European Congress on Renewal and Rural Development

The Congress will provide for the exchange of experiences and discussion about the global challenges faced by rural areas and agriculture, a vision for the future, and the power of cultural heritage. It will also be about people, local communities and their driving force, about values that are key to preserving the specificity and vitality of rural areas, about possible systemic solutions and policies oriented towards rural areas in Poland and Europe. In short, it will talk about everything that is important for Poland’s and Europe’s rural areas and their inhabitants.

The Congress will be attended by around 1,500 people from throughout Europe – representatives of ministries responsible for rural development, institutions working for the development of villages and rural areas, local authority officials, NGOs, researchers, and leaders of rural communities.

Side events will include the first gathering of the Polish Rural Parliament, as well as discussions regarding climate change, energy transformation, education in rural areas, cultural heritage, innovation in agriculture and in construction techniques, local development strategies, local democracy and the role of women in rural areas.

The Congress will include over 60 exhibition stands, an outdoor exhibition space, and a number of side events. Translation at the very least between Polish and English will be provided during all plenary sessions on 8 and 9 May. Proceedings on 10 May will mostly be in Polish only.

Access to the plenary sessions and any events other than the outdoor exhibition space require registration – this is available through the event website.