| INVITATION How can Europe anticipate and support rural innovation? RUBIZMO Café talks & virtual visits November 2020 session Meet us every Tuesday at 11:00 AM CET! REGISTER HERE Creating or growing a sustainable business requires interaction, inspiration… and a lot of perspiration! But right now, some of these key ingredients are missing. Its why a European initiative identifying new opportunities for rural economies is launching an extensive program of online “café talks” and virtual visits open to all. RUBIZMO has studied hundreds of high potential business models – and the conditions to make them successful. They are now making more of their insights available for authorities, associations, businesses and entrepreneurs for free to help fuel a green recovery for rural Europe. A first series of quick and easy to access 30-minute “Café sessions” and virtual visits will take place every Tuesday 11-11:30 CET in November 2020 and be repeated in January, February and March 2021. The quick sessions are designed to fit in with even the busiest days; but anyone attending is invited to hang out for a virtual coffee and ask as many questions as they would like. Join the RUBIZMO virtual Academy and network with our experts to discover new business ideas and take rural entrepreneurship to the next level! WHEN: Every Tuesday from 11 to 11:30 AM CET (Brussels) in November 2020, and then January, February and March 2021 WHERE: Online (Zoom) |
| PROGRAMME The focus for November will be emerging trends and practices around the theme ‘How can Europe anticipate and support rural innovation?’.Leading experts giving actionable insights from Sweden, Germany and Denmark in the first sessions are: Innovation in rural business development – a framework for success, Per-Anders Langendahl, SLU (3 November) New rural development opportunities: a focus on food and renewable energy, Gerhard Schiefer, ProQuantis (10 November) Business ideas and landscapes: inspiration from Denmark, Karen Hamann, IFAU (17 November) On 24 November a virtual visit to Kristineberg Marine Research and Innovation Centre, Sweden will take place. REGISTRATION Participation is free of charge, however, please note that places are limited. Click here to register and save your spot! WHAT IS RUBIZMO? RUBIZMO is a European initiative working to foster sustainable growth and job creation in rural areas by discovering the vital ingredients for developing entrepreneurship and successful business models in high potential sectors such as food and agriculture, new bio-based value chains and services. Learn more at www.rubizmo.eu |
News
Irish Rural Link CEO Assumes Role as President of EESC Diversity Europe Group
Irish Rural Link (IRL), the national network representing the interest of rural communities, is delighted to announce the appointment of its CEO Séamus Boland, to the role of President of Diversity Europe Group, which represents Civic Society on the European Economic Social Committee (EESC) based in Brussels.
Séamus assumed his new role during a virtual inaugural ceremony, today Tuesday 27th October 2020 and will hold the position until 2023. He is the first Irish person to be elected to this position since it’s foundation in 1956, as one of the EU’s institutions listed in the Rome Treaty.
The Diversity Group is made up of delegates drawn from each member state, representing sectors which include, community, agriculture, environment, consumers, social economy and various professions.
Séamus has been a member of the European Economic Social Committee since October 2011 and a former vice-president the Diversity Europe Group.
Poverty and the role of civil society organisations in combatting it will be the focus of Séamus’ term of Presidency. It will be framed in the context of the European Green Deal and the impact of COVID-19 on our lives. COVID-19 and the ensuing economic, social and health challenges will provide the framework for the Groups work. The Green Deal will provide the solutions.
In line with the overall topic of his Presidency, priorities of his term include:
- Addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on society.
- Implementing the Green Deal with all stakeholders, based on the Sustainable Development Goal “End poverty in all its forms everywhere”.
- Involving civil society organisations, including European platforms, with the group’s work.
- Including all group Members in the work as well as maintaining a strong gender balance.
- Promoting the group’s work to other institutions and the wider public more efficiently.
The Press Release from EESC Diversity Group is available to read here
End
The EESC is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe’s socio-occupational interest groups and others a formal platform to express their points of view on EU issues. Its opinions are addressed to the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. It thus has a key role to play in the Union’s decision-making process. The committee consists of Three sections: Employers, Trade Unions and Civic Society.
The presence of the Diversity Europe Group (Group III), alongside the Employers’ Group and the Workers’ Group, ensures that the Committee is a dynamic force and is empowered to give full voice to the concerns of the various social, occupational, economic and cultural organisations that make up civil society in the Member States. In line with the changes introduced in the Lisbon Treaty, Group III is made up of “other representatives and stakeholders of civil society, particularly in the economic, civic, professional and cultural field”.
The unique feature which forges Group III’s identity is the wide range of categories. Its members are drawn from farmers’ organisations, small businesses, the crafts sector, the professions, social economy actors (mutualities, cooperatives, foundations and non-profit associations), consumer organisations, environmental organisations, and associations representing the family, women’s and gender equality issues, youth, minority and underprivileged groups, persons with disabilities, the voluntary sector and the medical, legal, scientific and academic communities.
The shared goal is to achieve real economic, social and participatory democracy in the EU. In fact, the Group III motto is “Achieving real participatory democracy in the EU, through civil dialogue” and the ethos underpinning its activities fall under three pillars:
- Diversity in democracy
- Consensus building
- European civic engagement- local action
| Earlier this year, Pobal prepared a webpage containing guidance on how community and voluntary groups can apply the prevailing public health advice to their own activities. This resource remains available and has been updated to reflect the continuance of public health measures: The page contains step-by-step guidance on how community and voluntary groups can prepare to manage any risks associated with their activities and premises (where applicable) Please see link to page below https://www.pobal.ie/reopeningyourservice/ This resource can be used to assess your own needs individually and ensure that operations are in line with the various levels of measures laid out in the National Framework for living with Covid-19. This framework outlines restrictions that will apply to many of the activities and services offered by community/voluntary groups, e.g. indoor and outdoor events, sports facilities, childcare, cultural venues etc. Further details of the levels in the framework can be found here: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/ This is a link to an at-a-glance graphic guide to the levels as well as links to sub-pages concerning the restrictions and advice relevant to each level. |
In Conversation with Irish Rural Link Webinar Series: Rural Innovation
This webinar series aimed to help us get a better understanding what is meant by Rural Innovation, what opportunities are available for both communities and enterprises in rural areas to become more innovative, what new sectors are emerging as a result of new technologies and the transition to a greener economy; and society and what supports are available or needed for micro and SME’s to become more innovative.
Week One – Rural Innovation
In the first conversation of this series, Irish Rural Link was joined by an experienced panel who gave us an understanding of what rural innovation looks like in action and we delved into the emerging opportunities and funding across sectors which will ensure sustainable rural and regional development.
Week Two – The Value of the Irish Bioeconomy
Discussions around the Bioeconomy are relatively new and there is a growing desire to deliver more from the bioeconomy in terms of added economic value as well as outcomes that meet emerging social and environmental needs. This is driven by a variety of factors including a desire to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, increase resource efficiencies and to reduce waste, while supporting broader rural development strategies. Supporting the bioeconomy efficiently can offer an opportunity for rural investment and improved delivery of public goods including enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Irish Rural Link encouraged all those who have an interest in exploring bioeconomy projects and policy in Ireland, to join them in this conversation.
Week Three – “Food Innovation in Ireland”
Food innovation relies on the development of new food products, processes, and services. Primary producers, entrepreneurs, food and beverage companies are always seeking new ways to address consumer trends by making new product offerings such as healthy, nutritious food alternatives that are not only enticing, accessible, and unique, but also sustainable. The development of a short food supply chain or values chains enhances the connection between citizens and producers, building mutual trust and simultaneously providing producers with a higher return for more premium products.
IRL’s Response to Programme for Government
Irish Rural link welcome the commitments in the Programme For Government to rural communities. We need to learn from the positive aspects of the Covid pandemic and build on these for e.g. the advantages of remote working, the value of rural volunteering and the value of such services as meals on wheels and other essential community health and social services.
President of Ireland Commends the Work of Community Champions
In his statement President Michael D.Higgins sincerely thanked all of the Champions and volunteers who have been involved in the Community Outreach Programme for making themselves available to give a helping hand to those who need it now, at this difficult time. The full statement is available to read here
