Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 59

Seeding and sharing: Forum Synergies and PREPARE
SEEDING AND SHARING
T
IN A NUTSHELL
his process of seeding and sharing among and succeed. Forum Synergies and PREPARE have
rural movements and civil society organisations been building bridges to authorities and decision
shows how much innovative potential lies in the makers to gain those trustful relations with public
‘living soil’ of informal exchange of good practices authorities. Twice, in 1999 and 2014, Hannes’ insider
and active bridging between local practitioners role in the European Parliament enabled him to gain
and political decision makers. Out of the travelling political and financial support from the EU for major
workshop of 1999 evolved a spirit of change in many events conceived by Forum Synergies and then by
rural corners of Europe. Forum Synergies began this PREPARE.
journey in 1994, gained many friends, ideas and new
His personal twin-track involvement in both
partners in the process: but its influence has been public and civil sectors was of high value as the
light and inviting, while others have provided the family of national rural movements expanded. In
impetus. the same way, my experience in both government
service and civil society helped me in preparing
“How much innovative potential
lies in the ‘living soil’ of informal
exchange of good practices
and active bridging between
local practitioners and political
decision makers!”
programmes and articulating policy statements.
We have sought, in these initiatives, to involve and
enthuse both the civil and public sectors, and to
promote cooperation across that divide.
The strength of these assets was matched and
multiplied by the energy and enthusiasm of so
many national civil society partners and so many
local participants. Forum Synergies and PREPARE
have been able to, as it were, punch above our
Vital in political and civic culture is cultivating
weight in furthering the interests of rural people
trust and cooperation between very different human throughout Europe. We have dared to try things
varieties from the grassroots to top decision makers. which seemed impossible and to open a space for
They are all humans and curious to learn, improve creativity and positive cooperation.
15. Community spirit wins publication
and its presentation in 2013
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