Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

The Scottish National Rural Network is pleased to announce, in partnership with the European Network for Rural Development, a major EU Rural Cooperation Fair, taking place in Murrayfield Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh on 23rd and 24th September 2010 and to offer you the chance to attend.

We want to support international cooperation as a means to achieving local development plans. There will be many excellent opportunities for people from across rural Scotland and Europe to get together and share good ideas and experiences to do with economic and community development in rural areas.

Starting with a keynote speech from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead various speakers from across Europe will set the scene. There will be opportunities in smaller workshops to discuss themes such as the environment, tourism, culture, community development, and social and economic development.

If you want to showcase your area or identify project partners, you should note there will be a lively market place area highlighting in particular LEADER Local Action groups and National Rural Networks from across Europe. There will also be a conference dinner and ceilidh on the evening of 23rd September.

We want to see rural stakeholders and rural development practitioners from Scotland, including representatives from the LEADER funding programme, meeting and working with EU representatives including people from other National Rural Networks and European Local Action Groups and rural stakeholders.

In welcome, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead said, "The aim of the EU Rural Cooperation Fair is to help get the most from our combined strengths and expertise to further rural development. It will encourage new partnerships and international cooperation, as well as facilitating active networking.

"That's why I'm delighted Scotland will be working with the EU Network to hold the Rural Cooperation Fair here in September. I hope as many stakeholders as possible will take advantage of the opportunities this will open up."

Attendance is by invitation only. However, a limited number of places will be available to users of the Rural Network website residing in Scotland. If you're interested in attending, please let us know by emailing EUruralfair@scvo.org.uk, with your name, address and contact details and why you think it important for your local area that you should be there.

At the moment we are collecting initial expressions of interest, but there will be a full invitation available on the website in early August with further details. Look out for further updates on the website and in the Rural Network newsletter, and in the meantime keep these dates clear in your diary!