Join the EESC stakeholder workshop on rural proofing on 4 May!
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising an interactive stakeholder workshop as part of the preparation of its own-initiative opinion on rural proofing. The workshop takes place on 4 May at the EESC premises in Brussels.
Image by Esperanza33 from Getty Images on Canva
The EESC is seeking stakeholder feedback for the preparation of its forthcoming opinion ‘A rural proofing tool to unlock the full potential of rural areas and communities through better rural-centred EU policymaking for a fair and sustainable EU’.
Objectives of the workshop
- Exchange experiences and best practices on existing rural proofing tools and approaches at national and regional levels;
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies and enabling factors in current rural proofing practices across policy sectors and governance levels;
- Collect input on key methodological elements for an EU-level rural proofing tool, including scope, timing, instruments, levels of application and enforcement;
- Explore governance mechanisms to ensure coordination, accountability, capacity building and stakeholder engagement;
- Gather civil society perspectives on how rural proofing can better contribute to implementing the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas (LTVRA) in a coherent, inclusive and gender-sensitive way.
This workshop will bring together stakeholders, experts and institutional representatives to exchange practical experiences, identify best practices and contribute concrete input on rural proofing tools, methodologies and governance. The outcomes will directly inform the drafting of the EESC opinion.
Practical information
Date: Monday, 4 May
Time: 14:30 – 17:30
Location: EESC premises, Brussels
If you would like to take part in this workshop or receive further information, please get in touch with Nicolas.Stenger@eesc.europa.eu.
Background information
Rural areas are essential to Europe’s prosperity, resilience and territorial cohesion. However, many rural, island, border and sparsely populated regions continue to face persistent structural challenges and are not always sufficiently considered in policymaking processes.
While several rural proofing mechanisms already exist across Europe, their application remains fragmented and lacks a shared EU-level definition and methodology.