What are we?
The European AgriCultural Convention began to come together in the Spring of 2002 in response to the European Convention on the Future of Europe, as an innovative, dynamic and public platform for civil society to put forward solutions for European agriculture and rural development, in a constructive and co-operative way.
The EAC offers an open door for a fresh and constructive dialogue between all possible stakeholders. Everyone is welcome to bring new ideas and solutions to the ongoing debate on the future of agriculture and rural development, which has now reached a new phase focussing on the Mid-Term Review of the Agenda 2000 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Who are we?
We are more than an NGO and more than a think-tank - the EAC includes consumers, farmers, heritage conservationists, development NGO's, environmentalists, government officials, decision-makers, ministers, academics, agro-industrialists and citizens from all corners of the European continent - East, South, West and North.
What are our aims and what do we do?
Most stakeholders agree that the status quo of the CAP is not the best option for the future of our agriculture, in terms of social, economic and environmental sustainability. But if change is inevitable, it must be managed properly, with the maximum involvement of everyone concerned, at various levels. The EAC offers the possibility to go beyond the entrenched positions of organisations and the current lobbying options by offering an innovative and effective process of consultation.
We aim to develop constructive dialogue between stakeholders in order to deliver recommendations to the Convention on the Future of Europe. The EAC also aims to provide useful input into the CAP reform project, and has entered in to a new phase addressing the Mid Term Review of the Agenda 2000 reform. The EAC aims to facilitate solution-oriented discussion to break the current gridlock on European agriculture and rural development, especially in the light of Enlargement of the EU.
How are we organised?
The EAC first developed from seven regional working groups from the whole of
the European continent, submitting proposals for change which were negotiated
during the first public round-table meeting of the EAC in the European Parliament
in Brussels on the 6-7th June. By ongoing internet and e-mail discussion, the
EAC aims to be inclusive and to move the debate forward.
The small co-ordination team of the EAC is based in Brussels, where it facilitates
the process. (process diagram)
Funding and new Sponsorship Opportunities
The EAC welcomes the opportunity of partnership with a whole range of organisations. Partners so far have included a variety of agricultural and rural development foundations, NGOs and parliamentary groups.
However, the continuation of the EAC's innovative, constructive and solution-oriented dialogue depends upon finding funding opportunities and sponsorship. The EAC is actively inviting new sponsorship, so that it can keep delivering input as a wide-ranging and inclusive civil society platform:
If you wish to invest into the ongoing success of the European AgriCultural Convention, we encourage you to contact us
via info@agriculturalconvention.org
or telephone the co-ordination team on +32 2 28 43362 (Hannes Lorenzen),
or +32 2 28 43412 (Christine Falter and Jan Sommer).