Euromontana is a European association for co-operation between mountain regions. It brings together regional and national organisations of mountain people: social-professional organisations, in particular agriculture, rural development centres, associations, territorial authorities, research institutes, etc. It includes organisations from Western Europe as well as from Central and Eastern European countries in an effort to develop international co-operation in anticipation of the enlargement of the European Union.

Euromontana will hold this Third European Mountain Convention on 16/17/18 May 2002 in Inverness, Scotland. This will be the central and major event Euromontana will organise in 2002 and will address the following specific tasks:To present and develop various studies, initiatives and reflections on:

• the social and economic characteristics of European mountain areas,
  
• on mountain quality products,
  
• on mountain agriculture and particularly on its positive externalities and its multifunctional nature,
  
• on environmental concerns.

Specific inputs on mountain forests by the European Observatory of Mountain forest and the Forestry Commission of the United Kingdom will ensure a refined understanding of the overall mountain environment.

To involve participants in a prospective debate about the future of European mountain areas in the context of the evolving European policies and the evolving Union. Specific emphasis will be put on the future of the CAP, the future of the regional development community policy and the enlargement of the Union. Representatives of the different European countries, the European Commission and the European Parliament will be involved in the preparation of this prospective reflection.

The convention will serve various purposes including:

• the development of exchanges between mountain organisations, institutions and actors at a European level.
• the promotion of the co-operation between Western and Eastern European countries by setting the scene of a Union with 27 members,
• the increase of public awareness on mountain sustainable development with specific information actions contributing to the general communication strategy of the International Year of the Mountains,
• the encouragement for decision-makers to enter into undertakings for the future.

The hosting organisations in Scotland are the major public organisations or institutions involved in the rural development: Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Crofters Commission, the Highland Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Forestry Commission.

A specific workshop on mountain forestry will be organised on this occasion to offer to all participants an opportunity to better understand the specific aspects of this activity in mountain areas. The workshop will take the form of a training session with the succession of case studies and ground visits.

Further information is available from: Email: mountainconf@aol.com

http://www.hie.co.uk/mountainconvention