Commitment to the EU Rural Pact – Opolskie Voivodeship, Poland

• To implement the goals of the long-term vision for the EU's rural areas through its own initiative – Opole Rural Renewal 2.0 (pl. Opolska Odnowa Wsi 2.0) – as well as other activities for rural areas adopted for implementation under national programmes or those financed by the European Union, and selected objectives of the Rural Pact, striving to achieve the goals of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient rural development.

For over a quarter of a century, the Opolskie Voivodeship has been a pioneer in supporting rural development in Poland, as well as a promoter of European standards in this field. It was in this region that the ‘Opole Rural Renewal Programme’ was launched in 1997, based on the principles of self-organisation, partnership, local identity, and intergenerational solidarity. Thanks to this initiative, residents of hundreds of villages became active participants in local development processes, and the model was later adopted by other Polish regions.

The Voivodeship actively participates in an international network for rural development cooperation, particularly through its membership in the European Working Community for Rural Development and Village Renewal (de. ARGE – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Landentwicklung und Dorferneuerung), which brings together regions and countries from 21 European States. As a result, Opolskie not only benefits from the best European practices, but also contributes to shaping them.

A continuation and enhancement of these efforts is the ‘Opole Rural Renewal 2.0’ initiative, launched in 2025. It constitutes a comprehensive framework for rural development in the Opolskie Voivodeship, combining 25 years of local community achievements with new challenges. Embedded in the ‘Opolskie 2030’ Regional Development Strategy, the initiative is aimed at:

• Strengthening local and regional identity;

• Preserving cultural, natural, and culinary heritage, including both tangible and intangible rural heritage;

• Creating high-quality places, facilities, and public spaces;

• Fostering broad civic engagement of rural residents in social and developmental activities;

• Strengthening rural leadership and enhancing the competencies of community leaders and organisations;

• Guiding visions of change and supporting the creation and implementation of village renewal and development plans, including through digital tools;

• Promoting exemplary solutions and social attitudes;

• Consolidating social participation and cooperation among village councils (sołectwa);

• Ensuring the transfer of ideas and knowledge on local development mechanisms, as well as information on available development support, particularly that provided by the regional self-government.

Read the formally signed commitment document.

Commitment signing and acknowledgement

The commitment was signed on 5 November 2025 in Brussels by Szymon Ogłaza, Marshal of the Opolskie Voivodeship. It was formally recognised during a high-level session of the Rural Pact Policy Action Lab ‘Rural areas and communities in the post-2027 EU budget and policies’, held in the presence of EU institutions, Member States and rural stakeholders.

Public authorities’ commitments to the Rural Pact

Commitments by public authorities are voluntary actions intended to implement some of the elements identified as key to achieve the objectives of the Rural Pact at national and regional levels, such as strengthened governance, funding coordination, rural proofing and stakeholder engagement. 

They help ensure that the ten shared goals of the EU rural vision guide policies across all levels of government.

All public authorities’ commitments to the Rural Pact Submission process for public authorities   More Rural Pact actions in Poland