EUROMONTANA

a European network dedicated to

improving quality of life in

mountain areas

Martin Price, Euromontana Vice-president

Mountain Partnership 4th Global Meeting

Erzurum, Turkey, September 2013

What is Euromontana?

• European multisectoral association for cooperation and development of mountain areas (since 1996)

• 65 members from 15 countries

– regional and local authorities

– regional development agencies

– chambers of commerce and industry

– agriculture organisations

– environmental organisations

– research organisations

– training institutes…

Diversity of members = strength increased interest from

institutions

EUROMONTANA

History 1953 - 1996

1953: FAO sponsored seminar on mountain development

Biannual meetings on sustainable mountain development

1974: Confederation of European Agriculture sets up a permanent working group on socio-economic issues in mountain areas called “Euromontana” (Alps + Pyrenees)

1994: Euromontana decides to establish new relationships with Central and Eastern Europe countries + Representatives of other sectors than agriculture

1995: Successful meeting in Krakow, hosted by Poland

decision to establish Euromontana as a permanent legal entity

4 March 1996: Foundation of EUROMONTANA by representatives of 14 states

EUROMONTANA

History 1996 - 2013

• Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (Basque Country), Switzerland, UK (Scotland)

Founding members

• “non-profit and scientific organization, with international vocation, neutral in terms of religion and politics”

• NGO Law 1901 (registered in France)

Constitution

• express, promote, defend the cultural, economic, political and scientific interests of mountain people

• add value to research in mountainous areas

• encourage training and research in mountains

• inform public opinion on mountain issues

• develop international cooperation to reduce inequalities between the mountain regions of Europe

Objective: To improve the living conditions of the mountain populations of Europe

Euromontana structure

General

Assembly

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & SECRETARIAT

Secretari

at

Presiden

t Juanan

Gutierre

z

4 vice-

president

s +

treasurer

Euromontana formula:

- Small secretariat

- Active role of members taking

leadership of activities

Our vision of European

mountains

36% of Europe’s area

118 million inhabitants

• Mountains are territories with a future and opportunities for Europe

• Mountain areas are distinctive areas of Europe which need to be addressed specifically

• Need for private and public investment in these areas. The return on investments might be longer but will be more sustainable

Our vision of mountain areas:

Mountains are potential!

• Strengths: – The positive image of mountain areas

– Intense community life

– Very rich culture, traditions and heritage

– The quality of life of mountain people

– Rare, preserved and renewable resources

– Production of quality goods and services

– Modern and often dynamic governance

– …

• Weaknesses: – Remoteness and lack of accessibility

– Sparseness of businesses and population

– Competition between economic development and environment

– Sensitivity to climate change

Our actions

• Represent mountain communities

– Regular links with EU institutions

– Experts in advisory groups, networks

– Observer at Alpine Convention

• Promote the strengths

– Events, articles, external communication

• Organise cooperation amongst mountain

people

– Informal

– EU projects

• Carry out, participate in or compile studies

Working themes:

Main transversal themes

POSITIVE EXTERNALITIES

Mountains deliver goods

and services to society

TERRITORIAL COHESION

Mountain people have the

right to the same

opportunities

Agriculture and

rural development

Forestry

+ wood

Mountain

products

Sustainable

tourism

Environment & climate

change

Energy

Local

developmen

t

Education and

training

Research

+

Innovatio

n

Mobilit

y

& ICT

Services of

general

interest

All themes are

interrelated

An integrated

approach is

essential!

How to build a vision for 2020?

How to best prepare programming?

2014-2020

EU 2020 Strategy

Common Strategic Framework

Common Provisions Regulation for all funds

EAFRD ERDF ESF ETC

A new framework

Mountain results

and

recommendations

Toward Mountains 2020

• Capitalising our work in a strategic document

“Toward Mountains 2020”

– Basic information on architecture of EU policies

– For each priority (2-4 pages):

• Overview of what EU wants to deliver

• How mountains can contribute

• Proposal for key actions

• Examples of practices & links to more info

– More information for earmarked priorities

– Just search the web for “Mountains 2020”!

Projects

• Research:

– Mountain quality foods & EuroMARC

– Mountain.TRIP

• Territorial cooperation: PADIMA, MOG,

DANTE

• Intelligent Energy Europe:

– Waiting for approval: Bellimount,

MountForEnergy

• International cooperation (FAO, ENPARD)

• New ideas being prepared…

14 years of work on mountain foods: From research to European Recognition

1999 - 2000: First working group to start reflection 3 seminars, 2nd European Mountain Convention (Trento) – DG Agri study

2002 -2004: Project “European mountain quality food products”

DG Research – FP5 – 13 partners

2005: Launch of the European charter for mountain quality food

products at the European Parliament 69 signatories from 12 European countries

2007 - 2010: Project EuroMARC – Consumers and Retailers DG Research – FP6 – 10 partners – 6 countries

2012: European Regulation introducing the optional quality term

“mountain product”

Events

• European Mountain Conventions

– Largest event in the European mountain

calendar

– Promotion and reflection on European policies

– Lillehammer 2010: Innovation

– Rhône-Alpes 2012: Youth to the top!

– Basque Country 2014: Local development

/mountain families/family farming

• Conferences, seminars, workshops…

External Network

EM

Rural NGOs

(ECM)

Group 174

FREE initiative

AREPO

ORIGIN

ELARD (Local action

groups)

ENRD

AG RD

Europe World

Different geographical areas:

Different situations, languages, cultures

Need to answer

needs of all

members in

different

mountain ranges

To summarize

• Strengths:

– One network for all European mountains

– Diversity of organisations, interests enriching

the vision and the value of what is produced

– Action-oriented, project development know-

how

– Bottom-up and participative

– Good profile at institutional level

• Challenges:

– Limited size and resources available to take

advantage of unlimited opportunities

EUROMONTANA

European Association

of Mountain Areas

info@euromontana.org

T: +32 2 280 42 83

F: +32 2 280 42 85

www.euromontana.org

https://twitter.com/Euromontana

https://www.facebook.com/euromontanas.mountains

Thank you

for your

attention!