Building inclusive rural futures: community action and social economy in focus
A recent policy workshop, co-organised by the EU research projects ESIRA and SERIGO, suggests that rural policy should shift from fragmented interventions to a holistic, place-based and inclusive approach that builds on local networks, social economy and community-driven innovation.
Image by the SERIGO and ESIRA projects
The workshop (20 November 2025 – Brussels, Belgium) concluded that social economy, community-led initiatives and tailored support mechanisms should become core elements of rural development strategies, rather than isolated add-ons. The event reviewed evidence from the ESIRA and SERIGO projects, highlighting how rural realities – including demographic change, service gaps, social exclusion and economic vulnerability – require integrated responses beyond traditional sectoral policies.
Emerging recommendations include:
- Integrated solutions are essential: rural challenges in services, housing and employment are deeply interconnected and need to be addressed through holistic, cross-sector strategies rather than isolated interventions.
- Boost communication and awareness: the social economy is still not well understood, and stronger communication at EU, national and local levels is needed to ensure its potential is recognised by policymakers and communities.
- Strengthen enabling frameworks: supportive legal conditions and cooperative structures are crucial to scale social-economy initiatives and encourage collaboration across sectors and territories.
- Adopt a long-term, anticipatory approach: rural development policies should be guided by foresight and forward-looking planning to build durable resilience.
- Ground solutions in rural realities: move beyond Brussels-centred debates and work closely with rural actors to design policies that genuinely reflect local needs and contexts.
- Adapt policy frameworks: more effective rural development requires rural-proofed policies, simplified funding, greater empowerment of local authorities and fairer urban–rural reciprocity to enable inclusive and sustainable growth.
Workshop discussions also emphasised the need for multi-stakeholder governance and long-term funding frameworks responsive to local needs. Participants emphasised that the principles discussed during the event should inform upcoming EU and national rural policy reforms, particularly in the context of shaping the post-2027 policy framework.