Strengthening the Rural Pact: the next phase of facilitation support for rural Europe

This evolution is reflected in the European Commission’s commitment, set out in the Vision for Agriculture and Food, to continue supporting and strengthening the Rural Pact through the Rural Pact Support Office. Building on proven approaches, the RPSO will reinforce support for implementation, policy learning and concrete action at national, regional and local levels. 

Consolidating the Rural Pact as a framework for cooperation 

Since its launch, the Rural Pact has grown steadily in both membership and scope. With over 3 600 members across Europe and beyond, an established online platform, active Community Groups, a growing body of voluntary actions for the rural vision and a regular rhythm of events and publications, the Pact is no longer in its inception phase. The challenge now is to deepen engagement, support concrete action and ensure that rural perspectives effectively inform policy debates, particularly at a decisive moment for the future of EU funding and policies beyond 2027. 

The overarching objective of the renewed RPSO mandate remains to strengthen the Rural Pact as the EU framework for cooperation on rural areas, with a focus on structuring a space for community members to exchange on inspiring approaches to answer rural needs in a comprehensive way through improved policy frameworks. This orientation is reflected across all areas of work, from community animation to policy-oriented exchanges and targeted support to Member States and regions. 

Fostering integrated strategies for rural areas at national and regional levels 

A major development of the new RPSO phase is the stronger focus on national and regional implementation of the rural vision goals and the Rural Pact. Building on the Pact’s establishment at EU level, the RPSO is now reinforcing support for how its objectives are applied in different territorial contexts. 

Central to this approach is the creation of a network of RPSO national partners. These partners will help raise awareness of the Rural Pact, connect national, regional and local actors, contribute to relevant events, and share contextual insights to inform RPSO activities. They will also support the dissemination and adaptation of the Rural Pact’s key ingredients across Member States. 

This strengthened national engagement is complemented by events on rural policies at national level, offering structured spaces for administrations and stakeholders to exchange experiences and explore how the rural vision can be tailored to national and regional realities. 

Community animation, communication and knowledge sharing 

Community animation also remains a cornerstone of the RPSO’s work, with a more integrated and strategic approach. The Pact’s thematic Community Groups will be strengthened into active spaces for exchange, peer learning and co-creation, with tailored support to group coordinators. The new phase reinforces the links between these groups, events, good practice collection and publications, ensuring that insights generated through discussion effectively feed into tangible outputs – such as good practice showcases and event contributions. 

Communication and knowledge sharing continue to underpin all activities. The Rural Pact Community platform remains a central hub for developed knowledge and peer exchange on rural development, complemented by regular newsletters, targeted mailings and social media. Publications – including the Rural Vision Magazine, policy briefings and a new thematic good practice brochure – will provide structured, in-depth content that connects local experiences with EU-level policy discussions.  

Forward-looking impact 

The timing of this new phase of the Rural Pact is particularly significant, as it coincides with preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) and discussions on future EU policies. Through dedicated Policy Labs and events at national level, the Rural Pact will provide the spaces for its community to bring rural perspectives directly into EU- and national-level policy debates. 

In this context, the RPSO acts as a bridge between grassroots realities and high-level decision-making, ensuring that local experiences, evidence and proposals inform the design of future frameworks. Building the capacity of rural actors to engage in these processes will be a key priority, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the development of EU policies and support mechanisms that shape the future of rural areas. 

Ultimately, the new phase of the RPSO is less about launching something new than about consolidating and strengthening what already exists. It builds on a mature community, proven tools and established relationships, while sharpening the focus on implementation, impact and learning across territories. As rural areas face ongoing and emerging challenges, the Rural Pact, supported by the RPSO, remains a key space where cooperation, dialogue and action can come together in support of a shared vision for rural Europe. 

Author: Rural Pact Support Office 

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