Rural Pact Conference: "From Vision to Action: Empowering Rural Areas for the Future"
Description
The Rural Pact Conference, organized by the Rural Pact Support Office, will bring together 250 participants from across Europe. The event will offer two days of networking and facilitate the exchange of ideas to advance Rural Vision 2040, update the Rural Action Plan, and guide Rural Pact actions and future policies.
Goals
- Share and draw lessons from the Rural Action Plan and co-create ideas to continue advancing toward stronger, more connected, resilient, and prosperous rural areas through an updated Rural Action Plan and future policies;
- Promote networking opportunities among members of the Rural Pact community and develop capacities for action ;
- Facilitate exchanges to gather ideas and recommendations to guide future actions of the Rural Pact.
Background
In June 2021, the European Commission published the Communication on the long-term vision for rural areas in the EU to 2040 ( Rural Vision - LTVRA). This Communication recognizes the fundamental role that rural areas and their communities play in shaping Europe's identity and economic potential, as well as the need to preserve them and invest in their future.
The Rural Vision introduced the EU Rural Action Plan , comprised of 24 thematic actions and six horizontal actions, including the Rural Pact, launched in June 2022 at the first Rural Pact Conference in Brussels. These actions are organized around four action areas: stronger, connected, resilient, and prosperous rural areas.
The Rural Pact acts as a fundamental mechanism that mobilizes stakeholders at all levels of governance to amplify rural voices, foster collaboration and mutual learning, and encourage commitment to the shared goals of the rural vision. Since then, more than 3,200 stakeholders have joined the Pact, and nearly 1,700 of them are part of the online platform .
The European Commission's March 2024 report, " The EU's long-term vision for rural areas: Key achievements and ways forward ," outlines the progress made and highlights ideas for further support put forward by EU institutions and stakeholders. It also identifies areas that require additional effort and continuity to achieve its objectives. In February 2025, in its Communication on a " Vision for Agriculture and Food ," the Commission committed to working towards an updated EU Rural Action Plan by 2025 and to strengthening the Rural Pact, among other actions that contribute to fair living and working conditions in vibrant rural areas, where rural citizens should have the right to remain.
This Rural Pact Conference will bring together the Rural Pact community to reflect on and learn from the practices and experiences implemented within the framework of the Rural Action Plan and to plan for the future to ensure stronger, more connected, resilient, and prosperous rural areas. By engaging with the Rural Pact community, the conference seeks to gather their needs and ideas for the updated EU Rural Action Plan and contribute to the political debate that defines future policies for rural areas.
Finally, this conference will review the achievements of the Rural Pact, listen to its community and, in particular, local stakeholders, and gather recommendations to shape and guide its future direction.
Target audience
The event is primarily aimed at members of the Rural Pact Community , including civil society organizations, policymakers and public authorities, LEADER local action groups (LAGs), academics and researchers, businesses, and citizens interested in actively contributing to the future of rural areas. However, the conference is no longer accepting additional registrations.