About Project

The circular economy is a system that wants to reconcile economic growth with environmental protection, given the limited resources. This closes the circle in which almost nothing is waste. That is why it is said that the circular economy is the opposite of today’s, linear system that functions according to the “take it, use it, throw it away” model.

The Project “Rural communities’ engagement bringing green solutions” (RURAL GREEN) is built upon the growing interest of civil society and associations in discussing climate and green issues and proposing solutions to decision makers.

The general objective of the project is to boost rural population participation and creation of stronger bottom-up approach and more inclusive policymaking process in greening rural economy and faster transition to circular economy. 

With such approach, project aims to reduce negative impact of business to climate and environment and raising awareness on greening of the businesses and benefits of implementation of circular economy in rural areas.

Moreover, the project will bring the discussion of EU policies and diversity of countries included, through the exchange of know-how.

The main target group for the project are:

– Woman living in rural areas

– Other rural population

– Local policy-makers

The specific objectives of the project are:

  1. To raise awareness on EU green policies, greening of rural economy and introducing circular economy in rural areas.
  2. To create transnational framework for more inclusive policy making process in greening rural economy and faster transition to circular economy

By presenting concrete examples of how EU policy and co-financed actions focus on benefit of local communities, the project contributes directly to improving rural population’s understanding about concrete solutions to improve local conditions for economy development, based on sustainable principles and circular economy.

Project participants will gain accurate information and concrete examples showing how EU operates, so that they better understand the advantages/challenges of EU integration and the impact on the environment.

Deliverables:

  1. Kick off conference in SERBIA. Approximate date of the event will be 18-20.04.2024.

Partners in the project and beneficiaries will gather with a goal to discuss and present the achievements in green economy.

  1. Creativity Marathon in BULGARIA. Approximate date of the event will be 19-21.09.2024.

Creativity Marathon will gather partners in the project and beneficiaries with a goal to prototype and co-build innovative European environment preservation models and business models – opportunities and barriers for women in rural areas.

  1. World Cafe in Croatia. Approximate date of the event will be 20-22.02.2025.

During the World Cafe, partners in the project and beneficiaries will gather with a goal to examine the role of local authorities in circular economy.

  1. World Cafe in Slovenia. Approximate date of the event will be 12-14.06.2025.

During the World Cafe,  representing partners in the project and beneficiaries focusing on current EU policies and practices of businesses, and enable participants to understand actions that could undertake to foster a digitalization, to understand the benefits of the digitalization and to reinforce the interest for circular economy.

  1. World Cafe in BIH. Approximate date of the event will be 18-20.09.2025.

World Cafe with representing partners in the project and beneficiaries which will discuss the practices and possibilities for the Circular Economy in tourism industry and activities in prevention of environment pollution by businesses in tourism.

  1. Local Events. After each international event, the partners will organize one day workshop in order to define and propose solutions for greening rural economy and faster transition to circular economy according to the local needs. On each local events one policy proposal will be discussed and defined. In addition, workshop will allow sharing the results and experiences of the international partners and to further discuss the issues opened during the international events. On local events main participants will be local stakeholders and rural population with the support of some experts from neighboring countries.
  2. Final Conference – Online conference to underline the project results achieved, and to spread the words about the model of green and circular economy and to further present policy papers created through the project dealing with citizen (especially women from rural areas) participation in policy creation.

Project duration: 24 months

Budget: 116.130 € co-funded by EU

5 countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia)

5 partners:

  • RARIS – REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF EASTERN SERBIA, ZAJECAR, SERBIA
  • CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, LAKTAŠI, BIH
  • VIDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BULGARIA
  • CENTER OF COMPETENCES FOR ADVANCED ENGINEERING, NOVA GRADIŠKA, CROATIA
  • DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF SAVINJA-ŠALEK REGION, NAZARJE, SLOVENIA