On 28 January 2026, the European Rural Parliament (ERP) and the Inverurie Declaration 2025 were presented to members of the NAT Section of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels.
The ERP was represented by four European rural organisations:
-
PREPARE, represented by Miodrag Matavulj, Secretary General
-
ERCA, represented by Tom Jones, President
-
ELARD, represented by Piotr Sadlocha, President
-
Rural Youth Europe, represented by Adriana Borsellino
During the meeting, ERP representatives presented the key recommendations from the 6th European Rural Parliament, as set out in the Inverurie Declaration 2025. The recommendations reflect the collective voice of rural civil society across Europe and focus on strengthening rural democracy, participation, territorial cohesion, and sustainable development.
Dialogue with the EESC
The exchange provided an important opportunity to engage directly with members of the EESC’s NAT Section, which is responsible for agriculture, rural development, and environmental policy. The discussion highlighted the relevance of the ERP’s recommendations in the context of ongoing debates on the future of EU policies affecting rural areas.
On this occasion, ERP representatives also attended a presentation by the President of the EESC, Seamus Boland, who outlined the priorities of his mandate under the title “Civil Society at the Heart of Europe.” His address underlined the essential role of organised civil society in shaping European policies and reinforcing democratic participation across all territories.
PREPARE and its partners welcomed the opportunity to present the outcomes of the European Rural Parliament and to contribute to the dialogue between rural communities and EU institutions.
