Connect, exchange and collaborate: discover the Rural Pact Community Groups

The Community Groups bring together Rural Pact members around topics that matter for the future of rural areas, such as depopulation, Smart Villages, tourism, mobility, social economy, youth, women and energy transition. They offer a place where stakeholders from different countries and sectors can exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and learn from one another. 

Stronger support for Community Groups 

RPSO’s enhanced approach in 2026-2027 aims to provide Community Groups with clearer planning, stronger facilitation and closer links with other Rural Pact activities. Community Group coordinators continue to lead discussions and shape priorities, while benefitting from additional support for planning, engagement, outreach and knowledge sharing. 

The objective is to help the Community Groups evolve beyond online discussion spaces into active communities of practice where members can contribute ideas, identify common priorities and connect their work to wider Rural Pact activities, events and publications. 

From annual priorities to concrete activities 

A key innovation introduced in 2026 is the development of Annual Group Work Plans (AGWPs) for all Community Groups. Prepared jointly by coordinators and the RPSO, these plans help each group define annual objectives, priorities and milestones while remaining flexible enough to respond to emerging opportunities and needs. 

The plans serve several purposes. They help coordinators organise activities throughout the year, provide members with greater visibility on upcoming discussions and opportunities, and encourage collaboration across groups working on related topics. 

Across the twelve groups, common priorities include strengthening member participation, promoting peer learning, sharing practical knowledge and contributing to wider rural policy discussions. Examples of planned activities range from thematic webinars, virtual cafés and member surveys to policy discussions, exchanges of good practices and collaborative outputs. 

Why join a Community Group? 

Community Groups provide an opportunity to connect directly with people working on similar issues across Europe. Members can exchange experiences, discover practical examples, discuss emerging challenges and contribute to ongoing conversations on rural development. 

Several groups are already organising regular activities that bring members together.  

The social economy group directly contributed to EU-level policy discussions. For the first time ever, a Rural Pact Community Group was invited to engage with the European Commission’s DG AGRI and DG EMPL during consultations on the forthcoming Rural Action Plan update and the Social Economy Action Plan mid-term review. Group members provided feedback on the role of social economy actors in supporting rural development, employment and social inclusion. 

The rural repopulation group has facilitated exchanges on local responses to depopulation, connecting members with practical experiences and policy approaches from across Europe and inspiring further collaboration between stakeholders.  

The rural tourism group has organised meetings on governance, capacity building and the future of rural tourism, while also contributing to preparations for the European Congress on Rural Tourism of 6-9 May 2026.  

Beyond thematic discussions, the Community Groups also offer opportunities to: