• A Thematic Group is a small group of experts formed to find practical solutions to a specific issue.
• The topics addressed by the three new working groups at European level are rural youth, forestry development in rural areas, and the implementation of new CAP measures.

Thematic working groups, or Thematic Groups (TG), are specific groups of experts formed to find practical solutions to a specific need or issue.

The European CAP Network has just created 3 working groups with the following themes :

1. Thematic Group on Rural Youth Employment: The Voice of Rural Youth 
2. Thematic Group to support the needs of rural areas and municipalities with a predominance of forests: laying the foundations for a network under the forestry strategy
3. Thematic Group on CAP Strategic Plans: towards implementation

The National Rural Network (RRN ) is responsible for widely disseminating these thematic groups with the aim of ensuring that the Spanish rural environment is represented in Europe through the experts who present and are selected.

What they consist of and how to participate

The constitution of the new thematic groups responds to the following objectives:

1. Thematic Group on Rural Youth Employment: The Voice of Rural Youth 

• Objective : To explore various approaches to developing quality employment for youth in rural areas.
• Methodology : Two virtual meetings ( March 9 and May 23, 2023 ) with related activities between meetings. The meetings will be held in English without interpretation.
• Who : Mainly people under 30 from different rural areas of the European Union. This will ensure that young people take ownership of the group and that the results are their own.
• Deadlines : If you are interested, you can submit your application until February 13 , 2023 here .

2. Supporting the needs of rural areas and forest-dominated municipalities: laying the foundations for a network under the forestry strategy

• Objectives : To diagnose the socio-economic and environmental problems facing rural areas and forest-dominated municipalities and to design what the new CAP can do to meet their needs and enhance forest-related opportunities and benefits.
• Methodology : Two virtual meetings ( March 6 and May 31, 2023 ) with related activities between meetings. The meetings will be held in English without interpretation.
• Who : People who live and work in rural areas with forests.
• Deadlines : If you are interested, you can submit your application until February 21 , 2023 here .

3. Thematic Group on CAP Strategic Plans: towards implementation

• Objectives : To identify key themes and exchange information on similar approaches and areas of common interest, as well as to analyze implementation models (including the creation of monitoring committees) that can be shared among Member States.
• Methodology : Two virtual meetings ( March 14 and May 25, 2023 ) with related activities between meetings. The meetings will be held in English without interpretation.
• Who : Representatives of the CAP management authorities, public administration, national CAP networks and/or technical assistance.
• Deadlines : If you are interested, you can submit your application until February 16 , 2023 here .