Brussels, 25/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) is entering its second phase.
The programme is the result of an agreement made in July 2015 by the European Commission with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in Montpellier, France, and is accompanied by financial support to initiate stronger cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area and engage in continued dialogue on agricultural strategies.
Two major innovations have been announced which “should greatly strengthen the existing dynamics”. The first is to encourage reflection groups in each country in the region. These groups will focus on the purpose of the programme and in this way will “mobilise specialists in each country” in coordination with CIHEAM and in connection with the international organisations concerned.
The second innovation is to initiate a communication strategy in order “to increase awareness” of the topic addressed by the programme, with the aim of gradually establishing a real “ENPARD community interested by rural development”.
“Three years after being launched, the ENPARD South initiative is now part of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and is an important element in the dialogue between the EU and its southern neighbours”, it is stated in the presentation of the programme. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)