Conference Review
Declaration of Vitoria-Gasteiz
Frank Vanclay
Rural Sociology, Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania, TAS
PP: 378 - 380
Article Text
The Declaration that follows is an outcome of the International Congress on Trade and Rural Development, held in Vitoria-Gasteiz on 26-28 November 1998.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a city in the Basque Country - an autonomous region in the north of Spain with its own government, its own unique language and culture, and its own distinctive cuisine; it is also a very beautiful region. Given all these factors, it is obvious that the Basque Government would be concerned about the impact of globalisation (free trade) on the ability of their region to maintain its distinctiveness. It therefore sponsored a conference to explore issues about how to preserve regional identity, to understand the multifunctional nature of agriculture, and how to advocate for a globalisation that is compatible with social and environmental sustainability.
One of the recommendations of the November Congress was the development of a permanent forum for the discussion of rural development issues. In late February 1999, there was a 'meeting of experts' in the Basque Country to discuss the establishment of such a Forum. This meeting recommended that a World Rural Forum be established and a basic model has been developed with regional groups based around a central secretariat. I have been appointed to the Executive Committee of the World Rural Forum, and to coordinate participation from the Australia/Oceania region. I will keep you informed of developments.
All papers that were presented are downloadable from the conference website: http://www.nekanet.net/congress
Frank Vanclay
Centre for Rural Social Research Charles Sturt University
Declaration
Point 1: Economic integration and international social cohesion
Globalisation, defined as a process of international integration at all levels, but which recognises the unique character of rural areas, should be ruled only with the objectives of equitable creation and distribution of wealth, an emphasis on ecological sustainable development and sustainable community development, the protection of cultural integrity, the alleviation of world poverty and the promotion of democracy.
Point 2: Multifunctional nature and particularities of rural areas
It is necessary to act in order to promote the multifunctional nature of rural areas and to preserve the particularities of each rural area in the world.
By 'multifunctional' we understand a rural area which generates income and employment, which protects physical and socio-cultural environment, biodiversity and landscape, which promotes balanced land management and contributes to overall development through maintaining the unique cultural values and lifestyles of the area.
However, poorer communities' basic necessities should be given priority.
Point 3: A more integrated approach: World trade and active rural area development policies
It is essential that agri-food trade policies and objectives contain a social and environmental agenda which provides a global framework supportive of autonomous rural policies applied at local, state, supra-state and international levels, reinforces international action plans and promotes fair trade.
Point 4: Positive discrimination towards multifunctional agriculture and disadvantaged rural areas
In keeping with the principle of protecting and promoting multifunctional rural areas, existing agricultural policies should reward to those who most need them and who make the largest socio-cultural and environmental contributions. Governments should withdraw support from scheme that reward quantity production, such as through fixed price public purchasing, because these only serve to concentrate wealth in the largest farms. Rural policies should favour the development of Mountain Areas, and Other Less-favoured Areas, encourage agri-environmental activities and promote food quality.
Each society settles on its own territory or geographical area must assume responsibility of preserving the biodiversity, avoiding the degradation or deterioration of the nature, promoting the rural life and to achieve the food safety levels, according to its own possibilities and its development level. The rural/urban balances are narrowly linked with the degree of progress reached by each whole society.
Point 5: Progressive development of an active international policy for rural areas
The impacts experienced by developing countries because of the policies of the developed countries necessitate the development of international policy by international authorities as a means of international cooperation and solidarity, so as not to lose the invaluable cultural, socio-economic and environmental heritage of the rural areas in the developing countries.
The main components of such rural policy include training and sector restructuring, guaranteeing food supply, integral development of rural communities, poverty reduction, recognition of local knowledge; community empowerment and participation, set up of active cooperation networks, enhancement of the position of women, technological cooperation - in order to share and suit technological changes to the particular situation of each country, region or area.
Point 6: International cooperation
The international cooperation intended for the developing countries, in order to support the rural life, to preserve the natural resources and to increase the food production, calls for a more active and decisive solidarity from behalf the richer societies to the purpose of avoiding environmental, cultural and social degradation processes in a huge part of the world's regions.
It is necessary to ensure compatibility between maintenance of working conditions, national regulation, environmental protection, and respect for developing countries' legitimate competitive advantages, often based on lower labour costs and on larger endowments of natural resources.
Point 7: The role of regional authorities and NGOs in the new international policy organisation: Efficiency, participation and subsidiarity
Because of their proximity to the necessities and desires of rural population, the participation of regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, civil society and the community at large in the design and implementation of state, supra-state and international policies must be increased as far as efficiency gains will be achieved.
The active participation of local institutions and organisations must also be encouraged within the international bodies of the United Nations system and the WTO, so recognising in the concept of the Subsidiarity Principle and keeping the current level of representation that the different institutions have in these international organisations.
Point 8: Development of international institutions as focal point of the new policy organisation
Enhancing policies and procedures to guarantee the multifunctional nature of rural areas of ALL of the world should become an objective to be carried out by supra-national institutions (FAO, UNCTAD, World Bank, WHO, ILO, IMF, etc), which in order to reach this goal should work in an absolutely coordinated way, both among themselves and with the WTO. These institutions should also contribute to the development of particularities in developing countries for the identification and defence of their interests in international negotiations.
The international organisations involved in the development of worldwide rural areas must guarantee their universality, openness and accessibility.
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