New Rural Pact initiative supports integrated rural development through national dialogue in Latvia

The event explored how Latvia could strengthen integrated, coordinated and place-based approaches to rural development while preparing for the post-2027 EU policy framework. Organised by the Latvian Rural Forum, the Rural Pact Support Office's (RPSO) national partner in Latvia, it brought together representatives from national ministries, local and regional authorities, Local Action Groups, researchers, civil society organisations and other rural stakeholders. 

A common message emerging throughout the event was that rural development extends well beyond agriculture. Speakers and participants highlighted the need to better connect policies on employment, housing, services, mobility, digital connectivity, entrepreneurship, resilience and community participation, ensuring they respond to the different realities of Latvia's rural territories.  

This broader understanding of rural development was reflected in presentations from both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development. The discussions then explored how these principles could be translated into governance arrangements, policy coordination and future funding. 

Towards more integrated rural governance 

Presentations explored how integrated rural development could be strengthened through better coordination across policy sectors and funding programmes. Speakers examined Latvia's current policy framework, the territorial challenges it faces and the opportunities offered by the proposed post-2027 EU architecture. 

Liene Jansone, Deputy State Secretary for Sectoral Policy and Market Issues, Ministry of Agriculture, underlined the contribution of the CAP Strategic Plan to competitive businesses, generational renewal, environmental objectives, innovation and locally led development. LEADER is a unique instrument enabling local communities to define development priorities and decide on the use of funding. Viable rural areas depend not only on agriculture, but also on access to services, infrastructure, housing, digital connectivity and resilient local economies. 

Building on this perspective, Ilze Oša, Deputy State Secretary for Regional Development, Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, highlighted persistent territorial challenges, including depopulation, labour shortages, unequal access to services and widening regional disparities. Future priorities include stronger territorial resilience, improved local governance, more coordinated investments across sectors and greater flexibility to respond to different territorial needs. 

Looking ahead to the post-2027 framework, the European Commission overviewed how the future National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) could support a more integrated approach. DG AGRI’s Silvia Nanni outlined that the Plans offer opportunities to bring together agricultural, cohesion, social, infrastructure and innovation measures within a coherent national rural agenda. Member States will play the central role in determining how rural priorities, governance arrangements and funding are reflected in their future plans. 

European experiences offering practical inspiration 

To illustrate how integrated approaches are being implemented in practice, participants heard experiences from Finland and Spain.   

Hilkka Vihinen, Rural Policy Council/Natural Resources Institute Finland, presented the country’s long-established Rural Policy Council as an example of ‘whole-of-government’ coordination. Bringing together ministries, regional and local authorities, researchers, civil society, businesses, farmers and Local Action Groups (LAGs), the Council contributes to legislation, supports rural proofing and helps coordinate rural policy across sectors. The experience highlighted that effective policy integration depends not only on governance structures, but also on political commitment, accessible territorial data and sustained cooperation. 

Leticia Abarca Velencoso, Regional Office of Castilla-La Mancha to the EU overviewed how the Spanish region of Castilla-La Mancha addresses territorial challenges through a legally anchored depopulation strategy supported by rural proofing. Its approach combines territorial differentiation, demographic impact assessments, tax and investment incentives, cross-sectoral measures and a long-term implementation framework, showing how rural proofing can become an operational tool rather than simply a policy principle. 

These examples provided the basis for a wider discussion on what similar approaches could mean in the Latvian context. 

Stronger coordination and local perspectives 

A panel discussion brought together the key themes emerging throughout the day, focusing on how integrated approaches could be translated into practice in Latvia. Rural development requires stronger coordination across policy fields, bringing together territorial development, economic competitiveness, services, infrastructure and community participation rather than addressing them separately. 

Maintaining a strong territorial perspective, particularly within Latvia's large municipalities, is essential for smaller settlements and rural communities to remain visible in planning and decision-making. Citizen councils, LAGs and rural communities could play a more meaningful role in shaping policies affecting their territories, even if different governance models may be appropriate in different contexts. 

The discussion also emphasised the role of community-led approaches and diversified rural economies. LEADER/CLLD is widely recognised as an effective approach for locally led rural development, linking community initiative, local knowledge and territorial development. Additionally, rural business support should reflect the diversity of rural economies by recognising both locally rooted enterprises that sustain rural life and businesses with broader competitiveness potential. 

Looking ahead, participants identified several priorities for continued reflection in Latvia, including strengthening cross-ministerial cooperation, developing a shared understanding of rural areas across public authorities and ensuring that local perspectives are better reflected in future planning and investment decisions. 

Building dialogue through the EU Rural Pact 

The event demonstrated the value of bringing together ministries, municipalities, researchers, civil society and local actors to discuss common rural challenges and exchange experiences from across Europe. The Rural Pact provided a practical framework for these discussions, encouraging integrated thinking, peer learning and dialogue across sectors and governance levels. 

Organised by the Latvian Rural Forum, the RPSO’s national partner in Latvia, the event was the first in a new series of 'Rural Pact in my country' events. Through its network of national partners, the RPSO will support similar national dialogues across Europe, fostering peer learning and integrated approaches to rural development tailored to national and regional contexts.