Policy Insights - Funding rural Europe’s future: Investing in the next generation

The younger generation of rural citizens has a crucial role to play in safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Europe’s countryside. Regarding agriculture, the CAP defines young farmers as being up to 35-40 years old (exact upper age limit to be set by MS). CAP can support such a sustainability goal through facilitating funding for the business proposals and ideas of young and future farmers, as well as other young rural entrepreneurs.

Young people can take advantage of all the CAP interventions in their country, which are expected to support production and investment, promote generational renewal, and foster cooperation and knowledge exchange. The CAP Strategic Plans can assist proven approaches as well as more innovative thinking.

The article highlights some LEADER success stories that show how this well-known method has been particularly successful at supporting youth entrepreneurship throughout rural Europe. The text also offers links to publications that highlight rural youth's role as leaders of change and lists EU funds and policies - beyond the CAP - that can support young people in rural areas.

Rural youth, and in particular rural youth employment, has been the topic of a Thematic Group facilitated by the CAPI CP and information is available on the Thematic Group page.