-
-
CEST
- English
- Château du Biez - Nearest city: Kortrijk/Courtrai (Belgium), Belgique
- In-person
The Rural Pact Conference, organised by the Rural Pact Support Office, gathered 250 participants from across Europe. The event offered two days of networking and exchanges on advancing the rural vision 2040, updating the Rural Action Plan and guiding Rural Pact actions and future policies.
Objectives
- Exchange and draw lessons from the Rural Action Plan and co-create ideas to keep advancing towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas through an updated Rural Action Plan and future policies;
- Boost networking opportunities among the Rural Pact community members and build capacities for action;
- Facilitate exchanges to collect ideas and recommendations to guide future Rural Pact action.
Videos
- Welcome and opening interventions
- Integrating EU policies at EU and Member State levels
- Key priorities for the future of rural areas
- New political landscape, better rural statistics
- Rural society in the digital era
- Rural areas as key players in the energy transition
- Making rural areas attractive places for young generations
- Empowering local communities to enhance resilience
- Boosting innovative and competitive rural economies and businesses
- Ensuring the ‘right to stay’ in rural areas: addressing demographic challenges through place-based approaches and access to services
- Building inclusive rural communities
- Driving local prosperity through bioeconomy
- Key recommendations for the future
- Closing the event
Background
In June 2021, following the mandate of President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission published the communication on the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas up to 2040 (the rural vision - LTVRA). It recognises the vital role that rural areas and their communities play in shaping Europe’s identity and economic potential, and the need to preserve these areas and invest in their future.
The rural vision introduced the EU Rural Action Plan, comprising 24 thematic actions and six horizontal actions, including the Rural Pact launched in June 2022 at the first 'Rural Pact Conference' in Brussels. These actions are organised around four action areas: stronger, connected, resilient, and prosperous rural areas.
The Rural Pact serves as a pivotal mechanism, mobilising stakeholders across governance levels to amplify rural voices, foster collaboration and mutual learning, and encourage commitments towards the shared goals of the rural vision. Since then, more than 3 200 stakeholders have joined the Pact and nearly 1 700 of them are part of the online community platform.
Since the launch of the rural vision, important progress has been made in the implementation of the Rural Action Plan, including in the context of the Rural Pact. The European Commission’ report from March 2024 'The Long-Term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas: Key Achievements and Ways Forward' outlines the progress made and highlights ideas for further support raised by EU institutions and stakeholders. It also identifies areas requiring additional effort and continuity to achieve their objectives. In February 2025, in its Communication on a “Vision for agriculture and food”, the Commission committed to work towards an updated EU Rural Action Plan in 2025 and to strengthen the Rural Pact, among other actions contributing to fair living and working conditions in vibrant rural areas, in which rural citizens should have the right to stay.
This Rural Pact Conference brought together the Rural Pact community to reflect on and learn from the practices and experiences implemented under the rural action plan and look at the future to ensure stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas. By engaging with the Rural Pact community, the Conference collected needs and ideas for the updated EU Rural Action Plan, and contributed to the political debate shaping future policies for rural areas.
Finally, the Conference reviewed the achievements of the Rural Pact, listened to its community and particularly local stakeholders, and collected recommendations to shape and guide its future direction.
Target Audience
The event was mainly targeted to formal members of the Rural Pact Community (become a member of the Rural Pact). It brought together over 250 representatives of civil society organisations, policymakers and public authorities, LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs), academics and researchers, businesses and citizens keen on actively contributing to the future of rural areas.
Programme
Agenda
(PDF – 297.93 Ko)
Additional info
Venue
Château du Biez
Rue de Lannoy 145, Pecq, 7740 Nearest city: Kortrijk/Courtrai (Belgium) Belgique
Organiser
Rural Pact Support Office
Other
Média
