The objective of this programme, building on our ELO experience, is to pursue the creation of the synergies between rural actors of the EU25 initiated through the "ELO conference series" 2003-04 so as to contribute to the smooth implementation of the "Acquis Communautaire" in the enlarged EU.

To reach this goal ELO organises

• 1 European conference in Brussels inviting at least one representative for each Member State,
• 3 regional conferences in the new Member States,
• 10 workshops at national level to study specific topics.

The results of this programme are disseminated through publications, the Internet and media at local, regional, national and European levels.

At the end of the programme, a European conference organised in Brussels brings together the members of the ELO network, its partners, the stakeholders involved in the Enlargement process as well as representatives of national and EU authorities. It assembles all the actors of the EU rural world and aims to launch a debate on the future of the countryside and rural development. This conference makes a synthesis of the previous issues debated at the local, regional and national levels and analyses the state of the rural activities and the EU responses. The goal is also to induce synergies between the organisations invited to carry on the programme at regional and local level.

A round of three regional conferences organised at regional level in the new Member States tends to focus on common rural issues for countries of the same geographical region by again bringing together MS and new MS. They can therefore debate and exchange experience on the situation concerning their countryside, on the difficulties in coping with the implementation of   the "Acquis Communautaire", on the future implementation of the Rural Development policy, on the opportunities of entrepreneurship and on the benefits of enlargement.

• Mediterranean and Black sea region: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus;
• The Heart of Europe: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, the UK (who has developed close ties with Czech Republic), Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary;
• Baltic Region: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Ireland (who has developed close ties with Latvia), Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia.

A series of 10 workshops at national / local level. In 2003-2004 ELO organised, with the support of the EU Commission, a series of twinning projects to promote rural cooperation throughout the EU25. Building on this experience, ELO wishes to use the close ties created between MS and new MS at the occasion of these meetings. The issues debated at European and regional level can then be discussed by the actors directly involved on the ground, with case studies on hand. These workshops are organised in the ten new MS with the cooperation of twinned MS from the EU15. Each event includes a theoretical part and a case study.

There are different views on the costs and benefits of Enlargement. Via its comprehensive network of associations, ELO plans to continue its involvement in debates to listen to the argumentations of all rural stakeholders and to convey the responses of the EU. The programme is didactic, informative and practical. It uses knowledge of local actors and of EU decision makers, particularly in the field of Rural Development and of Regional policy.

Disseminating the information at local, national, regional and at EU levels

The whole programme is monitored by the Secretariat of ELO based in Brussels. To make the progress and the contents, debates, analyses etc. of the programme known to its partners, to the Commission and to the wider public, a dedicated website is created. This site not only gives contacts and a picture of the works done it also gives access to the papers discussed and the media impacts.

This Internet tool is completed by publications in the Countryside magazine (4000 issues/month) which is translated into 5 languages. It is sent to the ELO network for local diffusion, to EU officials and is accessible to the public.

ELO members at national and local levels invites media to reflect on the work achieved in the programme.

A specific leaflet is designed to explain the year-long process of gathering, debating, analysing and informing.