This international seminar organised by CIHEAM in Cairo, Egypt on 8-9 February 2006 will focus on sustainable rural development in the Mediterranean countries in the context of neighbourhood policies of the European Union 2007-2013.

The objectives of the seminar will be to:
• explore rural development policies in the Mediterranean countries;
• present instruments in the framework of the European partnership 2007-2013;
• identify tools for the implementation of rural development dynamics;
• allow partners to present their strategies for the coming years in terms of rural development.

The seminar will be composed of plenary sessions in order to present actual and future policies of the European Commission and from other international organizations and/or key partners of rural development in Mediterranean countries. Five working groups will also be conducted simultaneously to identify national policies for rural development, the role and place of local organizations and development institutions, the dynamics of rural territories, the needs in terms of training and finally, aid for development in the framework of international cooperation.

To obtain more information on the seminar, please contact Ms. Bernadette Dupuy (dupuy@ciheam.org).