Europe’s countryside matters. One-third of EU citizens live in rural regions that feed the continent, steward biodiversity and host most of its renewable-energy sites. Yet out-migration, ageing populations, patchy services and slow digital uptake threaten their future.
A new Joint Opinion Paper from ERCA, PREPARE and ELARD argues that the 2028-34 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must move rural development from the margins to the mainstream. The paper urges decision-makers to:
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Make “rural proofing” mandatory across all major EU funds—CAP, Cohesion and Horizon—so every euro spent strengthens, not sidelines, rural communities.
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Link money to coordination. Regions should receive rural-development budgets only if agriculture, cohesion and innovation strategies are aligned.
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Empower local actors. Boost the capacity of Local Action Groups (LEADER/CLLD), rural NGOs and municipalities to co-design programmes, fight disinformation and lead the green-digital transition.
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Simplify access to finance. Streamline audit and reporting rules so small farms and rural SMEs can compete fairly for EU calls.
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Scale community-led innovation. Pair open-innovation platforms with grassroots networks to pilot and spread climate-smart farming, community renewables and social enterprises.
Why act now? Next year’s 2025 EU Rural Action Plan and the forthcoming MFF are once-in-a-decade chances to lock in a prosperous, resilient and inclusive future for rural Europe—benefiting the entire Union.
Read the shorter version of the full opinion here: Joint Opinion - Visual overview