New Declaration on the future of EU rural areas and rural development policy
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Prosperous rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Connected rural areas
The Declaration, adopted by the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) on 12 December 2024, sets out a strategic proposal for the post-2027 EU funds and policies to address the challenges faced by rural areas.
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The Declaration calls for a strong shift in future policies to ensure the sustainability and resilience of EU’s rural areas in the long run, suggesting:
- Increased and streamlined funding for rural areas through a compulsory minimum allocation to rural areas from all post-2027 EU funds and a better resourcing of community-led, place-based approaches, such as LEADER and Smart Villages;
- Enhanced coordination among relevant administrative bodies at all governance levels, compulsory implementation of the Rural Pact model, including multi-fund and multi-stakeholder coordination, and guidance and training for the implementation of ‘rural proofing’;
- Capacity building for local actors, including on access to funding, tailored interventions reflecting the diversity of rural areas and their particular needs, and extended use of data to inform evidence- and result-based future policies.
Explore the Declaration in detail and if you agree with the proposals it sets out, feel free to use it in your advocacy activities and disseminate it within your networks. Translations in all official EU languages will be made available shortly.
The document is a collective response to the questions set out in the European Commission’s report on the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas of March 2024. It was developed through a strong participatory process involving RPCG members.