News – PREPARE

ERP Follow-Up Event to Strengthen the Rural Voice in Europe

On 23 June 2026, rural stakeholders, policymakers, representatives of European institutions and civil society organisations will gather in Brussels for a key European Rural Parliament (ERP) follow-up event entitled "Putting Rural Civil Society in Position." The event, taking place at Scotland House, follows the successful 6th European Rural Parliament and seeks to transform the outcomes of the Declaration of Inverurie and its accompanying Call for Action into concrete policy dialogue and action...
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Online Innovation Café explored rural innovation in practice

PREPARE Partnership for Rural Europe organised an online Innovation Café: Rural Innovation in Practice on 20 May 2026, connected to the FUTURAL Horizon project. The event brought together rural innovation initiatives, research perspectives, community examples and governance approaches from different European contexts. The aim was to explore how innovation can be better supported in rural, remote and peri-urban territories, and how good practices can be adapted to local ecosystems. The event in...
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Online Innovation Café: Rural Innovation in Practice

PREPARE Partnership for Rural Europe invites you to join an online Innovation Café dedicated to rural innovation, community-led solutions and new approaches to developing villages, places and territories across Europe. The event will take place online on 20 May 2026, from 10:00 to 11:15 CET. The Innovation Café will bring together projects, networks and practical initiatives working with innovation in different rural contexts. The aim is to create an open space for exchange, learning and dis...
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From Dialogue to Action: The 4th Balkan Rural Parliament in Bar, Montenegro

The 4th Balkan Rural Parliament (BRP) took place from 21–24 April 2026 in Bar, Montenegro, bringing together over 80 participants from across the Western Balkans and Europe. Representatives of civil society, rural networks, public institutions, and international organisations gathered to strengthen rural voices and advance sustainable rural development in the region. Organised under the theme “From Dialogue to Action: Advancing Rural Democracy and Sustainability in the Western Balkans,” the Par...
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PREPARE Advocates for Rural Europe at High-Level Meetings in Brussels

On 17 March 2026, PREPARE – Partnership for Rural Europe was represented by its Secretary General, Miodrag Matavulj, during an advocacy mission in Brussels as part of the European Rural Parliament (ERP) delegation. The delegation, which also included Piotr Sadłocha and Ben van Essen, engaged in discussions with senior representatives of the European Commission. Meetings were held with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, and with representatives of DG AGRI, includi...
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Presentation of the European Rural Parliament and the Inverurie Declaration at the EESC

On 28 January 2026, the European Rural Parliament (ERP) and the Inverurie Declaration 2025 were presented to members of the NAT Section of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. The ERP was represented by four European rural organisations: PREPARE, represented by Miodrag Matavulj, Secretary General ERCA, represented by Tom Jones, President ELARD, represented by Piotr Sadlocha, President Rural Youth Europe, represented by Adriana Borsellino ...
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PREPARE presents E-CLIF policy proposal to DG Agri

On 27 January 2026, the Secretary General of PREPARE, Miodrag Matavulj, accompanied by Tom Jones from ERCA, held a productive meeting with representatives of DG Agri. The meeting brought together officials from DG Agri units responsible for Social Sustainability, Research and Innovation, LEADER/CLLD, and Rural Areas and Networks. It was convened at the request of PREPARE in order to present its policy proposal for the European Community-Led Innovation Framework (E-CLIF). Advancing community-...
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Public hearing at the Committee of the Regions on the future of rural development post-2028

On 28 January 2026, Miodrag Matavulj, Secretary General of PREPARE, participated in a public hearing on the Future of Rural Development 2028+ at the European Committee of the Regions. The hearing was organised in the context of the preparation of an own-initiative opinion led by the Rapporteur Radim Srsen. The opinion examines the situation and challenges of rural territories across Europe and puts forward concrete proposals for financial measures to support rural development in the post-2028 p...
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PREPARE Participates in Cyprus National Celebration Marking 10 Years in the European Rural Parliament Movement

PREPARE is participating in the Cyprus National Celebration marking 10 years of the country’s participation in the European Rural Parliament (ERP) movement, hosted by the Troodos Network. The event is widely recognised as the Rural Parliament of Cyprus and brings together approximately 100 participants from civil society organisations, business, and the public sector. PREPARE is represented by Miodrag Matavulj, together with Panayiotis Papadopoulos from the Troodos Network. The programme includ...
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PREPARE and ERCA Strengthen Rural Dialogue and Cooperation in Cyprus

PREPARE and the European Rural Community Alliance (ERCA) are currently in Cyprus, represented by Miodrag Matavulj and Tom Jones, President of ERCA, to strengthen dialogue on rural development, rural democracy, and European cooperation. During their stay in Limassol, PREPARE and ERCA presented their organisations and the European Rural Parliament (ERP) on a local television station. The interview focused on the importance of rural voices, the role of civil society organisations, and the contribu...
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