Rural areas in South Eastern Europe get special attention by various national and European programmes. A decade of intensive discussions and the implementation of regional and rural development initiatives have come up with economic and social changes and experiences. Nevertheless, there is a substantial need for professional analysis, planning and management for rural regions considering not only economic but also social, institutional and ecological dimensions. This process requires political support and the strengthening of human capacities of those, who organise and handle such change processes.
The instrument of “Regional Management” for strengthening the process of regional development has met substantial support in central Europe and can be found in various implementation examples in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other European countries. Different ways to structure the organisational setting (legal forms) and to finance the predefined functions and tasks of regional development entities have been found - inside and outside the local and regional public administration. Experiences have been made and are worthwhile being shared and built upon for further planning and implementation.
The current economic development in many of the Stability Pact countries of South Eastern Europe does not favour the rural areas nor are structures at hand to organise and manage the necessary development initiatives. Although agriculture is the driving force of economic and social development in the rural areas, its significance in the society is steadily decreasing. This causes lower incomes in rural areas and an increasing migration of the rural population to urban centres bringing about a multitude of new challenges and tasks.
Being aware of this situation, the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) commissioned InWEnt, Capacity Building International, Germany to design and organise a dialogue and training sequence on “EU integration of rural economic areas”. Within this sequence InWEnt is not acting alone, but closely co-operates with national and international projects and partners in the region (e.g. GTZ). Following other seminars and training courses on topics in the context of regional rural development, InWEnt organises a regional seminar on “Elaboration of a Local Development Strategy in South Eastern Europe” for participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
You are invited to join a group of professionals, who will come to Montenegro with the aim to mobilize regional potentials and resources in the region of South Eastern Europe. During the seminar you are also asked to discuss possibilities of networking between the participating countries and other European countries and define further steps and activities.
We wish you a pleasant journey and are looking forward to welcoming you in Montenegro!

Henriette Stange
Senior Project Manager