Innovative and Smarter Policy Instruments for Rural Europe

The kick off meeting created the opportunity for interregional knowledge exchange, within the framework of the Interregional Workshops, Study Visits and examples of Best Practice along with the opportunity to connect with partners and the project.

LAG South Warmia, a primarily rural region, is part of the Warmia Masurian Region, and located within the famous Masurian Lakes District. Established in 2007, the LAG works with communities (approximately 86,000 residents) and has delivered over 250 EU projects since 2017. LAG South Warmia cooperates with small, local food producers and crafts people and established a niche market place, Dobre Bo Nasze. Activities also include activation of residents, including pockets where the Warmian dialect is spoken, through smaller grants and local initiatives to support children, youths, older people and informal groups.

Olsztynek City and Commune’s strategy is to support development of SMART communities through collaboration  with the Youth Council and Senior Council of Olsztynek. The Mayor of Olsztynek city works as negotiator and also manages and allocates funding.

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Study Visits: Celebrating Local Heritage

The first Study Visit took place on the 26th of June to Olstynek Ethnographic Park, while the second provided the opportunity to visit Węgój, a small community with strong community values and activities. Both visits highlighted a very strong sense of identity, location, connection, pride and history and heritage. Each area celebrates locally grown, local produce linked and branded with the wider area of South Warmia and ustilises the social cooperative model building capacity and skills. 

Interregional Workshop: Enhancing Policy Instruments

Discussions within the Interregional Workshop outlined project management, presentation of the knowledge exchange structures, communication strategy, organisation of Regional Stakeholders Groups and presentation of Policy Instruments by each project partner.

Further conversation on how to improve Policy Instruments via the interregional knowledge exchange and innovation and policy inspiring capabilities of LAGs and innovation an development strategies in local communities.

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For any further information about the INSPIRE Project, please contact Nichola Grufferty at [email protected].