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CET
- English
- Belgium, European Union
- Online
The fourth meeting of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) built on the results of previous meetings and RPCG member activities, in particular the forthcoming RPCG Declaration on the future EU rural policy.
The RPCG Declaration is a response to the ‘long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas: key achievements and ways forward’ report in view of feeding into the post-2027 EU programming.
The meeting kicked off to prepare the Rural Pact Conference in April 2025 and continue enhancing the ownership of RPCG work by its members.
Objectives
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Consolidate the RPCG Declaration on the future EU rural policy, which addresses the European Commission’s open questions set out in the ‘key achievements and ways forward’ report, and discuss further policy and operational steps to be taken;
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Present position papers by RPCG members on the future of EU rural areas;
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Take stock of the actions implemented by RPCG members and the Rural Pact Support Office since the last meeting in April 2024, and overview forthcoming actions, including the next RPSO annual work programme for member feedback;
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Exchange on possible RPCG member involvement in the Rural Pact Conference of April 2025.
Agenda
(PDF – 185.57 KB)
Background
The Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) is the key governance body of the Rural Pact, composed of up to 30 representatives of the Rural Pact community. Acting as a network of organisations and institutions, the RPCG plays a crucial role in further developing and steering the Rural Pact, representing the diverse range of participants involved in this initiative.
The third RPCG meeting discussed how the rural vision and Pact can be moved forward across EU countries and regions. Participants exchanged on recent EU-level reports, including the long-term vision: key achievements and ways forward, the ninth cohesion policy report, and the high-level group report on the Future of Cohesion Policy.
Additionally, the meeting took stock of the actions implemented by RPCG members, as well as those of the European Commission and the Rural Pact Support Office (RPSO). It discussed and prepared next steps, including actions of RPCG members at national, regional and local levels in 2024, as well as members’ working processes. The RPCG decided that members will issue a political declaration.