On 28 October the Delegation of the European Union to the Russian Federation will host a final conference of the EU-funded project "Sparks of hope for Russian villages". The project aims to develop rural areas by building up a dialogue between inhabitants, local authorities and national parks in five pilot regions – Archangelsk and Kaliningrad oblasts, Krasnodar and Altai Krai, and the Republic of Altai. The project has been implemented by EcoCentre "Zapovedniki", Moscow.

The conference will present the project results and facilitate exchanges of experience between pilot and other regions promoting a dialogue between citizens and authorities for sustainable socio-economic development of rural areas. Participants from the pilot regions will present examples of micro-projects on rural entrepreneurship and tourism designed and implemented by grass-root initiative groups. Altogether, the project funded 57 micro-projects in the pilot regions for the total amount of 83,000 euros.

The participants will also discuss cooperation between national parks and population on educational tourism for the benefit of sustainable socio-economic development in the Russian regions.

The conference will be opened by Vygaudas Ušackas, EU Ambassador to the Russian Federation, and Natalia Danilina, Director of EcoCentre "Zapovedniki".

Date and time of the conference: Friday, 28 October 2016 at 10h00 (registration starts at 09:30)

Venue: EU Delegation to Russia (Kadashevskaya nab., 14/1 Moscow)

The conference is open to the media. For accreditation, please, contact Press and Information Section of the Delegation:

Tel.: +7 (495) 721-20-41/09; e-mail: delrus-pressoffice@eeas.europa.eu .

Background information:

The project "Sparks of hope for Russian villages" is funded under the EU Grant Programme "Non-State Actors". The Programme contributes to encouraging and supporting long-standing partnerships between the EU and non-state actor organisations in the partner countries. It is aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations as a pre-condition for a more equitable, open and democratic society. The Programme has funded 18 projects for the amount of 4 mln euros in total. At the moment, the Programme has been finalised.