LITHUANIAN RURAL COMMUNITIES UNION

Lithuania

Description (brief history)

Lithuanian Rural Communities Union (LRCU) is an independent union of acting rural communities, registered in Lithuania as public organizations. It is coordinating and implementing the tasks given by the members of Lithuanian Rural Communities Union and representing its interests.
More than 880 Lithuanian rural communities and 20LAGs are now members of LRCU. They are taking an active part in the network, which helps sharing experience ensuring viability and development of rural communities all around the country.
The mission of LRCU is to ensure Lithuanian rural areas are attractive and safe, having good infrastructure, viable agricultural, forestry, fishery and other sectors, healthy environment, preserved and nursed landscape. This process must be gradual in all Lithuanian regions, combining both the social and economic policy.
Lithuanian Rural Communities Union is a member of various institutions and organizations, including The Committee of National Rural Development, the workgroup of LEADER+ program, Lithuanian Chamber of Agriculture, the board of Lithuanian Chamber of Agriculture and others. LRCU has framed two training programs for the community leaders.

Activities

THE MAIN POLICIES AND GOALS OF LRCU

I. To improve both the local and national partnership network for rural communities.
II. To inform rural communities about the rural development programs in Lithuania and abroad.
III. To arrange training courses teaching rural communities initiators in every region of the country.
IV. To represent rural communities in international workshops, conferences in Lithuania and in foreign countries.
V. To spread information about the actions of LRCU, the projects implemented by various rural communities in regional media.
VI. To find possibilities of creating LRCU web site presenting all active rural communities.
VII. To take part in all rural and agricultural exhibitions.
VIII. To represent the interests of rural communities while their intercourse with local governments and administrations of local principals.
IX. To cooperate with funds, public and business institutions, supporting the communities.
X. To cooperate with educational, academic institutions, teaching specialists in rural development, providing methodical support for rural communities.
XI. To find financial sources for creating LRCU administrative structure and training the specialists.
XII. To search and train new rural leaders.
XIII. To provide methodological support and consultations in the fields of law, management, community establishment, analysing the needs, creating strategies, preparing projects and filling the forms.

Organization Rules

We arre registreted as association . Statute is in LIt.