By Martine Theveniaut, General Manager of the Pactes Locaux

October 2009

A network of people, open to Europe and the world, committed to a collective process of internationalisation

- Priceless intellectual social capital

o High quality relationships that are often lasting

o A long experience of exchange between peers

o A shared framework of reference

o Active affinities based on the territorial approach

o “Portfolios of alliances”

The opportunity of the “Lux09” Forum transformed the resources first into objectives, then into actions.

- The Fourth International Meeting of the Globalisation of Solidarity was hosted in Europe in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, in April 2009.

- The Pactes Locaux were members of the Steering Committee, and proposed a European preparatory Platform for Workshop 7 called “Democratic Participation and territorial anchorage”.

2007-2008 were dedicated to organising and holding “Regional Meetings” (Learning Journeys)

- They were hosted “in situ” by participatory organisations that openly presented their territories, their partners at all levels to an outside delegation from the Pactes Locaux.

- All meetings were organised to meet the same specifications. They took place in different regions and on different themes: employment, tourism and territory, local development/solidarity economy, neighbourhood solidarities, economic solidarity between urban and rural communities.

⇒ Examples of opening up to other regions

The reports on the regional meetings and synthesis are availableon line : www.pactes-locaux.org

Nord Pas de Calais: 9th –10th January 2009, the final regional meeting “Metropolis and their adjacent territories, linking solidarity and economy”

Hosted by the local Development Council of the Saint Omer district:

Refusing to be fatalistic means making the most of available resources and leads to:

- An endogenous economy, linked to sustainable development: tourism, farming, cultural heritage, renewable energies

- A solidarity economy and public/private partnerships that are levers of innovation

- Provision of high quality local services to maintain and attract permanent residents

Refusing fatalism involves promoting the art of

- Learning to work together

- New forms of logic

- Organising a new approach to business: legal tools, tax incentives, risk management, platforms of activities….

Refusing fatalism means organising. The meeting is perceived as an opportunity to:

- Develop dialogue between rural areas (a horizontal approach)

- Consult with local and Regional authorities and other neighbouring areas before taking decisions (a vertical approach)

- Aim at building a mutual agreement on how best to share urban/rural resources in a more balanced way

- Contact: accueilpaysdesaintomer@gmail.com

Grand Duchy of Luxemburg: Objectif Plein Emploi (Objective full employment): This structure is a network of 820 employees whose jobs can not be delocalised, as well as 400 volunteers, all working towards local development, solidarity economy and the European promotion of a 3rd economic space.

It is based on:

- Refusing social exclusion: the NGOs mobilise to help young people enter the job market in a geographic area of post-industrial restructuring, and with national support to fight unemployment. The OGB-L Trade Union is a key actor.

- A two-tier network:

1- Local networking: The local, regional and branch Centres for Initiatives and Management, which all exist on an appropriate scale

2- A general management centre, OPE, that provides resources and management, support and advisory capacity. It is organised in various departments.

- Projects are anchored in the districts. They include the delivery of services, NITC,environmental management etc. The Government supports all this, as it meets clearly defined needs: it creates jobs, and provides greater well-being for local inhabitants.

- Originally a prototype, there has now been a shift to creating a specific legal framework. Together with the European Institute for Solidarity Economy (INEES), OPE has achieved recognition of this third economic space within Luxemburg. The legalframework will include a new specific form of NGO. (Government Declaration 07/2009).

- This partner is associated with the post-Lux’09 initiatives of the Pactes Locaux:

- Contact :Ben Goerens, OPE goerens@ope.lu

Contacts for the Pactes Locaux: France Joubert, President: + 33 (0)6 70 00 14 67

francejoubert@wanadoo.fr

Martine Theveniaut, General Manager Telephone + 33 (0)4 68 69 92 88

martine.theveniaut4@orange.fr

Address: 5 rue de Cadène, F- 11580 Alet-les-Bains

English translation: Judith Hitchman.