Who is involved?
The ERP has Partners in 40 European countries and 7 European-wide civil society organisations, working to support their rural areas.
ERP Partners
The European Rural Parliament is co-initiated by four pan-European networks:
- European Rural Community Alliance (ERCA)
- PREPARE Partnership for Rural Europe
- European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD)
- Rural Youth Europe
The ERP Steering Group
The ERP Steering Group comprises three representatives of each of the three co-initiating Partners. It is responsible for the strategic planning and oversight of the ERP. Current Steering Group members are:
European Leader Association for Rural Development (ELARD)
“The European Rural Parliament is the one place where rural delegations from across our continent can meet face-to-face, share their concrete challenges, exchange best practices, and, crucially, be heard by government representatives. We are especially delighted that this year’s edition takes place in Scotland: a country with a proud and rich tradition of community-led local development, full of ideas and motivation.
“Although not part of the European Union, Scotland is very much part of Europe, and this gathering is a reminder that our rural areas share the same issues and opportunities, and that we are stronger when working together. The Scottish hosts are curating an outstanding programme, and we are looking forward to joining. In the current context of shifting priorities across Europe, it is more important than ever for rural stakeholders to come together and take their future into their own hands.”
Piotr Sadlocha – President of ELARD
European Rural Community Alliance (ERCA)
ERCA began as an informal network in 2005 and was established as an organisation in 2009. In 2013 the two networks European Rural Community Association and European Rural Alliance merged under the new name European Rural Community Alliance.
Their mission is to support the rural communities of Europe, through their national and regional rural movements, to develop connections, share experience and mutual learning and take collective action to strengthen their position.
ERCA’s vision is for strong rural communities throughout Europe, joined in national movements, collaborating in a common well-functioning network, working towards a Europe in which rural communities have a strong position in society and a good and sustainable quality of life shaped by the democratic will of the rural people.
ERCA is a non-governmental / civil society organisation, registered in Sweden.
Steering group members:
Tom Jones
Vanessa Halhead
Reena Laukkanen Abbey
Partnership for Rural Europe (PREPARE)
For 20 years, PREPARE (Partnerships for Rural Europe) has played a key role in rural development, bringing together rural actors and stimulating exchange in the unique format of “travelling workshops”, a combination of visits, interactive discussions and joint learning. Thanks to this approach, hundreds of rural NGOs and community groups, active rural inhabitants, as well as many representatives of national, regional and local authorities have been able to meet and discuss the key challenges of rural areas and the best ways to address them.
Steering group members:
Kim Smedslund
Miodrag Matavulj
Monika Slaninova
Rural Youth Europe
Rural Youth Europe (RYE) is a European Non-Governmental Organisation for rural youth. Established in 1957, it functions as an umbrella for youth organisations working to promote and activate young people in rural areas.
It provides international training possibilities and works as an intermediary between national organisations, youth organisations and public institutions on a European level. Rural Youth Europe is a member-led organisation: democratically constituted and led by young people for young people.
Steering group member:
Anja Fortuna – Programme Manager, Rural Youth Europe
About the ERP
The 6th ERP
Youth Parliament
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