Entente Florale

History

Entente Florale Europe is a competition for Towns and Villages. The competition name puns on the Entente Cordiale ("Friendly Understanding", 1904). Each participating country puts forward a representative Town and Village. The Town and Village are visited by the Jury and an assessment is made. The competition was founded about 41 years ago, initially between Great Britain and France. At present there are twelve member countries and further applications are being processed.

In 1996, an international non profit association (AISBL) was founded under the name of Association Européenne pour le Fleurissement et le Paysage (European Association for Blooming and the Countryside), with the responsibility of the overall organisation of the competition and to obtain support from official bodies in the different countries. The AEFP is incorporated under the Belgian Law of 8 September 1997, and the Statutes were published in the Belgian Monitor on 8 September 1998. The amended articles, by Law of May 2, 2002 were published in the Belgian Monitor on April 28, 2006.

Since 1998 under the aegis of the 'Association Européenne pour le Fleurissement et le Paysage', the association and the competition Entente Florale Europe are open to all countries in the European Union as well as to the EFTA members countries (European Free Trade Association).

The competition has enjoyed the support of the International Association of Horticulture producers (AIPH) since its inception. In individual countries the competition is supported and organised by Ministries/Department of Agriculture, Tourism, as well as horticultural bodies and associations.

The President represents the association and is acting for 2 years. Each successive President shall be from a different country per alphabetic order.

Participation

Who can Enter ?

The competition is open to all countries in the EU and in the EFTA subject to approval by the board of AEFP. There are three categories, every member country can put forward 2 entries from two different categories.

Cities/Towns (population over 30,000)

Towns (population between 5,000 and 30,000)

Villages (population below 5,000)

How & When to Enter ?

Applications are made by the national organisation in charge of the competition.

New members are elected by the Board of Directors of the AEFP, by simple majority, at its twice yearly meetings (March & September).

Notification of entrants from existing members should reach the Secretariat before December 31 of the year prior to adjudication.

Organisation

Who organises the Competition?

Overall organisations is by the "Association Européenne du Fleurissement et du Paysage" (A.E.F.P.). AEFP is a non-profit organization, incorporated under Belgian Law(s). Each participant country has its own organisation and is entitled to membership on the Board of Directors of the AEFP. The competition has enjoyed the support of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) since its inception. In individual countries the competition is supported and organised by Ministries/Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Tourism as well as horticultural bodies and associations.

The Aim of the Competition

The overall aim of the competition is the improvement of the quality of life for local urban and village communities. To this end the competition fosters:

The greening of towns and villages

Flowers, shrubs, green spaces, parks

Development which is environmentally and ecologically sensitive

Educational and communication initiatives which promote environmental awareness.

Advantages of Joining

You will

Enhance the reputation of your town, village, country

Facilitate contacts of a tourist, cultural nature

Improve the appearance and fabric of your towns and villages

Foster community spirit and enhance the quality of life

Enable citizens to assume ownership of their local environment

Jury members in 2015

Austria (AT)

Martin Wagner, Horticultural engineer; Vice-chair of the jury

Johanna Renat, Spatial planner

Belgium (BE)

Rudi Geerardyn, Landscape architect & Town planner; Chair of the jury

Czech Republic (CZ)

Inka Truxova, Landscape architect

Petr Šiřina, Landscape architect

Jaroslav Brzak, Landscape architect

Germany (DE)

Dr. Rüdiger Kirsten, Landscape architect & Town planner; Vice-chair of the jury

Hildegunde Franziska Henrich, Landscape architect & Town planner

Hungary (HU)

Dr. Andrea BOCSI, Tourism expert & Economist

Dr. Ildikó Réka Báthoryné Nagy, Landscape architect

Szilvia Halász Spanyárné, Landscape architect

Ireland (IE)

Eamonn De Stafort, Tourism consultant

Dr. Christy Boylan, Horticulturist & Landscape architect

Italy (IT)

Anna Furlani Pedoja, Landscape architect

Jacopo Fontaneto, Agriculture and Green Journalist, Tourism consultant

Mauro Paradisi, Municipal urban designer

Netherlands (NL)

Nico Anthony Brink Landscape architect

Marjolijn Ruijs, Landscape contractor

Slovenia (SI)

Anton Schlaus, Architect & Consultant for energy efficient building

Martina Schlaus, Architect & Conservator for Cultural Heritage

United Kingdom (UK)

Peter Holman, Horticultural & Greenspace Consultant

David Littlewood, Horticulturist

Mark WASILEWSKI, Park Management

Previous winners

Note re UK representatives -

Notes

Note 1 - in some cases the overall winner from the UK is not named in "Britain in Bloom" by Graham Ashworth as an Entente Florale Representative (namely Bath in 1975 and Pateley Bridge in 1978). Note 2 - Luxembourg competed between years 1980 - 1988. Note 3 - Switzerland competed between years 1984 - 1986. Note 4 - Portugal competed in year 1991 and between years 1994 - 2000. Note 5 - Canada competed between years 1992 - 1993.