An Advisory Panel has been set up, comprising ‘stakeholders’ that are directly involved in the economy of rural areas in 7 participating countries (Hungary, Poland, Greece, Finland, UK, Spain and Germany) such as SMEs networks, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Development Agencies, etc, to act as a “sounding board” for the Observatory activities, providing feedback to the design and implementation of the research activities and the dissemination of their results. The panel acts as a mediator, in spreading the benefits of the project results to the end-beneficiaries of lifelong learning policies in rural areas. The members of the Advisory Panel have the status of “observer partners” of the project.

The Advisory Panel partners are:

• Association of Enterprises in South Ostrobothnia - FI
  Contact person: Juha Tall, juha.tall@yrittajat.fi
• Messinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - GR
  Contact person: George Karabatos, info@kalamata.chambernet.gr
• Agency for information and extension for continuous education in Mecklenburg Vorpmmern - DE
  Contact person: Gerhard Evers, wib@wib-mv.de
• Spanish Network for Rural Development - ES
  Contact person: Aurelio Garcia Bermúdez, redr@redr.es
• European Leader Association for Rural Development - ES
  Contact person: Jack Roche, redr@redr.es
• Scientific Association fro Development of Micro-Regions - HU
  Contact person: Zsolt Szoboszlai, szoboszl@rkk.hu
• Local Initiatives Association in Lubicz – PL
  Contact person: Wojciech Kniec, kniec@uni.torun.pl
• E-SY.info, South Yorkshire e-Learning Programme – UK
  Contact person: Vernon Jones, vernon.jones@sheffield.gov.uk