(15 November 2013) – The first European Rural Parliament (ERP) met in Brussels on 13 November. The ERP aims to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and experience between national rural movements and networks. Jean-Pierre Pellegrin, a member of AEIDL and a partner of the Sisteronnais-Buëch Local Action Group (Provence, France), attended the meeting and wrote a short report.
Rural movements exist in most countries in Europe. They represent the many local communities that are working to develop their own areas. They help to strengthen their work and raise their voice at local, national and European levels.
The event brought together nearly 200 people from 30 countries (EU member states and third countries), representatives of rural areas and of a hundred local community groups, as well as members of regional or national rural development organisations.