EU Parliament calls for enhanced cohesion policy to support rural areas
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Prosperous rural areas
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
A European Parliament resolution of 17 June 2025 aims to strengthen EU rural areas through reinforced cohesion policy measures. It calls for increased investment in short supply chains, innovation in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, improved connectivity and mobility, and equal access to essential services.
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The resolution (short version) calls on the European Commission to ensure that the future cohesion policy is firmly and comprehensively focused on the development of rural areas, fulfilling its central role in reducing regional disparities. It stresses the need for an integrated European strategy for the revitalisation of rural areas.
The resolution further urges the Commission to develop a dedicated rural strategy for the post‑2027 programming period. It calls on both the Commission and Member States to ensure the incorporation of a rural dimension in relevant policies and to make sure that the strategy promotes the economic and social development of rural areas.
The strategy should enhance synergies between cohesion funds, Horizon Europe research initiatives, and the common agricultural policy (CAP) in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) to make rural areas more connected, competitive, resilient and attractive to young people and investors.
The resolution also calls for increased financial allocations for Integrated territorial investment (ITI) plans and reinforced synergies with other EU funding mechanisms, including LEADER and CLLD, which are seen as key instruments for fostering bottom-up participatory rural development.
The resolution follows on a dedicated report adopted in May 2025 by the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI) led by Rapporteur MEP Denis Nesci.