Working together for a stronger rural voice: key messages from European Rural Parliament follow-up event

Organised by the ERP with the support of the Rural Pact, the event brought together representatives from EU institutions, governments, rural organisations and civil society to explore how grassroots voices can better contribute to the next generation of EU policies and funding.

The discussions came at a pivotal moment. As the EU prepares for the next multiannual financial framework and the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), attendees agreed that stronger participation of rural stakeholders is essential for these new opportunities to deliver real benefits for rural communities. 

EU initiatives offer new opportunities

The meeting highlighted how several major EU initiatives are converging to create new opportunities for integrated rural development. 

Alexia Rouby of the European Commission’s DG AGRI explained how the proposed NRPPs could encourage better coordinated action across policy areas, including agriculture, cohesion and other sectoral policies, supported by a proposed rural spending target and a stronger focus on integrated territorial development. She also underlined the continued importance of the long-term vision for rural areas and the Rural Pact as key frameworks for engaging stakeholders in shaping these plans. 

Diletta Zonta from the Commission’s DG REGIO presented the emerging ‘right to stay’ strategy, explaining that it aims to ensure people have genuine opportunities to remain in – or return to – the places they call home. Addressing territorial inequalities will require not only investments in jobs and infrastructure but also stronger governance, better services and more attractive places where people want to live. 

Strengthening rural voices

The Rural Pact Support Office was invited to contribute to a panel discussion on how rural organisations can work together to build a stronger and more united rural voice. 

Team leader Enrique Nieto highlighted the Rural Pact's role as a European cooperation framework that connects rural communities, public authorities, businesses, researchers and civil society. Rather than speaking on behalf of rural stakeholders, the Rural Pact helps amplify their voices, strengthens their capacity to engage in policymaking and creates opportunities to develop common recommendations. 

The discussion also explored how the complementary roles of the Rural Pact and the ERP could be further strengthened, particularly by building stronger links with national rural stakeholders.

Ensuring stakeholder participation

Participants returned repeatedly to a central message: effective participation cannot begin when decisions have already been taken. Rural stakeholders, in particular young people, need to be involved early in the preparation of the future NRPPs, ensuring that local knowledge helps shape priorities and investments from the outset. Several speakers also stressed that proven participatory approaches such as LEADER should continue to play a central role in connecting communities with higher levels of governance.

The event’s discussions also identified important challenges. Across Europe, application of the partnership principle remains uneven, while many civil society organisations continue to face limited resources and capacity to engage in increasingly complex policy processes. As a result, participants called for stronger national rural structures, closer cooperation between existing rural networks and greater involvement of young people to ensure the long-term vitality of rural movements.

The meeting demonstrated a growing consensus that Europe's rural future will depend both on better policies and on stronger partnerships. By bringing together institutions and grassroots organisations, the Rural Pact and the ERP can help ensure that rural communities are not simply consulted but become active partners in designing and implementing the policies that will shape their future. 

This cooperation will continue in the coming months, including at the High-level Rural Policy Forum on 3-4 November 2026, organised by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission, where many of these discussions will be taken further. Express your interest to participate in the forum by 17 August 2026.