Baltic Ecovillage Network Scope for consolidating the movement and influencing the region

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Baltic Ecovillage Network Scope for consolidating the movement and influencing the region Robert Hall, BEN Chairperson 18 October 2013

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Baltic Ecovillage Network Scope for consolidating the movement and influencing the region Robert Hall, BEN Chairperson 18 October 2013. Purpose of a macro-regional network. Exchange of experience within similar climate zone Joint funding applications Easy to support National Networks - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Baltic Ecovillage Network Scope for consolidating the movement and influencing the region

Baltic Ecovillage Network Scope for consolidating the movement

and influencing the region

Robert Hall, BEN Chairperson18 October 2013

Purpose of a macro-regional network

➔ Exchange of experience within similar climate zone➔ Joint funding applications➔ Easy to support National Networks➔ Lobby for national and European policy change➔ Participate in policy processes

Scope for consolidating the ecovillage movement

1) All Baltic Sea states are involved in European cooperation2) 8 of 11 Baltic Sea states belong to the European Union

1) Macro-regional network requires national networks due to language, national procedures and national administrations

2) English can be used as a lingua franca by the movement

3) 2014-2020 EU funding more supportive of EUSBSR

4) Number of ecovillages continues to grow

5) Ecovillages receptive to transnational cooperation

Communication is key- Lack of media coverage between countries

- Non-comprehension of national languages

- No tradition of information flow within movement in BSR

+ BEN Newsletter

+ BEN Web site/blog

+ BEN gatherings

Expanding BEN's Membership• REEN (Russia)• GEN Finland• ERO (Sweden)• EEN (Estonia)

• Latvia• Lithuania• Belarus• Poland• Norway• Denmark• Germany

Influencing the Baltic Sea Region

Influencing is a service BEN can provide for the wider society's benefit

Capacity building of the movement for influencing

– Project Ecovillages for Sustainable Rural Development– Project REALS– Projects TESTS I & II

Influencing the Baltic Sea Region

Macro-regional, National and European-level influencing➔Through Policy change➔Through Investment

Influencing requires resources, resources means projects

Potential transnational projects with BEN participation:●BSR Interreg project “Ecovillages II”●Regional development projects●Social and youth projects●Climate and environment projects●Tourism & eco-innovation projects

Influencing the Baltic Sea Region

Contact:

Baltic Ecovillage Network

BEN SecretariatVästerhejde Toftavägen 211

SE 621 99 Visby

[email protected]+46 76 218 73 69