ASSET (Action to Strengthen Small European Towns)
Project Description
ANNEX A: Background paper on ECOVAST – its aim and achievements
ECOVAST is the originating partner of ASSET, contributing services and activities IN KIND.
ECOVAST, the European Council for the Village and Small Town, was set up in 1984 to further the well-being of rural communities, and the safeguarding of the rural heritage, throughout Europe. Its formal aims are:
ECOVAST's membership includes over 500 members in 20 countries across the whole of Europe. The membership is widely drawn, to include individuals, academic bodies, government and non-government organisations, from local to international level. ECOVAST can thus act as a bridge between decision-makers and those who are active at local level, between experts and practitioners. It operates mainly as a network, to assist mutual support among its membership in pursuit of their activity in rural areas. It has national sections in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom and more are planned in other countries. These provide a focus for exchange and activity in each country, to benefit its rural communities and rural heritage.
ECOVAST's policy approach for rural Europe is set out in our "Strategy for Rural Europe", published in 1994 and updated in 2006. : This has been translated into many European languages, and widely distributed. We have published policy documents on "Traditional Rural Buildings", and on "Agriculture and Forestry - sustaining their future in Europe", plus a Manual on creation of Heritage Trails and on “Landscape Identification: A Guide to Good Practice”. We operate in three languages – English, German and French. ECOVAST has consultative status with the Council of Europe; and also with the European Commission, including a seat on the EC Advisory Committee on Rural Development. We have good working relations with many other European organisations, such as APURE (Association for European Rural Universities), Europa Nostra, Civilscape and R.E.D. We played an active part in the European Countryside Campaign 1987-88 and furthermore, contributed to the Council of Europe Campaign, ‘Europe : a Common Heritage’, in 1999-2000.
ECOVAST has active working groups on landscape and rural architecture. We organise conferences, seminars and other events, including training programmes in integrated rural development; and we send technical missions to advise on rural development and heritage protection. We take part in major practical projects, such as the Heritage Trails projects in Slovenia and Croatia part-funded by the European Commission. We are currently engaged on a major project relating to Small Towns, ASSET – Action to Strengthen Small European Towns. This is likely to continue to be our principal activity over the next few years. With Forum Synergies and other non-governmental organisations, ECOVAST launched the PREPARE programme – Partnership for Rural Europe – to strengthen civil society and to promote multi-national exchange in rural development. This programme has a strong focus on the countries of central Europe which are new member states of, or candidates to join, the European Union. ECOVAST is also a partner in CURE – the Convention for urban and Rural Europe.
Contact: Mrs Pam Moore, Secretary General ECOVAST, 59 Bodycoats Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire SO53 2HA, England. Tel +44 (0)2380 275153 e-mail pam.moore59@ntlworld.com
Website: www.ecovast.org
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