From vision to action: empowering young people to co-create solutions for rural Europe

The conference, with the theme ‘From Vision to Action’, was organised by Rural Youth Europe in collaboration with EPA! – Rural Youth of Spain. Held over 25-28 February, the four-day event highlighted the active role of young people as innovators, community builders and drivers of local development.  

It demonstrated that when rural youth are given space, support and direct access to policymakers, they can turn vision into tangible action – helping to build resilient, inclusive and vibrant rural communities across Europe. 

In her opening remarks, Rural Youth Europe’s chair Ketrin Kastehein emphasised the transformative potential of EU-funded initiatives in strengthening rural youth organisations, expanding networks and giving young people meaningful ways to shape their communities. EPA! – Rural Youth of Spain’s president Sara Álvarez Gómez noted that rural youth are the driving force protecting and renewing democratic culture at local and European levels, adding that the EU should provide a framework that values diversity, culture and community life. 

The conference also featured political leaders, including a video address from Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, who expressed support for rural youth. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented the country’s Second National Strategy for Territorial Equity and the Demographic Challenge, aimed at tackling rural depopulation and ensuring that ‘being born, staying in or returning to a village is not a heroic challenge, but a right, a life choice’. Maxi Espeter, from the Cabinet of European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, stressed that rural youth are not mere beneficiaries but entrepreneurs, innovators and community builders.  

Panel discussions on democratic participation, good practices from rural youth organisations, and youth-led governance reinforced that young people are essential actors in shaping their rural communities. A new study, focused on young people in rural areas, from Youth Partnership – a European Commission and Council of Europe initiative – framed discussions on youth engagement, education, cultural sustainability and rural economic opportunities.  

Participants also engaged in role-playing exercises to co-create practical prototypes, including community kitchens, youth hubs, school-business programmes and flexible cultural initiatives. 

The Rural Pact Support Office presented its work at the event’s Stakeholders Fair and hosted a session on stakeholder engagement, showcasing tools and approaches to strengthen multi-level cooperation. 

Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on young people and join the Community Group on youth in rural areas to connect and exchange with peers.