Rural Europe on the move English_E_version_all | Page 44

CHAPTER 3
21. 22. Hiking to the An Sgurr
summit is offering a great view
on landscape and the sea
OPPOSITE
23. Harbour of Mallaig (1997)
Eigg and I
Reflecting on this island’s journey,
and I am honoured and humbled to
development grow and spread.
Whatever path Scotland is able to
which is also very much my own, I feel have been given the chairmanship of that this Forum Synergies visit twenty both. It has enabled me to continue steer out of the Brexit chaos, it will
years ago was instrumental in kindling working on island resilience, now on be one where CLLD will continue, as
my interest in European cooperation. the national and European level. clearly stated at the 2018 Scottish
First, as the Eigg representative on
In Scotland, the hard-won success
Rural Parliament.
The massive impact of the EU
the board of the new Scottish Island of Eigg means that community Network and then getting involved ownership of land is now seen as Cohesion policies in the UK as a
in exchanges within the European the easiest and quickest way to rural whole in the absence of a national
Small Islands Network (ESIN) which empowerment. As everywhere else in regional policy has fostered a
was set up in 2000. Seventeen years rural Europe, Community-Led Local vigorous debate on the need for
later, both networks have evolved Development (CLLD) is the ferment a comprehensive, well-resourced
into Federations growing in strength, that is making sustainable rural and transparent rural support policy
for Scotland. If it can be delivered,
“Community ownership of land is now seen
as the easiest and quickest way
to rural empowerment.”
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it should ensure a wildlife-rich
environment, resilient to climate
change and sustaining rural
communities where food production