RURAL DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS
Ruraland is the result of a high level of understanding between a series of European regions which have a long-standing tradition in cooperation between each other and with other territories. Ruraland was set up after various meetings with different entities sharing the wish to promote innovative and competitive regional rural development policies. The partnership is made up by 10 regional authorities at a Nuts II level or equivalent, from 9 countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Sweden), which, as a group, make up a very balanced representation of the current EU_x000D_
Behind this link between the regions, (the desire to promote said policies), the project main objective could not be any other than “reinforce efficiency and innovation in regional rural development policies which have the economic diversification of the rural areas as their objective by means of regional cooperation as a means towards reaching a greater degree of cohesion & balance_x000D_
between the European regions”._x000D_
In order to reach this objective, a methodological base has been defined, which, apart from including the activities that are traditionally carried out in cooperation processes (seminars, studies, web site, etc.), include activities and tasks related to the transfer of experiences in 4 key areas in rural development: Economic competitiveness, new technology and renewable energy; new employment, ITCs and services to the population; natural and cultural economic valorisation. The good practices will be transferred reinforcing the network established by the project, as one same experience will be transferred by various partners at the same time, always guaranteeing trans-nationality_x000D_
In addition, activities addressed to the carrying out of a reflection and agreement task that contribute to the direct influence on the rural development regional policies by means of the drafting of regional policy recommendations and a Joint European Policy Recommendation_x000D_
are contemplated. The result of these activities will generate outputs such as thematic seminars, database for capitalised good practices, visits to the territories in order to see the experiences in situ, feasibility studies to assess and adapt the experience to the territory receiving them, publications with conclusions and results in each one of the thematic areas, a final publication, and policy recommendations for rural development policies of the participant regions. _x000D_
Regarding the results produced, the exchange of experiences will become a permanent acquisition for the regions as a whole, these results being immaterial and collective given their nature. The result of the reflection work will strengthen the dialogue and agreement capacity of the authorities from the regions, as well as the relationships between the regions in the future. The publications, publicity and material published will be permanent and will stimulate the dissemination of the results in the long term