Shaping the future of rural Europe: CoR engages stakeholders on post-2027 policy
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is calling for post-2027 rural development policy to be ambitious, place-based and long term, enhancing rural areas’ attractiveness, sustainability and competitiveness. It brought stakeholders together for a consultation on 28 January to share their thoughts on future policy.
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The CoR is preparing an opinion on the future of rural development post 2027, with Radim Sršeň (CZ/EPP) as the rapporteur, in response to the European Commission’s proposal to review the approach and implementation of EU rural policy. The opinion will be part of a CoR package on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 and some of its key aspects, such as National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), the European Competitiveness Fund and the Global Europe instrument.
Representatives of local and regional stakeholders, rural networks and institutions joined the consultation in Brussels to share their views on the CoR’s draft opinion and help ensure that future European policy reflects the needs and realities of rural areas.
The draft opinion underlines the importance of supporting economic resilience, innovation, the digital and green transitions, social cohesion, access to services, and demographic renewal in rural areas. It also recommends that all EU policies and funding be assessed from a rural perspective. Originally, the opinion called for 30% of the budget to be allocated to rural areas but, following discussions in the CoR’s NAT section to align all opinions on the MFF, it now asks that 10% of funding be mobilised for integrated approaches.
It also calls for funding to be tagged at the municipal (local administrative unit) level and highlights the role of regions and the need to implement a ‘regional check’. The opinion acknowledges the importance of the Rural Pact model, recommending that it be mirrored at national, regional and local levels, and calls for rural proofing to be implemented at EU level. Several key priorities are highlighted:
- an integrated, place-based approach that takes the diversity of rural areas into account;
- stronger multi-level governance and the principle of partnership;
- greater coherence between European instruments;
- simpler administration but not at the expense of local participation.
For their part, participants recommended alliances between agriculture and rural development. The importance of participatory democracy, co-decision making and generational renewal for farmers and rural businesses were also highlighted, along with capacity building among stakeholders to implement NRPPs and integrated territorial instruments, combining CLLD and LEADER. Participants also called for place-based approaches addressing all types of rural areas.
The opinion was discussed and approved by the CoR’s NAT section on 4 February after consultation with the stakeholders and members. It is expected to be adopted during the CoR’s plenary meeting on 6-7 May.