Hungary commits to integrated and coordinated rural development through the EU Rural Pact

The commitment was signed by Dr Mátyás Szabó, State Secretary of Regional and Rural Development, on 14 August 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. 

Through its commitment, the Ministry will implement seven complementary actions to strengthen governance, stakeholder engagement and coordination for rural development.

These include establishing structured dialogue with rural stakeholders through a national Rural Pact framework, with regular consultations, an annual conference, and mechanisms to inform the government’s rural development strategy and vision. The Ministry also commits to strengthening cross-government coordination through dedicated governance arrangements, including a Ministerial Commissioner for EU Rural Development Planning and Coordination.

The commitment also includes strengthening networking and capacity building for rural stakeholders, while supporting LEADER, Smart Villages and other community-led approaches. In parallel, the Ministry will develop a long-term, integrated rural development strategy addressing economic development, services, infrastructure, housing, mobility, healthcare, culture and community development, while empowering local communities to shape local priorities.

Further actions focus on introducing rural proofing within the government's rural policy framework, strengthening the use of territorial information systems, improving coordination between national, regional and local actors, and enhancing synergies between cohesion and common agricultural policies and national funding programmes. The Ministry will also develop one-stop-shop support mechanisms, building on the expertise of LEADER Local Action Groups, to improve access to funding for rural communities.

By submitting this commitment, Hungary joins a growing number of public authorities across Europe strengthening rural areas and contributing to the shared goals of the EU rural vision through the EU Rural Pact.

Political commitments under the Rural Pact are voluntary actions by public authorities, supporting improved governance, stronger stakeholder engagement and better coordination of policies affecting rural areas.