Rural Pact Conference: From vision to action: Empowering rural areas for the future

Since the launch of the rural vision, important progress has been made in the implementation of the Rural Action Plan, including in the context of the Rural Pact. The European Commission report from March 2024, 'The Long-Term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas: Key Achievements and Ways Forward', outlines the progress made and highlights ideas for further support made by EU institutions and stakeholders. It also identifies areas requiring additional effort and continuity to achieve their objectives. In February 2025, in its Communication on a “Vision for agriculture and food”, the Commission committed to work towards an updated EU Rural Action Plan in 2025 and to strengthen the Rural Pact, among other actions contributing to fair living and working conditions in vibrant rural areas, in which rural citizens should have the right to stay.

This Rural Pact Conference will bring together the Rural Pact community to reflect on and learn from the practices and experiences implemented under the rural action plan and look at the future to ensure stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas. By engaging with the Rural Pact community, the conference aims to collect their needs and ideas for the updated EU Rural Action Plan, and contribute to the political debate shaping future policies for rural areas.

Finally, this conference will review the Rural Pact's achievements, listen to its community, particularly local stakeholders, and collect recommendations to shape and guide its future direction.

The event is mainly targeted at formal members of the Rural Pact Community (become a member of the Rural Pact), including civil society organisations, policymakers and public authorities, LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs), academics and researchers, businesses and citizens keen on actively contributing to the future of rural areas.

A total of 250 participants are being recruited based on a prior online call for expression of interest that took place earlier in 2025. The conference is no longer open for additional registrations. Due to overscription, the selection process of final participants takes into account their potential to act as multipliers and promoters of the Rural Pact at EU, national, regional and local levels, their readiness to share relevant examples, the ability to communicate in English, and geographical balance. All selected participants will receive a confirmation email from the Rural Pact Support Office, along with instructions on how to proceed with travel and accommodation arrangements.

The European Commission will support travel and accommodation for a number of participants, particularly local stakeholders.

Due to circumstances beyond the organiser's control, the conference, initially planned for 8-9 April 2025, has been moved to 16-17 September 2025.

For more information, click here to check the official website.