Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 14

CHAPTER 7
Partnership with
government and
administration
“Our new national food regulation is not
a transcript of existing EU law. The spirit is
that the quality is in each place, not just
on the anonymous market.”
“Suddenly we were invited to be
Nikolce Nikolovski
partners of the administration,” Nikolce
reflects. Alongside the Ministry, Slow
Food North Macedonia now organises strengthens our role as bridge-builder programmes like LEADER and CLLD
public debates about local food and between the government and local give concrete support for farmers to
assists in the drafting of new food people. modernise their cultivation practices,
hygiene regulations. “What is more,
The workshop gave us North
including mechanisation and better
our new national food regulation is Macedonians and West Balkan people marketing. He feels that he is part of
not a transcript of existing EU law. The the feeling that we are part of Europe, a driving force for a new food policy,
spirit is that the quality is in each place, that those who are already part of the and believes that North Macedonia is
not just on the anonymous market. EU face similar problems. Together better prepared for the EU accession
That is how we have grown into the we can solve those problems. The process. Partnership thinking is key
role of supporting the administration, local farmer’s scepticism towards in this process, working alongside
explaining and implementing the Europe transformed into another NGOs and decision-making bodies
new food rules to the local farmers European vision - and reality. Having at all levels. In this also SWG and
and small enterprises,” Nikolce adds this workshop here, with stakeholders the Balkan Rural Development
excitedly. “To fulfil this role is not and local people involved, was making Network play an important role
difficult, because farmers agree with us feel part of Europe that seemed so of bridging the rifts between civil
the new rules and they feel included far away before. It gave us a strong society and governments. “We are
in the legislative process. We are connection and energy that we did on the ground and SWG is in the
involved in working on guidelines for not feel before.” Nikolce feels hopeful regional and governmental level, that is
small producers and businesses, which for the future. He believes that EU complementary,” Nikolce concludes.
11. Bukovo red pepper, now a Slow Food Presidium,
a tradition maintained by a small group of producers
12. Tikvesh wine region
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