Latest news
Discover the rural sessions of the European Week of Regions and Cities - registrations open!
The European Week of Regions and Cities returns to Brussels from the 13-15 October 2025. Each year, the event brings together thousands of participants and provides a platform for communication, networking, and collaboration on regional and urban issues. While the programme covers a broad range of topics, several sessions are expected to be particularly interesting and relevant to rural development.
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
From Declaration to action – rethinking rural power in EU policymaking: new opinion piece
While rural issues are increasingly recognised in EU discourse, true influence on policymaking remains limited. Read a new ARC2020 opinion piece by Edina Ocsko, Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) Vice-Chair, calling for a shift toward strategic engagement with power holders to embed rural development at the heart of European policies.
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Impacts of rural demographic challenges on environment and generational renewal: new thematic reports
Two recent thematic reports by the Interreg Europe ‘Down to Earth’ project demonstrate how rural areas facing demographic decline can build resilience and foster generational renewal through integrated policies.
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Upcoming events
Nordic Meeting on Agricultural Occupational Health 2025
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Taking stock and building partnership for sustainable development of mountain and rural areas
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Unleashing the potential of small places – barriers and opportunities
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Rural Pact Conference: 'From vision to action: Empowering rural areas for the future'
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Latest publications
Highlights Report | Policy Action Lab ‘Enhancing policy coordination for vibrant rural areas’
This highlights report outlines the main messages and outputs of the Policy Action Lab of 28 November 2024, hosted by the Rural Pact Support Office.
- Rural Pact
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.
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Policy Briefing ‘Empowering communities to take action for the rural vision’
This Policy Briefing outlines how the Rural Pact can contribute to transformative local action in rural areas. It identifies a set of actions for both local communities and higher-level authorities to pursue in order to enable tailored responses to rural challenges.
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Latest good practice
Regional innovation hub boosts sustainable food supply and resilience in rural Slovenia
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Circular-economy project addresses wood waste and sustainability awareness in rural Slovenia
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
Irish community-based association addresses rural homelessness and energy efficiency
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform