European Rural Parliament Manifesto approved in Austria last week

A delegation of 5 members of the ACRE Network attended the European Rural Parliament gathering in Schärding in Austria last week. They joined over 200 people representing 40 European countries to approve a European Rural Manifesto.

The Manifesto calls upon the European Union for full recognition of the right of rural communities to a quality of life and standard of living equal to that of urban populations.

ACRE is a member of the European Rural Community Alliance and England’s lead body for the European Rural Parliament.

The European Rural Parliament is jointly initiated by three European rural networks the European Rural Community Alliance; PREPARE Partnership for Rural Europe and European LEADER Association for Rural Development.

“We were pleased to have been able to take part in this second European Rural Parliament and to have been able to contribute to the Manifesto said Deborah Clarke from ACRE.

“We submitted a report to the Parliament in July and helped to shape the Manifesto through field visits, plenary sessions and workshops at the event in Schärding. It was a privilege to meet and work with so many people from across and outside the EU.

“ACRE has been asked to present a copy of the Manifesto to Defra by the European Rural Parliament organisers who will continue to enable the actions called for within the manifesto, in co-operation with national and European partners, governments and institutions”