Rural areas and communities in the post-2027 EU budget and policies (policy action lab)

The Rural Pact Support Office, together with the European Commission, is organising  the Policy Action Lab ‘Rural areas and communities in the post-2027 EU budget and policies’ (Brussels, Belgium, 5 November 2025).

The event targets primarily policymakers at EU, national and regional levels in charge of designing, implementing and monitoring policies with an impact on rural areas – in particular the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. Rural stakeholders involved in advocacy and representing the voice of rural communities will also be invited.

This full-day event will gather approximately 100 stakeholders to:

• Enable an understanding of the implications (risks and opportunities) of the EU budget proposals and facilitate a positive negotiation outcome for rural areas;
• Facilitate an early reflection on the future implementation of the new policy framework, and involve Member State authorities in strategic thinking about synergies with the rural vision and Pact at national and regional levels.

Please click on the button below to express your interest by 22 September 2025, at the latest, in order to participate in this Policy Lab and exchange with peers from across Europe.

You will find more details about the Policy Lab, including the draft agenda, on the event page.

All selected participants will receive a confirmation email, so please do not make any travel and accommodation arrangements until your participation has been confirmed.

Travel and accommodation support will be offered to a limited number of the participants, mainly local actors and organisations.

Do not hesitate to contact Urszula Budzich Tabor at urszula@rural-pact.eu for further information!