Strengthening rural economies through integrated approaches – Policy Lab presentations and videos now available
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
- Access to services
- Smart and start-up villages
- Youth
- Infrastructure
- Transport and mobility
- Digital
- Energy
- Entrepreneurship
- Employment
- Bioeconomy & circular economy
Strengthening rural economies requires integrated approaches combining business development, innovation, skills and essential services, tailored to the needs of different territories. A Rural Pact Policy Lab in Kotka, Finland, explored how these priorities could inform the future National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs).
© European Union, 2026
- Discover the Policy Lab video recordings and speaker presentations. A highlights report will be made available in the coming weeks.
The Policy Lab (29 September-1 October) brought together 28 speakers and over 100 participants from across Europe. It was co-organised by the Rural Pact Support Office, Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finnish Rural Network, Rural Policy Council, and the European Commission.
The event examined opportunities to strengthen rural competitiveness, entrepreneurship and economic resilience and how these could translate into concrete measures under the future NRPPs. Discussions highlighted the importance of diversified rural economies for European competitiveness and for creating the conditions that allow people to live and work in rural areas.
Connecting rural economic development with future EU policies
European Commission representatives outlined opportunities under the proposed post-2027 EU policy and budget framework to support rural businesses, innovation, skills, tourism and the social economy. They also highlighted the proposed minimum 10% rural spending target of each NRPP envelope, noting that its legal provisions and practical application remain under discussion.
Discussions further highlighted the diversity of rural territories and the limitations of approaches based on broad regional averages. They also examined the relationship between population change and access to services, underlining the importance of locally tailored measures and of considering different services together rather than in isolation.
From rural needs to practical measures
Working sessions brought together perspectives from public authorities, businesses, researchers and Local Action Groups to identify possible measures for the future NRPPs.
Key messages included:
- Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation: facilitate business creation and growth through accessible support services, testing environments, local innovation hubs and skills development;
- Investing in enabling conditions: improve housing, connectivity, essential services and small-scale infrastructure alongside direct business support to enable the ‘right to stay’;
- Building on local assets: strengthen local value creation, economic diversification and opportunities for new business models;
- Encouraging integrated approaches: combine interventions across sectors and funding sources, involving local communities and stakeholders in planning and implementation;
- Capacity building for public administrations and stakeholders: strengthen their ability to develop and implement integrated measures that respond to local needs under the future NRPPs.
- The event also emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation between ministries and policy areas when designing measures that respond to rural needs within the NRPPs.
The Policy Lab reinforced the link between diversified rural economies and the emerging EU ‘right to stay’ agenda: creating opportunities for people to remain in, or return to, rural areas requires both economic prospects and attractive living conditions.