New factsheet outlines proposed support for rural areas under the future EU budget

The publication provides an overview of the proposed objectives, funding arrangements and implementation tools intended to support rural communities across the European Union.

Rural areas cover around 75% of the EU's territory and are home to approximately one quarter of its population. Under the proposed budget framework, support currently provided through different EU instruments, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), would be brought together within a single National and Regional Partnership Plan in each Member State.

The factsheet highlights two broad objectives that specifically refer to rural areas: improving quality of life and strengthening prosperity. To support these objectives, it outlines actions aimed at improving living standards and access to healthcare, alongside integrated strategies for the development of rural areas, as well as support to territorial services and infrastructure, fostering the ‘right to stay’.

A key element of the Commission’s proposal is a dedicated rural spending target. Each Member State would allocate at least 10% of its NRPP budget – excluding ring-fenced CAP and Common Fisheries Policy income support – to investments in rural areas. At EU level, this would represent at least EUR 48.7 billion, with additional resources potentially available through Catalyst Europe loans. The factsheet also outlines proposed arrangements for tracking rural expenditure through territorial tagging and for defining which areas qualify as rural.

The factsheet further illustrates how Member States could combine different funding instruments through integrated approaches. Examples include integrated rural development strategies delivered through LEADER and Community-led Local Development (CLLD), as well as integrated territorial investments. These approaches support prosperity by combining several measures to address needs that cannot easily be met through a single measure, helping coordinate investments in services, infrastructure and local development tailored to territorial needs. 

Finally, the factsheet promotes national and regional rural strategies as efficient tools to foster a comprehensive policy response to rural priorities under the future plans and provides useful links to practical tools that can be used, including the Rural Pact ingredients.