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Sustainable development on the local level

Sustainable social and economic development on the local level – Study visit

04-08 June, Budapest and Eastern Hungary

With the support of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Robert Schuman Foundation and the Barankovics István Foundation we organised a study-visit program in Eastern Hungary about the topic of sustainable social and economic development, this time not based on powerpoints but concrete project examples. 14 local representatives of 9 different center-right parties came from Bulgaria, Lebanon, Moldova, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine to share how this core EPP value can be implemented in municipal development policies, and learn more about sustainable development to political decision makers, social aspects of sustainability, models of local initiative and project development, complex local economy development, perspectives of self-sustaining villages, social development based on heritage and local community as well as organizing local knowledge and initiative into effective networks.

The program started with a theoretical introduction on sustainability by dr. János Zlinszky associate professor of the Pázmány Péter Catholic University. Afterwards during the 4 day study visit participants gained knowledge about successful working projects like in Hajdúnánás as a complex example of urban local economy development. Perspectives of self-sustaining villages were also among the topics. Mayors and vice mayors of Tiszaadony, Panyola, Nagykörű introduced their models for local economy development and how to keep the inhabitants. Onsite visits were also included in the program. The participants also had the opportunity to see how a unique local project, an example of a social and solidarity economy development solution (Igazgyöngy Foundation) in Told started and how it is developing and how it helps the integration process.

 The event provided practical input to municipal policy making in terms of approaches, tools and real-life examples concerning sustainability. The event further supported international and regional cooperation by experience exchange and cross-border network building.