Hungarian LEADER groups call for stronger rural participation in post-2027 policies
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
Representatives of 40 Hungarian Local Action Groups (LAGs) adopted a joint Declaration calling for stronger local decision-making, predictable LEADER funding and meaningful rural participation in future EU policies at a national LEADER event held on 23 September 2026 in Kakucs, Hungary.
Image by Felső-Homokhátság Rural Development Association
The event Rural development in cohesion policy 2028-2034 brought together LAGs, policymakers, rural development institutions and other stakeholders to discuss the future of LEADER/Community-led Local Development (CLLD) and the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs).
The Rural Pact Support Office (RPSO) contributed to the discussions, presenting the Rural Pact’s role in supporting integrated rural development and stakeholder participation in EU policy processes.
A joint Declaration on the future of rural development and LEADER
The resulting Declaration, ‘For the Future of Hungary’s Rural Areas and LEADER Beyond 2028’, sets out seven priorities:
- Rural participation: establish a permanent, bottom-up Hungarian Rural Pact through broad public consultation;
- Local decision-making: strengthen LAGs’ powers over local strategies, funding priorities and project selection;
- Strategic partnerships: involve LAGs in planning, implementing and evaluating future NRPPs and territorial interventions;
- Predictable funding: secure dedicated LEADER resources reflecting territorial needs and operating costs;
- Integrated development: enable multi-funded, multisectoral approaches and urban–rural cooperation;
- Simplification: reduce administrative burdens, duplicate checks and uncertainty;
- Rural proofing and accountability: introduce transparent rural impact assessments and an implementation plan for Hungary’s Rural Pact commitment, with measurable objectives and public evaluation.
The Declaration welcomes Hungary’s political commitment under the EU Rural Pact and offers LAGs’ expertise and networks to support its implementation.
Connecting Hungary’s rural development debate with EU policy
The RPSO contribution to the event focused on the Rural Pact’s role in supporting integrated rural development, cooperation and stakeholder participation in EU policy processes. It also covered relevant EU policy initiatives and proposals for the post-2027 period, particularly those concerning LEADER/CLLD and the NRPPs, and the importance of local capacity and place-based approaches.
The Declaration’s signatories expressed their readiness to cooperate with national and EU partners to contribute to Hungary’s long-term rural development strategy and future NRPP.