National rural networks (NRNs), group administrations and organisations active in rural development. NRNs were introduced for the first time in the EU rural development policy of 2007-2013 and have been carried over into the 2014-2020 programming period. NRNs can either operate as a specific intervention within a single Rural Development Programme (RDP), financed from Technical Assistance or be established as a stand-alone programme with an independent budget 1 (national rural network programme – NRNP) 2. In the programming period 2014- 2020 most NRNs are established as part of a RDP, with the exception of Germany, Italy and France who have chosen to establish NRNPs.