The European Commission has put forward a long-term Vision for the EU’s rural areas, identifying the challenges and concerns that they are facing, as well as highlighting some of the most promising opportunities that are available to these regions.    

Based on a foresight exercise undertaken in an ENRD Thematic Group and wide consultations with citizens as well as other actors in rural areas, the Vision proposes a Rural Pact and an EU Rural Action Plan, which aim to make rural Europe stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous. The EU Rural Action Plan sets out a series of flagship initiatives around these four themes. In addition, “rural proofing” will be put in place whereby major EU policies are reviewed through a rural perspective. A rural observatory will also be set up within the Commission to further improve data collection and analysis on rural areas and inform policy-making.  

Discover more from the European Commission press release and the ENRD website’s Long Term Rural Vision Portal.