The Czech Ministry of Regional Development, Opolskie Voivodeship (Poland), and regional governments of Castilla-La Mancha and Catalonia (Spain) have formally submitted political commitments under the EU Rural Pact. This reinforced support for rural development marks a new step in advancing the EU rural vision.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) cautions that the current proposal for the post-2027 EU budget could lead to further centralisation in the hands of the Commission and nationalisation of cohesion, fisheries and agricultural policies, putting them in competition.

A newly published study by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) explores digitalisation opportunities and challenges for reducing GHG emissions from agriculture. It reveals that while digital tools can enhance sustainable practices, they transform rural labour markets, creating demand for new digital skills, but also displacing low-skilled jobs.

Send your paper or project proposal exploring place-based innovation and the transformative role of the creative and cultural sectors in rural and non-urban areas to the EU-funded IN SITU project and have it featured in the project conference of 11-13 May 2026.

Europe’s rural areas must remain central in the upcoming EU policy and budget framework, highlighted the Rural Pact Policy Lab ‘Rural areas and communities in the post-2027 EU budget and policies’ of 5 November. The event brought together over 100 representatives from EU institutions, national and regional authorities, and civil society to exchange on how future EU policies can best support vibrant, resilient and inclusive rural territories.