and regional
Thematic
Local and level
working groups
Regional
networks
Thematic National rural
working groups networks

23. Structure of the NRN
MoA – secretariat of the NRN is operated by
Information section
Regional units of AARD
Local units of AARD

24. Structure as the instrument of NRN
Structure of the NRN reaches whole territory of the
Czech Republic and involves partners from all axes of
RDP.
Enable us to control and monitor the activities of the
NRN more effectively.
Enable instant feedback from any part of the country.
Enable communication and access to representatives
from regional and local sphere.
Improvement in coordination with different policies areas
in regional and local level.
Implementation of top-down and bottom-up approach.

25. Main task of the AARD
Representation of the NRN at local and regional level.
Implementation of the Action plan and annual operation
plan for the NRN.
Providing instant feedback from the territory.
Coordination of the thematic working groups at regional
and local level in order to identify a burning issues.
Providing information service about agriculture and rural
development.
Providing information service about activities, partners
and instruments of the network.
Capitalization and sharing of know-how and best
practices.

26. Thank you for your attention

27. Rural Network
Luxembourg
National Rural Networks – 2nd meeting
Prague, 13th February 2009
Françoise Bonert
Franç
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD
Rural areas in Luxembourg
90% of the total area
(2.586 km²)
more than 50% of the total population
(total pop.: 483.799 inhabitants)
103 of 116 municipalities
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

28. Experiences with rural development networking (1)
rural development networking in Luxembourg started with
LEADER
LEADER I (1991-93) and LEADER II (1994-99) built up local
and regional networks
large participation of stakeholders from axes 1 and 2 and
large number of agricultural projects at the beginning of
LEADER
LEADER+ introduced a national LEADER network
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD
Experiences with rural development networking (2)
Particular context of Luxembourg
small number of agricultural holdings and other
beneficiaries
direct and permanent contact between beneficiaries,
managing authority and other responsible administrations
rural development networking already existed, but
stakeholders of axes 1 and 2 must be implicated stronger
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

29. RURAL NETWORK UNIT in Luxembourg
established within the Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and
Rural Development (MAVDR)
built on the experiences gained with LEADER
operational since june 2008
managed by two employees, who are also
responsible for the LEADER-Axis in the MAVRD
financed by national funds
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD
NRN Luxembourg: AIMS (1)
set up an exchange platform for rural actors in order to
promote and structure the exchange of informations,
ideas, practices and experiences
strengthen competences of rural development actors
and promote their contributions to national and european
networks
encourage the collaboration between all rural
actors concerned by the measures of EAFRD (for
example farmers, environmentalists, municipalities, LAGs)
facilitate the conception and implementation of
integrated projects what means, multisectoral or
transversal projects concerning more axes under EAFRD
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

30. NRN Luxembourg: AIMS (2)
improve the quality of rural development projects and
encourage the sustainability of their results at regional,
national and european level
strengthen the visibility and importance of rural
development at national level
promote transnational cooperation
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD
NRN Luxembourg: TASKS
COMMUNICATION: information and promotion
TRAINING: organization of seminars, field visits and meetings
COORDINATION: animation, management and monitoring of
the network, organization of activities, links to the european
network of rural development and all other NRN
Specific actions for LEADER
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

31. NRN Luxembourg – MEMBERS (1)
N
Monitoring committee of RDP = Coordination committee of the NRN
based on the « partnership »
28 members
16 representatives of axes 1 and 2
(4 agricultural organizations, 2 young farmers org., chamber of
agriculture (2 repres.), private forest owners, environmental
organization, 5 administrations, ministry of environment)
half of these members are involved in each axis
integrated character of the composition
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD
NRN Luxembourg – MEMBERS (2)
6 representatives of axes 3 and 4
(nature park, syndicate of municipalities, women, ministry
of tourism, chambers of trade and commerce)
1 representative of axis 4 (LAG)
4 representatives of the MA
- 1 RDP coordination
- 1 paying agency
- 1 network unit + LEADER
- 1 evaluation unit
1 representative of the National Inspection of Finance
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

32. ACTIONS
corporate design: in order to promote the recognition value,
future publications and website will have the same design
brochures: brochures targeting axes 1, 2, 3 have been realized
and one for axis 4 is in preparation
- brochure of axis 1: Promotion of agricultural holdings 2007-2013
- brochure of axis 2: Payments for the maintain of the landscape
informal meetings:
- Axis 2: payments for the maintain of the landscape
- Axis 3
- Axis 4
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD
PLANNED ACTIONS
information day for responsible persons of all axes from
the ministry, the concerned administrations and the LAGs:
presentation of the measures and projects of each axis
exchange of information and experiences
promotion of a better cooperation and integration
organisation of study trips on national level adressing
stakeholders of all axes:
visit best practice projects of each axis
show integrated character of RDP
promote networking and cooperation
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

33. CONTACT
Ministère de l’Agriculture, de la Viticulture et
du Développement rural
1, rue de la Congrégation
L-1352 Luxembourg
Adresse postale: L-2913 Luxembourg
RDP coordination:
André LOOS +352/247-82530
LEADER and NRN:
Françoise BONERT +352/247-82533
Tom URLINGS +352/247-83532
National Rural Network of
Luxembourg
EAFRD

34. Networking for Rural
Development:
New Stakeholder Involvement
Päivi Kujala
Head of the Rural Network Unit, Finland
Sivu 1 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

35. The Actors of Rural Network Finland
Rural development organisations Benefits to the rural areas
Official bodies Legislation
Instructions, implementation, training
(e.g. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,
Agency for Rural Affairs, T&E Centres, Funding, administration of supports,
municipalities) communication
Rural advisory organisations Advice, training, influence
Research and training organisations Producing research information
in different axes Influencing the society
Training
Local action groups Funding, activators
Associations Project implementation, activators
Sivu 2 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

36. Rural Development Program
Financial plan by axes
Axis Total public EAFRD EAFRD
funding (mill. contribution funding (mill.
euros) (%) euros)
Axis 1 504,2 45 226,8
Axis 2 5 406,0 28 1 513,8
Axis 3 433,0 45 194,8
Axis 4 (Leader) 242,0 45 108,9
Technical assistance 40,0 45 18,0
- Rural Network (13,0 M€)
Total 6 625,6 31 2 062,4
Sivu 3 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

37. How to get stakeholders of axis 1 and axis 2
involved with network
Sivu 4 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

38. Connecting people
• The objective is to bring different actors together and create
new links in the network
• Active networking between actors in the Rural Development
Programmes for Mainland Finland and the Province of Åland
• Main point in axis 1 and axis 2 is bring together
- Environmental and agricultural administration, advisory
organisations and associations
- Civic organisations by the help of action groups
- at national and regional level
Sivu 5 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

39. Actions
• Network events /Training days
• Publications
• Fairs
• Exchanging good practices
• Promoting transnationalisation
Sivu 6 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

40. Network events /Training days
• The focuses of the year 2008 were topics related to axis
1 and 2 as well as axis 4
• The training topics and programmes for the training days
are planned with various stakeholders within the
framework of the development programme issues
- Network coach is gathering a group depending on issue
• The objective of the training is to highlight the
opportunities of the development programme and
provide background information on training to
supplement implementation
Sivu 7 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

41. Axis 1, training days
• Current topics in construction planning
• Target group: organisations involved in rural building, building
engineers of the T&E Centres, building designers,
municipalities, Environment Centres, action groups, MTK,
ProAgria, students in the building sector, etc.
• Content: the objective is to network parties involved in rural
building and improve the awareness of the opportunities for
rural building offered by the investments aids part-financed
under the Rural Development Programme for Mainland
Finland
• Implementation: national seminar in Vantaa in February and
two to three regional seminars in March, October and
November
Sivu 8 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

42. Axis 1, training days
• Seminars on the profitability of agriculture
• Target group: farmers, researchers, advisers
• Content: a continuation to the national seminar on the
profitability of agriculture held in December 2008
• Implementation: two regional seminars
- Iisalmi, March
- Pori, October
Sivu 9 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

43. Axis 1, training days
• Training on structural support, utilising a business
plan
• Target group: bank clerks, financial advisors,
consultants, people responsible for financial aid and
building engineers at the T&E Centres
• Content: implementation and application of the Act on
Structural Support, content and requirements of the
business plans, experiences from the field, background
information, good practices
• Implementation: two regional seminars
Sivu 10 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

44. Axis 2, training days
• Seminar on biodiversity in agriculture
• Target group: environmental and agricultural
administration, agricultural advisory organisations, action
groups
• Content: management of biodiversity in agriculture and
promoting cooperation
• Implementation: national seminar
• Helsinki, January
Sivu 11 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

45. Axis 2, training days
• Training on animal welfare payments
• Target group: students of veterinary medicine
• Content: Background information on animal welfare
payments
• Implementation: national seminar
Sivu 12 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

46. Axis 2, training days, publication
• Utilisation of organic fertilisers
• Target group: advisers, farmers
• Content: utilisation of organic fertilisers in arable farming
• Implementation: national seminar + publication event for
a guide
- Tampere, April
- Authors of the guide as lecturers
Sivu 13 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

47. ” Dating” project leaders by themes
• get to know, what is going on around the country
• creating peer groups
- Dating forestry projects
- Project day for service entrepreneurship
- Dating environmental projects
Sivu 14 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

48. Exchanging good practices
• Creating the Model
• Lapland seminar, Work Shop for environmental issues, are
people really interested to act?
• Expert register and project register
- An expert register based on the New Rural Policy Society
register will be established on the maaseutu.fi website
- The expert register will gather rural developers in a
comprehensive manner
- It will be possible to voluntarily add information about
projects to the portal a data bank for good projects
Sivu 15 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

49. Promotion of transnationalisation
• four study trips, one for each axis
• participants of associations, administrations and also
some entrepreneurs
• representatives from other countries if possible
• In the Autumn 2008
- Austria, focus on environmental issues
- Latvia, focus on environmental issues, representatives from
Estonia
Sivu 16 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

50. • Rural Network Unit
• Päivi Kujala Head of the Unit +358 40 548 9227
• Kirsi Hakoniemi Information officer +358 40 550 5085
• Hanna Lilja Network Secretary +358 40 556 6281
• Juha-Matti Markkola Network Coordinator +358 40 559 9412
• Teemu Hauhia Network Trainer +358 40 545 4016
• Hans Bergström Nätverksombudsman +358 40 531 1966
e-mail forename.surname@maaseutu.fi
Sivu 17 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009

51. Thank you !
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Sivu 18 Rural Network Unit, Päivi Kujala
25.2.2009