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04 avr 2025

‘My Rural Future’ petition – ensuring LEADER/CLLD as a pillar for EU development

The new petition of the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD) calls for concrete action to embed LEADER/CLLD at the core of EU policies, ensuring territorial cohesion, economic competitiveness, democratic resilience, and effective rural crisis response.

03 avr 2025

The 2025 REGIOSTARS contest is open – apply by 20 May

Has your project made a positive regional or local impact? Are its benefits still visible after completion, with the potential to expand across Europe? Apply to the REGIOSTARS contest – gain valorisation and a promotional campaign by the European Commission for your project!

02 avr 2025

How post-27 LEADER/CLLD programming could contribute to better implementation of the EU's rural vision: CoR opinion

A recently adopted opinion of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) proposes the establishment of new implementation tools to strengthen support for LEADER/CLLD. These would be based on a lead fund and the use of lump-sum payments for small projects.

01 avr 2025

Innovating Europe's Forests for a Resilient Future: conclusions from the 6th Forest Innovation Workshop

Collaborative, science-driven solutions play a pivotal role in addressing the multifaceted challenges facing European forestry, concluded the 6th Forest Innovation Workshop of 11-12 February 2025 (Brussels, Belgium).

31 Mar 2025

New EU bioeconomy strategy: European Commission public consultation open until 23 June

Bioeconomy stakeholders – ranging from primary biomass producers, farmers and foresters, to public authorities – are invited to provide feedback on circular and sustainable production and consumption of biological resources for food, materials, energy and services.

28 Mar 2025

Renewable energy: rural areas can be the EU’s green powerhouse

Rural areas hold the highest untapped potential of renewable energy production – nearly 80% – and could produce enough to meet the total energy demand of the EU. A recent article by Lewis Dijkstra, Team Leader for Urban and Territorial Analysis at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), outlines the challenges and advantages of green energy production in rural areas.

21 Mar 2025

Declaration on the future of EU rural areas now available in all EU languages

Find the Rural Pact Coordination Group Declaration (RPCG) in all official EU languages – read also a short, one-page version in English. The document sets out a strategic proposal for the post-2027 EU funds and policies to address the challenges faced by rural areas.

20 Mar 2025

New report sets out recommendations for improved Smart Villages programming and implementation support

Although the Smart Villages approach – as a policy concept and instrument – has become rooted in the CAP rural development pillar, further consolidation and clarifications are needed around its implementation through the CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) 2023-2027.

19 Mar 2025

Highlights report from Good Practice Webinar on rural housing now available

Rural housing solutions must be designed to take account of socio-economic factors such as demographic shifts, financial barriers, spatial inequalities, rapid economic changes and the need for energy transition and industrial transformation. Read the report for inspiring examples of integrated housing strategies, innovative financial models, and community-led solutions.

18 Mar 2025

Explore the latest Good Practices available in our online database

The latest set of Good Practices covers a wealth of inspiring initiatives, including a community-led forestry project for social inclusion, training on sustainable rural entrepreneurship, and volunteer-based mobility services.