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.
