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Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) Declaration on the future of rural areas and rural development policy in the European Union

The RPCG Declaration – adopted on 12 December 2024 – sets out a strategic proposal for the post-2027 EU funds and policies to address the challenges faced by rural areas. It calls for a strong shift in future policies to ensure the sustainability and resilience of EU’s rural areas in the long run.

  • European Union
Declaration on the future of rural areas and rural development policy in the European Union

The Declaration is a collective response to the questions set out in the European Commission’s report on the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas of March 2024. It aims to inform and influence future policy with specific proposals to provide better support for rural areas and communities. 

Highlighting the importance of rural areas and communities not only for rural inhabitants, but for the broader economic, environmental, and social well-being of the European Union as a whole, the Declaration calls for:

  • Increased and streamlined funding for rural areas through a compulsory minimum allocation to rural areas from all post-2027 EU funds and a better resourcing of community-led, place-based approaches, such as LEADER and Smart Villages;
  • Enhanced coordination among relevant administrative bodies at all governance levels, compulsory implementation of the Rural Pact model, including multi-fund and multi-stakeholder coordination, and guidance and training for the implementation of ‘rural proofing’;
  • Capacity building for local actors, including on access to funding, tailored interventions reflecting the diversity of rural areas and their particular needs, and extended use of data to inform evidence- and result-based future policies.

The Declaration was developed through a strong participatory process with Rural Pact Coordination Group members, who were invited to provide input via a questionnaire addressing the nine questions outlined in the implementation report on EU rural vision. RPCG members adopted the final, consolidated text of the Declaration by simple majority on 12 December 2024.

Resources

Documents

English language

Declaration on the future of rural areas and rural development policy in the European Union

(PDF – 1.45 MB – 8 pages)

English language

Declaration on the future of rural areas and rural development policy in the EU - SHORT VERSION

(PDF – 1.01 MB – 2 pages)

Bulgarian language

Декларация относно бъдещето на селските райони и политиката за развитие на селските райони в Европейския съюз

(PDF – 839.43 KB – 8 pages)

Bulgarian language

Декларация относно бъдещето на селските райони и политиката за развитие на селските райони в Европейския съюз - СЪКРАТЕН ВАРИАНТ

(PDF – 610.06 KB – 2 pages)

Czech language

Prohlášení o budoucnosti venkovských oblastí a politiky rozvoje venkova v Evropské unii

(PDF – 817.58 KB – 8 pages)

Czech language

Prohlášení o budoucnosti venkovských oblastí a politiky rozvoje venkova v Evropské unii - ZKRÁCENÁ VERZE

(PDF – 608.25 KB – 2 pages)

Danish language

Erklæring om landdistrikternes fremtid og politikken for udvikling af landdistrikterne i Den Europæiske Union fremover

(PDF – 848.82 KB – 8 pages)

Danish language

Erklæring om landdistrikternes fremtid og politikken for udvikling af landdistrikterne i Den Europæiske Union fremover - KORT VERSION

(PDF – 630.96 KB – 2 pages)

German language

Erklärung zur Zukunft der ländlichen Gebiete und der Politik zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums in der Europäischen Union

(PDF – 837.85 KB – 8 pages)

German language

Erklärung zur Zukunft der ländlichen Gebiete und der Politik zur Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums in der Europäischen Union - KURZFASSUNG

(PDF – 629.29 KB – 2 pages)

Greek language

Δήλωση σχετικά με το μέλλον των αγροτικών περιοχών και τη μελλοντική πολιτική αγροτικής ανάπτυξης στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση

(PDF – 845.54 KB – 8 pages)

Greek language

Δήλωση σχετικά με το μέλλον των αγροτικών περιοχών και τη μελλοντική πολιτική αγροτικής ανάπτυξης στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση - ΣΎΝΤΟΜΗ ΈΚΔΟΣΗ

(PDF – 621.72 KB – 2 pages)

Spanish language

Declaración sobre el futuro de las zonas rurales y de la política de desarrollo rural en la Unión Europea

(PDF – 838.61 KB – 8 pages)

Spanish language

Declaración sobre el futuro de las zonas rurales y de la política de desarrollo rural en la Unión Europea - VERSIÓN ABREVIADA

(PDF – 628.76 KB – 2 pages)

Estonian language

Deklaratsioon Euroopa Liidu maapiirkondade ja maaelu arengu poliitika tuleviku kohta

(PDF – 832.52 KB – 8 pages)

Estonian language

Deklaratsioon Euroopa Liidu maapiirkondade ja maaelu arengu poliitika tuleviku kohta - LÜHIVERSIOON

(PDF – 610.94 KB – 2 pages)

Finnish language

Julistus maaseutualueiden tulevaisuudesta ja maaseudun kehittämispolitiikasta Euroopan unionissa

(PDF – 838.91 KB – 8 pages)

Finnish language

Julistus maaseutualueiden tulevaisuudesta ja maaseudun kehittämispolitiikasta Euroopan unionissa - LYHYT VERSIO

(PDF – 617.79 KB – 2 pages)

French language

Déclaration sur l’avenir des zones rurales et de la politique de développement rural dans l’Union européenne

(PDF – 836.59 KB – 8 pages)

French language

Déclaration sur l’avenir des zones rurales et de la politique de développement rural dans l’Union européenne - VERSION COURTE

(PDF – 624.89 KB – 2 pages)

Irish language

Dearbhú maidir le todhchaí na gceantar tuaithe agus maidir le todhchaí beartais forbartha tuaithe san Aontas Eorpach

(PDF – 818.16 KB – 8 pages)

Irish language

Dearbhú maidir le todhchaí na gceantar tuaithe agus maidir le todhchaí beartais forbartha tuaithe san Aontas Eorpach - AN LEAGAN GEARR

(PDF – 575.05 KB – 2 pages)

Croatian language

Izjava o budućnosti ruralnih područja i politike ruralnog razvoja u Europskoj uniji

(PDF – 817.01 KB – 8 pages)

Croatian language

Izjava o budućnosti ruralnih područja i politike ruralnog razvoja u Europskoj uniji - KRATKA VERZIJA

(PDF – 607.58 KB – 2 pages)

Hungarian language

Nyilatkozat az Európai Unió vidéki területeinek és vidékfejlesztési politikájának jövőjéről

(PDF – 826.42 KB – 8 pages)

Hungarian language

Nyilatkozat az Európai Unió vidéki területeinek és vidékfejlesztési politikájának jövőjéről - RÖVID VÁLTOZAT

(PDF – 615.27 KB – 2 pages)

Italian language

Dichiarazione sul futuro delle zone rurali e sulla politica di sviluppo rurale nell’Unione europea

(PDF – 829.04 KB – 8 pages)

Italian language

Dichiarazione sul futuro delle zone rurali e sulla politica di sviluppo rurale nell’Unione europea - VERSIONE BREVE

(PDF – 626.44 KB – 2 pages)

Lithuanian language

Deklaracija dėl kaimo vietovių ateities ir būsimos kaimo plėtros politikos Europos Sąjungoje

(PDF – 820.72 KB – 8 pages)

Lithuanian language

Deklaracija dėl kaimo vietovių ateities ir būsimos kaimo plėtros politikos Europos Sąjungoje - TRUMPOJI VERSIJA

(PDF – 609.95 KB – 2 pages)

Latvian language

Deklarācija par lauku apvidu um lauku attīstības politikas nākotni Eiropas Savienībā

(PDF – 821.99 KB – 8 pages)

Latvian language

Deklarācija par lauku apvidu um lauku attīstības politikas nākotni Eiropas Savienībā - SAĪSINĀTĀ REDAKCIJA

(PDF – 611.2 KB – 2 pages)

Maltese language

Dikjarazzjoni dwar il-futur taż-żoni rurali u l-politika futura dwar l-iżvilupp rurali fl-Unjoni Ewropea

(PDF – 825.91 KB – 8 pages)

Maltese language

Dikjarazzjoni dwar il-futur taż-żoni rurali u l-politika futura dwar l-iżvilupp rurali fl-Unjoni Ewropea - VERŻJONI QASIRA

(PDF – 610.21 KB – 2 pages)

Dutch language

Verklaring over de toekomst van plattelandsgebieden en het plattelandsontwikkelingsbeleid in de Europese Unie

(PDF – 837.49 KB – 8 pages)

Dutch language

Verklaring over de toekomst van plattelandsgebieden en het plattelandsontwikkelingsbeleid in de Europese Unie - KORTE VERSIE

(PDF – 628.5 KB – 2 pages)

Polish language

Deklaracja w sprawie przyszłości obszarów wiejskich i polityki rozwoju obszarów wiejskich w Unii Europejskiej

(PDF – 833.1 KB – 8 pages)

Polish language

Deklaracja w sprawie przyszłości obszarów wiejskich i polityki rozwoju obszarów wiejskich w Unii Europejskiej - WERSJA SKRÓCONA

(PDF – 621.08 KB – 2 pages)

Portuguese, Portugal language

Declaração sobre o futuro das zonas rurais e da política de desenvolvimento rural na União Europeia

(PDF – 834.39 KB – 8 pages)

Portuguese, Portugal language

Declaração sobre o futuro das zonas rurais e da política de desenvolvimento rural na União Europeia - VERSÃO ABREVIADA

(PDF – 630.25 KB – 2 pages)

Romanian language

Declarație privind viitorul zonelor rurale și al politicii de dezvoltare rurală în Uniunea Europeană

(PDF – 825.23 KB – 8 pages)

Romanian language

Declarație privind viitorul zonelor rurale și al politicii de dezvoltare rurală în Uniunea Europeană - VERSIUNEA SCURTĂ

(PDF – 620.88 KB – 2 pages)

Slovak language

Vyhlásenie o budúcnosti vidieckych oblastí a politiky rozvoja vidieka v Európskej únii

(PDF – 826.04 KB – 8 pages)

Slovak language

Vyhlásenie o budúcnosti vidieckych oblastí a politiky rozvoja vidieka v Európskej únii - KRÁTKA VERZIA

(PDF – 619.17 KB – 2 pages)

Slovenian language

Izjava o prihodnosti podeželskih območij in prihodnji politiquei razvoja podeželja v Evropski uniji

(PDF – 821.1 KB – 8 pages)

Slovenian language

Izjava o prihodnosti podeželskih območij in prihodnji politiquei razvoja podeželja v Evropski uniji - KRATKA RAZLIČICA

(PDF – 616.94 KB – 2 pages)

Swedish language

Förklaring om framtiden för landsbygden och landsbygdsutvecklingspolitiken i EU

(PDF – 846.47 KB – 8 pages)

Swedish language

Förklaring om framtiden för landsbygden och landsbygdsutvecklingspolitiken i EU - KORT VERSION

(PDF – 633.7 KB – 2 pages)