Event - Governance meeting

Rural Pact Coordination Group: fourth meeting

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.

  • Organised by Rural Pact
  • - CET
  • English
  • Belgium, European Union
  • Online

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
  • 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;

  • Present position papers by RPCG members on the future of EU rural areas;

  • 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; 

  • Exchange on possible RPCG member involvement in the Rural Pact Conference of April 2025.

English language

Agenda

(PDF – 185.57 Ko)

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. 

Meeting documents

Resources

Documents

English language

Highlights report

(PDF – 710.17 Ko)

Presentations

English language

Empowering rural areas for the future, Enrique Nieto, Rural Pact Support Office

(PDF – 466.99 Ko)

English language

Joint Position Paper of several German members of the CoR, Schmitz, Council of European Municipalities and Regions

(PDF – 576.87 Ko)

English language

The RPCG Declaration of the future rural development policy, Edina Ocsko, RPCG Vice-Chair

(PDF – 955.01 Ko)

English language

Ideas for dissemination of the RPCG Declaration, Edina Ocsko, RPCG Vice-Chair

(PDF – 942.55 Ko)

English language

RPCG actions taken by EESC since the last meeting in April, Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

(PDF – 618.28 Ko)

English language

NAT914 toward a greater involvement of member states, regions, and civil society, Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

(PDF – 347.19 Ko)

English language

Shaping the activities of the Rural Pact and seeking for synergies between RPCG and RPSO, Pascale van Doren, Rural Pact Support Office

(PDF – 299.83 Ko)

English language

Shaping the activities of the Rural Pact and seeking for synergies between RPCG and RPSO, Pascale van Doren, Rural Pact Support Office

(PDF – 848.86 Ko)