Summary of the Side Event of the Open Days organised by CEPLI

Last monday october 12th we had the pleasure of attending the Side Event of the Open Days organised by CEPLI and these are the main observations and conclusions

Observations:

The main economic stakes are found in both tourism and agricultural sectors.
The main issues facing rural areas are unemployment and training, two realms by which the Local Intermediate Authorities are fully concerned.
Urban and Rural development are complementary if not even interdependent.

Recommendations:

To spread the use of ITC for breaking the isolation of provinces’ rural areas, by promoting the development of tourism activities and increasing their visibility.
To promote short-circuit networks between local producers and distributors (mass distribution professionals).
To boost the alignment of training and educative paths, regarding the needs of the labour market.
To take advantadge of the CEPLI’s cooperation cell activation in order to increase LIAs’ chances to reach the access to European funding.

List of speakers:

–Mr Paul-Emile Mottard, president of CEPLI and president of the Association of Walloon Provinces (Belgium)

– Mrs Ana-Claudia Tapardel, Romanian MEP (video message)

– Mr. Robert Meureau, President of the Rural Foundation Wallonia

– Mr. Alin-Adrian Nica, Chairman of the Romanian delegation to the Committee of the Regions and mayor of a rural community

– Mr. Alessandro Pastacci, member of the Italian delegation to the CoR and president of the Mantova province

– Mr Pierre-Bernard Van Acker, coordinator Hageland-LEADER (Belgium)