Manifesto on rural areas’ future presented at National LEADER conference in Portugal
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
Rural development must be recognised as a strategic priority for national and European public policies, with instruments suited to the diversity and needs of the territories. This is a key message of the Vila Verde Manifesto for the Future of Rural Areas, introduced at the Portuguese national conference on LEADER and rural development on 30 October 2026.
Image by Starcevic from Getty Images Signature
The manifesto (available in English and Portuguese) sets out several proposals for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, built around four priorities:
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Recognising rural development as a strategic priority;
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Ensuring stable funding for LEADER/ Community-led Local Development (CLLD);
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Safeguarding the effective participation of local partners in setting priorities, selecting projects and monitoring strategies;
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Adapting procedures and instruments to the scale of local investments.
The Portuguese national conference on rural development, organised by Minha Terra, brought together representatives from Local Action Groups (LAGs), political leaders, public authorities, experts and local development agents to discuss the future of LEADER in rural development and territorial cohesion policies.
Speakers highlighted the need to foster rural attractiveness, ensure adequate conditions to live, work and invest, recognise the role of LEADER and LAGs and increase the involvement of local actors in decision-making processes.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on LEADER/CLLD, as well as dedicated resources from the High-level Rural Policy Forum held in Naas, Ireland, which included a particular focus on LEADER/CLLD.