This Policy Action Lab on Rural areas and communities in the post-2027 EU budget and policies (5 November) organised by the Rural Pact Support Office, discussed with the Rural Pact Community the recent European Commission proposals for the 2028-2034 EU budget and policies, their implications for rural communities and ways to make rural voices heard in the policy debate.
As Keynote Listener, Edina Ocsko — Vice-Chair of the Rural Pact Coordination Group — summarised the key messages from the event. She underlined that while rural stakeholders welcome a more flexible and integrated policy architecture, there are serious concerns that, without ring-fenced funding, rural areas will once again remain insufficiently supported.
To be more effective in influencing the next EU framework, Edina stressed the need to:
- Build stronger alliances, including between farmers and other rural citizens, and rural development and cohesion policies;
- Be specific and concrete about what the rural community is asking for, including clear proposals for legislative amendments;
- Act at all levels — European, national and regional — to shape policy directions and ensure that rural needs are not overlooked.