V European Greenways Conference

Introduction

The Spanish Railways Foundation (SRF) and the European Greenways Association (EGWA) are organizing the V European Greenways Conference, to be held in June of 2010, in Madrid, coinciding with the period of the Spanish presidency of the European Union and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Lille declaration.

EGWA was created in 1998 with the aim of spreading and promoting greenways in Europe and has developed so far numerous projects, co-financed by the European Commission and national partners. Currently 32 member organisations from 10 countries support EGWA: national, regional and local institutions, greenway managers and promoters, associations and foundations, public railways companies, etc.

The Spanish Railways Foundation (SRF) is a public body which coordinates and promotes the Spanish Greenways Program since 1993, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) and the Spanish Railways Infrastructure Managers (ADIF, FEVE). Spain currently has 1,700 km of disused railway lines operating as more than 70 greenways.

The SRF holds, since 2009, the EGWA General Secretariat and hosts the new executive office seat; EGWA social seat is held in Namur (Belgium) from its constitution in 1998.

European countries are increasing their interest in developing infrastructures to promote non-motorized commuting and travel between citizens as a clean and healthy form of leisure sustainable tourism in rural areas and creating jobs. In this context, Greenways play a very important role as they are accessible for every people, continuous, secure and very attractive, thus promoting a change of mentality and attitudes on citizens.

Objectives:

The aim is the exchange of experiences and good practices, between political and technical agents in charge of European Greenways entailed in its planning, maintenance, management and promotion, as well as related civil associations such as as: cyclists, pedestrian, disable people, and companies interested in its use and operation. The event will also focus on proposing recommendations to promote and develop a European greenways policy.

Participants:

The Conference is oriented to experts, consultants, politicians and technicians involved in the development and promotion of greenways and non motorised itineraries, working in areas such as environment, sustainable mobility and transport, active tourism, universal accessibility, rural development, healthful leisure, regional balance and employment.

Information
Place and date:

Madrid June 10th -12th, 2010

Wednesday 9th of June at 20.00 h.
Registration and welcome.
Place: Fernán Nuñez Palace (SRF Seat). Santa Isabel 44. Madrid.

Thursday 10th and Friday 11th of June.
Conference
Place: “Caixa Forum”. Paseo del Prado, 36. Madrid

Saturday 12th of June.
Technical visit to Vía Verde de la Jara.

Registration fees:

Full registration fee: 200 €

Reduced registration fee: 150 € for early registration before 10th of May.

EGWA members fee: 50% discount for 1 fee (not applicable to the reduced fee).

Other information:

Languages:
English, French and Spanish.

Posters:
Exhibition space for posters. Information requested: name, position and organization of the author, title and abstract (max. 200 words) of the poster, submitted by email to gestionvv@ffe.es before 26th of April.

Accommodation
Below is a list of hotels near the venue, with which the organization has agreed special rates. In order to be applicable you must include “European Greenway Conference” in the reservation. Reservations must be done directly by the participants.
Bicycle Rental & Tours.
Those attendees who wish to visit some of the Spanish greenways, or simply want to rent a bicycle during their stay may contact:

PANGEA, Educación y Deporte en la Naturaleza, S.L.
Calle Melilla, 10 – local
28005 MADRID
PHONE: 91 517 28 39
Email: pangea@rutaspangea.com
http://www.rutaspangea.com/

The organization will not organize bike rentals, routes and will not take care of the cost of renting a bicycle, except for the bicycles to be used on the technical visit of Saturday 12 June.

Technical Visit to the Jara Greenway (Toledo) 12 June
In short it will provide a detailed program of the visit. To facilitate planning your trip, we inform you that

The technical and physical difficulty of the route is very low.

The visit will last all day on 12 June. From approximately 09:00 to 20:00

The organization will pay for transportation, meals and bike hire for registered attendees.

You can find more information of the Jara Greenway on the website of the spanish greenways program (link>>)

Program / Presentations
PROGRAM

Thursday 10th of June

9:30 OPENING CEREMONY

  • Mr. José Blanco. Spanish Minister of Public Works.
  • Mr. Antonio González. President. ADIF
  • Mr. Pedro Ortún. New Approach Industries, Tourism and CSR. DG Enterprise and Industry. European Commission.
  • Mr. Gilbert Perrin. President. President European Greenways Association (EGWA).
  • Mr. Eduardo Fayos. World Tourism Organization – Regional Representative for Europe.
  • Mr. Jaime Barreiro. Director of the Spanish Railways Foundation (EGWA).

10:00 EUROPEAN DIMENSION OF GREENWAYS

  • Mr. Pedro Ortún. New Approach Industries, Tourism and CSR. DG Enterprise and Industry. European Commission.
  • Mr. Gilbert Perrin. President. European Greenways Association (EGWA)

10:30 Session 1: National greenways programs.

Moderates: Mr. Joaquín Jiménez. Director of International Affairs. Adif – Spain.

11:30 Coffee break

12:00 Session 2: Heritage preservation and new uses for infraestructure.

Moderates: Ms. Carmen Aycart. General Secretary EGWA

13:30 Open discussion and questions

14:00 Lunch break

15:30 Session 3: Tourist promotion and market strategies

Moderates: Ms. Mercedes Muñoz. Director. EGWA

17:00 Coffe break

17:30 Session 4: The role of greenways in long distance networks and itineraries.

Moderates: Mr. Gilbert Perrin. President. EGWA

19:00 Open discussion and question

19:30 End of the working sessions

Friday 11th of June

9:30 Session 5: Social and economical benefits of greenways (Part I)

Moderates: Mr. Gilbert Perrin. President, EGWA

11:00 Open discussion and questions

11:30 Lunch break

12:00 Session 5: Social and economical benefits of greenways (Part II)

Moderates: Ms. Mercedes Muñoz. Director EGWA

13:30 Open discussion and questions

14:00 Lunch break

15:30 Session 6: Equipment and services for all

Moderates: Ms. Carmen Aycart. General Secretary. EGWA

17:00 Coloquio

17:30 CEREMONIA DE CLAUSURA:

Press Release – V European Greenways Conference Pressnote
Madrid Declaration – MADRID DECLARATION-eng
Location: Array