1. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 The Contact Point of the European Network for Rural Development Summary of 1st Year Draft Work programme Istv á n Feh ér, Team Leader

2. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 2 Basic guidance to preparation of AWP  Term of References and Contract  Close cooperation with DG AGRI in four axes  Proactive networking system with NRNs, sharing information  Respecting quality and timing for delivering support and a range of services to DG AGRI for running the EN RD  Assist in the implementation of rural development policy in supporting the inter-institutional cooperation  Exploiting synergies by working closely with the European Evaluation Network for Rural Development

3. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 3 Core functions and tools  The work-programme is structured around seven service codes and three core tools  For each service code and core tools their are specific methodologies linked to deliverables

4. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 4 The services of the Contact Point  Secretariat of ENRD structures + thematic groups  Support to transnational cooperation  Information exchange and coordination with national networks  Promotion and representation  Information line (answering questions, mailbox(es), reception of visitors, frequently asked questions)  Support for analysis of programmes and monitoring indicators  Good practices database

5. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 5 Services: Administrative support.  Administrative support will be provided for:  the coordination committee (2);  Leader sub-committee (2);  thematic working groups (likely not more than 4);  expert working groups (likely not more than 4). This means: retro-planning; mobilisation of key personnel (including selection of relevant experts according to policy area); translation; invitations; expert papers and content; minutes; evaluation of meetings; follow-up papers

6. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 6 Services: Support to transnational cooperation 1.An inventory of needs and existing guides:  Collect key information from LAGs and other relevant sources at European, regional and local levels, possibly inspired by relevant experience from other Community Initiatives ( eg. Interreg; EQUAL), Innovative actions, Leonardo  Classify information according to the different axes  Develop a questionnaire to ascertain factual information regarding state of art: existing databases of TNC projects; cooperation guides; contacts; level of expertise/experience in individual countries  Involve all the different stakeholders: MA’s; NNUs; LAGs; Nature Parks; Farming Associations; and local development structures  Information obtained in a template format + supplemented by discussion groups

7. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 7 2. Guides:  To be based on result of the ‘needs enquiry/inventory’  Resulting in an ‘Integrated European Cooperation Guide’ able to address a wide range of rural stakeholders with different levels of experience (Member States, various stakeholders);  Provide a ‘web-based’ application to ensure that the guide is dynamic and can provide links to other sources Concept Papers  Drafting of concept papers on specific needs related to mainstreaming of Leader as a horizontal axis:  Specific focus on developments and needs in New Member States Services: Support to transnational cooperation

8. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 8 3. Proactive follow-up of databases:  Contact Point will contact MAs to compile an initial database of projects under approval (updated regularly)  The database forms the basis of ‘Partner Search Tool’;  Encourage partners to take a proactive role in using the ‘web-based cooperation platform’  Improve efficiency by direct contact (phone and e-mail); contact during events; via the Newsletter; help in writing ads for posting on website;  Continuing monitoring and support of the ‘cooperation platform’ Services: Support to transnational cooperation

9. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 9 4. Direct support to 50 projects:  Selection of cooperation projects covering all axes; selection criteria developed (agreed with the EC)  CP will support the final selection of an external selection committee  CP will contact partners of selected project(s) and identify specific needs  CP will allocate coaching expertise with relevant language and knowledge  CP will monitor projects by a reporting method, and produce a summary report  Summary reports will be made public via on-line database Services: Support to transnational cooperation

10. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 10 Services: Exchange of information and coordination with national rural networks.  An inventory of needs and on the spot visit:  The Contact Point will contact NRNs, and survey LAGs (selected), rural organisations to assess information needs;  This enquiry will be supplemented by ‘on the spot’ visits  Strategy paper outlining the information exchange procedure (based on above enquiry), will be presented to DG Agri for approval, before being circulated to the NRNs  Regular working meetings (max 8) to provide face to face contact with the NRNs will be organised by the CP  Regular reporting to DG Agri

11. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 11 Services: Promotion (including representation). The Contact Point will support and provide resource in promoting RD policy at Member State level:  Participation in events: Propose relevant seminars;  Preparatory content support: Preparation of standard materials, such as ppt etc;  Working with Evaluation network; This means development of: a Calendar of events; a combination of “off the shelf” and customised materials; and a close working relationship with the evaluation network.

12. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 12 Services: Reply to requests for information.  Answering questions on rural development;  Reception of visitors;  Preparation of FAQ. This means: development of a logged service to ensure a competent level of reply; providing a reception facility to receive visitors; a web-based FAQ based on anticipated, actual and ongoing requests.

13. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 13 Services: Mail box(es) and phone facilities  A central ENRD mailbox will be set up shortly  Phone numbers and (temporary) Email addresses of the permanent ENRD staff will be sent during this week for each managing authorities and national networks

14. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 14 Services: Support to the analysis of RDPs (summary and monitoring indicators).  Error identification within the monitoring indicators;  Exchange of data between the stakeholders;  Analysis/summary of programme data. This means: development of technical solutions for error correction and data exchange; summary of a logged service to ensure a competent level of reply; providing summarised information for specific purposes (Member State files; committees/working groups).

15. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 15 Services: “good practice examples” of European rural development policy  Select a set of common selection criteria;  The Contact Point will inform the NRNs about the activity;  Will produce a working paper with input from thematic experts offering selection criteria for each of the 4 axes and horizontal themes;  Consultation process (workshop) with the NRN’s and thematic groups before adoption by the EC;  Develop ongoing consultation processes – either virtual or ‘real’ networking to share information on technical aspects, new themes, etc  Creation of database of “good practice”;  Agreement of a common structure of datasheets with the NRNs, and uploaded to Good Practice database  Publication of “good practice” datasheets.

16. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 16  Website + thematic exchange facility  Seminars & conferences  Publications Communication tools :

17. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 17 Communication tools: Website + thematic exchange facility  Sections of the website:  Mail box(es)  Frequently asked questions  Who's who  Events information  Member States information  Transnational cooperation tools  Local Action groups data base  Good practice data base  Data base for administrative documents  Access to a selection of thematic e. network documents  Archived Leader websites  Official Commission documents  Publications  Exchange facility for thematic e-networks

18. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 18 Communication tools: Website + thematic exchange facility  State of Discussion:  Basic structure of the website online by the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009  Introductory pages of all 13 sections in English  Basic features of some priority applications (extranet, Thematic exchange facility for e-networks, Subscription Management, Events Calendar)

19. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 19 Communication tools: Seminars and conferences Support to the selection of themes and organisation of thematic seminars and conferences:  Topics, timing and location;  Providing the necessary retro-planning and content papers;  Supervision and facilitation of all logistical matters carried out by the EC  Promotion and communication of events This means: taking into account of the thematic priorities communicated by the EC (including transversal themes such as transnational cooperation); identification of the thematic experts and provision of content papers, support with animation (moderators); working closely with the NRNs (and all other potential groups of participants) to provide a better understanding of their wishes/needs and provide the necessary content input; identification of ad-hoc seminars …

20. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 20 Communication tools: Publications Development of a range of publications to reach a wide European audience, acting as multipliers for relevant regional and national information:  Electronic Newsletter;  Rural development periodical;  Best practice;  Thematic publications;  Mailing lists.

21. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 21 1.Proposed format of first Newsletter  English language/later on 5 languages  Logo: under preparation  Title: Rur@l (?)  Structural elements:  Focus  The four axes  Cooperation corner  Evaluation network  Contributions  Subscription  Production: agreed retro-planning document, which details all steps in  Other elements to be discussed:  Links to videos  Spotlight on a personality Communication tools: Publications

22. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 22 2.Rural development periodical:  Propose a main content/structure reflecting the 4 axes of EAFRD policy and thematic priorities;  Also note issues arising from the NRN; thematic working groups; New Member States; cooperation;  Develop a retro planning document indicating major steps of production;  Delivery of first draft for ‘Editorial Committee’ + revisions as required;  Readership survey after first year (of 2 periodicals). This means: proposing generic layouts/formats and structures; taking into account the 4 axes and the thematic priorities communicated by the EC (including transversal themes such as transnational cooperation; contributions by the appropriate thematic experts; making reference to relevant sources of information; translation into the required languages; making use of/updating existing mailing lists, by: contacting NRN’s, offering subscription facility via the newsletter and website (subscription management tool), and updating and cleaning on a regular basis. Communication tools: Publications

23. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 23 3. Mailing lists:  Initial list drawn up from previous programming period;  Contact; MA’s and NRNs for details of new LAGs, add other ‘new stakeholders’ related to all 4 axes, such as NGOs, Universities, European Institutions;  Include, accession, candidate and third countries;  Develop tools related to subscription management and provide continuous update, via websites, newsletters and conference attendees; Communication tools: Publications

24. Coordination Committee Meeting - 01/10/2008 24 Istvan Feher, Team leader Tel.: +32 2 235 20 23 ife@kantor-group.eu