19 April 1994

Doc. 7073

       Revised

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on agricultural, fisheries and forestry

education and training

presented by Mr Jack THOMPSON and others 1

1.       The Assembly considers training and education to be of fundamental importance throughout a person's life for active participation in a democratic society and for the development of the personality.

2.       It is aware that many rural regions have experienced a degradation in their education and training infrastructure, and that the countryside has suffered an exodus of young people - often promoted through the centralisation of the education system with higher education and training facilities mostly located only in urban centres.

3.       It believes that the insufficiency of rural education and training possibilities as well as the brain-drain which has occurred has negatively influenced the development potential of rural regions.

4.       The Assembly knows that agricultural, fisheries and forestry education and training are of the greatest importance for the competitiveness of the agro-food, fisheries and forestry sectors and thus in many cases for the prosperity of rural regions as well as for the national economy, for food security and for the sustained management of renewable natural resources. This is a particularly crucial issue for the new democracies of central and eastern Europe.

5.       Consequently, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       fully include agricultural, fisheries and forestry education and training institutions and issues in the Council of Europe's intergovernmental work programme;

ii.       examine the role these institutions could play within a policy to revitalise the countryside and preserve its natural resources, the landscape and the rural cultural heritage;

iii.       assess, in particular, the role and mission of agricultural, fisheries and forestry education and training institutions for the fostering of rural entrepreneurship and rural employment, and for the preparation of farmers, fishermen and forestry workers for their multi-functional work tasks (production of raw materials for food and non-food uses, environment protection and maintenance work, rural tourism etc). This assessment should also include an analysis of their raison d'être for promoting equal opportunities for men and women in rural areas.

Signed:

J. Thompson, Cox, Redmond, Litherland, Ragnarsdottir,

Alexander, Howell, Borderas, Cunliffe, Bühler

1 ¹ 1. This text only represents the views of the individual members who have signed it. It does not reflect a position adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly.