• Three years after its publication, the European Commission publishes the first assessment of the "long-term rural vision" in Europe
• The report lays the groundwork for the evolution of this strategy after 2027.
• The document analyzes the CAP's contributions to rural development during the period 2021-2027

In June 2021, when the European Commission (EC) presented its “A Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas in the European Union towards 2040” strategy , rural areas accounted for over 341 million hectares of the European Union (EU), representing 83% of its total land area. 30.6% of the EU population lived in rural areas, the majority of whom were over 50 years old.

These data underpinned a communication from the European Commission on the EU's long-term vision and strategy for its rural areas. To shape this long-term rural vision, the Commission gathered the views of rural communities through public consultations and workshops led by European rural networks.

The long-term rural vision identified ten objectives and four policy areas to achieve stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040. To achieve this, a Rural Pact (to mobilize policymakers and stakeholders) and a Rural Action Plan were launched , with thirty actions to be implemented by the Commission across a number of EU policy areas.

Balance

Already in 2021, the deadlines The European Commission (EC) set out to fulfil its long-term rural vision to issue a report in 2024 on the points of the vision that needed to be improved and economically strengthened.

Divided into three chapters , the report first analyzes indicators and data relating to rural areas in detail. It then delves into the work carried out over the past 30 months , providing a summary of the steps taken and lessons learned since the vision was launched in June 2021. The final chapter outlines possible pathways for the EU Rural Action Plan and Rural Pact, presenting a variety of ideas and questions from various EU institutions and stakeholders.

The action plan includes 30 actions implemented by 14 European Commission departments working together in close cooperation. It is organized around the four pillars of the rural vision (resilience, prosperity, connections, and resilience). Of the 30 actions, the long-term rural vision has already delivered nine of these proposals:

1. Launch the rural revitalization platform for areas facing demographic and economic challenges.
2. Development of 60 rural research and innovation projects .
3. Leader Approach: From this, 150 communities have been guided toward the creation of smart villages .
4. Grants and loans for underserved areas, as well as state aid to improve rural connectivity (5G).
5. Improving rural mobility and its connections through a European rural mobility network .
6. Create the Rural Energy Community Advisory Center , which has advised 27 communities.
7. Support four specific projects to contribute to the development of the social economy in rural areas.
8. Launch the EU Rural Observatory and the new publication “Rural Europe” to provide access to rural data and analysis.
9. Launch of the "Rural Kit" or set of rural tools to facilitate access to all EU financing options for rural areas.

The role of the CAP

The 2023-2027 CAP provides Member States with a flexible legal framework to support rural areas through the CAP Strategic Plans and three types of interventions:

1. Investments (external to agricultural operations and infrastructure).
2. Cooperation: LEADER approach.
3. Creation of rural businesses as part of the establishment aid.

The funding allocated to these three instruments amounts to €24.6 billion, or 8% of the CAP's total financial allocation (including national co-financing and supplements), which directly contributes to rural areas beyond agriculture.

The approach LEADER is proving indispensable for the development of rural communities. This strategy aims to address generational change and gender equality, as well as increasing digital, social, and technological innovation through support for "smart villages . "

Furthermore, during the 2021-2027 period, cohesion policy provides support to rural areas through the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) (specific objective 5.2). Support is channeled through integrated territorial development strategies designed and implemented by the respective territorial authorities, thereby strengthening the economic and social fabric of rural areas. However, since cohesion policy operates under shared management, Member States are responsible for designing strategies at the local level and allocating funding accordingly.

Next steps

In this report, the EC proposes the following steps to definitively strengthen the EU Rural Action Plan:

A) Themes:

1. Strengthening rural areas :

• Rural Revitalization Platform: New Features and Resources
• More innovation and research projects through the Horizon Europe program
• European Emerging Villages Forum: in 2024
• Participation of rural youth in the Erasmus+ program

2. Connecting rural areas :

• SMARTA-NET Project: Fall 2024
• Investments in digital transformation

3. Resilience of rural areas :

• Rural Communities Energy Mechanism
• More calls for proposals from the EU's "Soil Mission" project
• Rewetting of peat bogs

4. Prosperity of rural areas :

• Continuity of work in the social economy
• European Education Area: by 2025 it will address the barriers between rural and urban areas

B) Continuity:

1. Rural Observatory : continue improving rural statistics and launching new housing censuses

2. Rural proofing mechanism : The EC intends to continue developing mechanisms to integrate rural policies into European policies.

3. Rural Observatory : will integrate indicators on all areas of action of the strategy

4. Rural Pact :

• Improving your interactive platform
• Greater incorporation of member states
• Creation of a political laboratory for local-level action: Fall 2024
• First Conference on the Pact: 2025

The report concludes by stating that “achieving the ten common goals of the Rural Vision by 2040 is a long-term effort that requires sustained action and policies throughout the programming periods at all levels of governance.”