Elard

Women Leading Rural Innovation - FLIARA final conference
2025-10-17 | European Committee of the Regions, Rue Belliard 101, Brussels, 1040
The Final Conference of the FLIARA Project will bring together researchers, policymakers, innovation support actors, and civil society stakeholders to spotlight the critical role of women in shaping the future of rural areas and sustainable farming. Taking place on October 17, 2025, in Brussels at the European Committee of Regions from 09:00h to 17:00h, this high-level event marks the culmination of the Horizon Europe-funded FLIARA project (Grant Agreement No. 101084234), which has worked over three years to identify, analyse, and support women-led innovations across ten European countries.
The event will present key findings from over 200 case studies, future trends, highlight tested policy frameworks, and showcase practical tools—including a Gender-Specific Innovation Guide and a toolkit for policy and practice—developed to empower women innovators in rural contexts. Through expert panels, storytelling, and interactive workshops, the conference will explore how women’s leadership intersects with sustainability, gender equality, and innovation ecosystems in farming and rural development.
Policymakers at local, national, and EU levels are invited to engage with the results and contribute to advancing inclusive and gender-responsive rural policy. A dedicated policy session will introduce the project’s policy briefs and booklet, followed by an interactive workshop aimed at anchoring these recommendations within broader EU strategies such as the Common Agricultural Policy, the EU Gender Equality Strategy, and the Green Deal.

WHAT IS THE PROJECT ABOUT?

FLIARA is a Horizon Europe project that aims to enhance our understanding of the needs and challenges faced by women leading innovations in EU farming and rural sectors. It highlights their vital role in achieving sustainable rural futures aligned with EU policies. The project showcases women’s innovative abilities, emphasising sustainability across environmental, economic, societal, and cultural dimensions. Read more about the project at www.fliara.eu.

Data collected in the project includes the answers to the questions in this form, including your email address. Your email address will only be used within the context and for the duration of the FLIARA project, in accordance with the consent you explicitly expressed and abiding by the internal FLIARA Data Management Plan and Ethics Requirements and the project’s Privacy Policy. The collection and processing of your data follow the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

6th European rural Parliament
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-23 | Inverurie Academy, Community Campus, Victoria St, Inverurie, AB51 3QS, United Kingdom
Scotland was selected to host the next European Rural Parliament. It will bring together in October a 40-country delegation to Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Cairngorms National Park area. The ERP is a large-scale participative democratic process, set up to amplify the diverse voices of rural and island people in Europe.
The 6th edition’s theme is ‘Rural Community Solutions to Global Challenges’.
More information in the link below!

Rural areas and communities in the post-2027 EU budget and policies (policy action lab)
2025-11-05 | Brussels, Belgium
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.

Express interest to participate

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!

International training: Rural Youth Empowerment: Unlocking Erasmus+ & European Solidarity Corps 2.0
2025-11-25 - 2025-11-29 | Bucharest, Romania
Are you part of an organisation or informal group in a LAG area? Want to empower rural youth and explore Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps opportunities? Interested in meeting international partners? Then apply for the training “Rural Youth Empowerment: Unlocking Erasmus+ & European Solidarity Corps 2.0”!
The target group of this training are people from EU countries who work at a LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) or are directly involved with the LEADER programme. The aim of the training is to introduce EU Youth Programmes Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps funding opportunities to organizations working with rural youth because youth living in remote rural areas are one of the priority groups for the programmes.
The event also offers opportunity for networking and finding international partners.
Register soon! Only 30 spots available!
No time for the four day seminar? Join the online seminar instead on October 2nd. More here.

'How the next MFF can evolve in 2026' - an LDNet webinar
2026-01-22 16:30 - 18:00 (Europe/Brussels)
The last event of LDnet 2025 webinar series, which took place on 4.12.2025, was titled “In what direction can the next MFF evolve in 2026?”. The webinar was a great success (see the summary, full recording and speakers’ presentations HERE) but due to limited time it wasn’t possible to take on board all the questions and ideas of the discussants. Participants have expressed a keen interest in continuing the discussion on the challenges ahead.
A follow-up event that will aim for maximum involvement from participants is planned for Thursday 22 January, 16:30 – 18:00 CET. It will be an opportunity to exchange on how the Commission’s proposals should be improved to capitalise on the rich experience of EU territorial tools and to ensure a strong role for local communities.

The draft agenda of the event is:
16.30 – 16.35 Welcoming words by LDnet Chair, Peter Ramsden
16.35 – 16.45 Short recapitulation of the previous webinar’s key points (Serafin Pazos Vidal and Urszula Budzich-Tabor)
16.45 – 17.50 Discussion moderated by Pedro Brosei and Urszula Budzich-Tabor, focusing on the following questions:
– What are the opportunities and challenges for local communities of the MFF proposals published in July?
– What are the key points around which the policy debate should focus in 2026, and what specific changes should be advocated from a local perspective?
– Who can be potential allies of local development stakeholders in this debate?
17.50 – 18.00 Closing comments by Peter Ramsden

Register on the link below.

Empowering rural futures: the right to stay in rural areas
2026-02-13 11:00 - 13:00 | European Committee of the Regions, Rue Belliard 101, Brussels, 1040
This event is hybrid and in person – watch live on the link in the “details” section below.
What makes a rural community a good place to live, work, run a business, start a family and grow old? What are the key strengths of rural areas? What can be done to help overcome the barriers facing people in rural areas e.g. transport, housing, digital connectivity, lack of services and isolation?
As Europe faces mounting demographic and territorial imbalances, the European Commission is advancing a transformative agenda to reaffirm the right to stay as a cornerstone of territorial cohesion and inclusive development. The upcoming EU Strategy on the “Right to Stay” will seek to ensure rural populations can envision viable futures in their communities, supported by robust infrastructure, services, and economic opportunities. Central to this vision is also the Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture, unveiled in October 2025, which aims to double the share of young farmers in the EU by 2040.
This conference will explore how these two strategic pillars—the right to stay and generational renewal—can be jointly leveraged to revitalize rural regions. It will highlight the need for multisectoral approaches. By aligning EU, national, and regional policies, the session will showcase pathways to empower rural youth, sustain farming traditions, and foster innovation in Europe’s countryside.

European Rural Youth Forward Conference 2026 – “From Vision to Action”
2026-02-24 - 2026-02-28 | Asturias
This high-level event is organised by Rural Youth Europe in collaboration with EPA! – Rural Youth of Spain, and will bring together around 100 participants, including rural youth leaders, representatives of youth-led and young farmer’s organisations, and European policy-makers. The conference is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe.
Registration is now closed.

Brokerage event - 'Innovating for competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture and rural areas'
2026-02-25 - 2026-02-26 | Warsaw, Poland
The EU CAP Network brokerage event ‘Innovating for competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture and rural areas’ will take place in Warsaw, Poland, on 25 and 26 February 2026. A call for expression of interest was open until 10 December 2025, 23:59 CET.

In recent years, the EU CAP Network brokerage events have successfully supported the development of high-quality Horizon Europe proposals, strengthened links between research, practice and advisory services, and created lasting collaborations across the EU. Building on this experience, the 2026 edition will focus on networking and developing ideas around key priorities from the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Work Programme for 2026, focusing on topics that require a multi-actor approach.
Participants will have the opportunity to meet peers working on similar challenges, present short teasers of their project ideas, and explore partnerships for future collaboration. The event will also highlight additional European, national and regional funding opportunities that can support innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas.

More about the event on the link below.

Roundtable: water for food and resilient territories
2026-02-27 08:00 - 17:00 | European Parliament, Room 1G2, Brussels, Belgium
Irrigants d’Europe- IE, the ANBI – National Association of Consortia for the Management and Protection of Land and Irrigated Waters, CERSTE, and the Parliamentary Intergroup for Southern Development – Fragile Areas and Minor Islands, is organising an in-depth initiative dedicated to water policies and rural governance.

The meeting, entitled “Water for Food and Resilient Territories” will be held in hybrid format in Brussels on Tuesday, March 24, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at European Parliament, Spinelli Building, Room SPINELLI 1H1, participation upon registration.

The discussion will address water as a critical resource closely tied to strategic infrastructures and a driver of sustainable growth, moving beyond a sectoral approach to highlight its function as an integrated territorial management system: from agricultural irrigation and food security to soil protection, the prevention of hydrogeological instability and the protection of water resources its selves.
Particular attention will be given to enabling priorities to achieve a real water resilience as engineering and technological solutions -efficient irrigation networks, multi-purpose reservoirs, monitoring and control systems, and water reuse- as essential tools for a planned, sustainable, and measurable approach to water governance.
This round table aims to contribute to a coherent European water policy aligned with the CAP, the Green Deal, and Cohesion Policy, supporting economic growth, competitiveness, and employment—while strengthening rural areas as pillars of the Union’s productive and territorial stability.
NOTE: In-person seating is limited; please wait for confirmation from the organizer before purchasing flights or accommodations. All registered attendees will receive a link to the online streaming of the event.

Register in the link in the “details” section below.

DOWLNOAD THE FULL PROGRAMME

Civil Society Week
2026-03-02 - 2026-03-05 | European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Brussels, Belgium
The European Civil Society Week is a major EU-level forum bringing together civil society organisations, policymakers, and grassroots actors to respond to growing social, democratic, and territorial challenges across Europe. For Local Action Groups, the event is particularly relevant as it focuses on strengthening civic engagement, social inclusion, and trust in democratic institutions while addressing inequalities between regions and generations. Organised around the themes of opportunities, security, and resilience, and aligned with key European Commission priorities, the week will showcase debates and participatory sessions on how local communities can better involve citizens, counter polarisation, support vulnerable groups, and contribute to a more cohesive and democratic Europe, including in rural and peripheral areas.
Registrations are currently open – see link below.
The following sessions will be especially intersting for LAGs:

What holds us together? The power of social cohesion – Monday the 2nd at 14:00
When the system stops delivering: housing, inequality and Europe’s social contract – Monday the 2nd at 16:15
Workshop: participate, propose, progress – social resilience
Civil Society Strategy and Platform – what is next? – Wednesday the 4th at 11:00

Exchange of experiences on LEADER cooperation with spanish LAGs
2026-03-03 - 2026-03-04 | La farm studio, C. Baños, 6,, Real Sitio de San Ildefonso, Segovia, 40100, Spain
The Spanish CAP Network will organize an event focused on transnational LEADER cooperation, although inter-territorial cooperation will also be encouraged.

The event will take place on 3rd and 4th of March 2026 at La Farm Studio, in el Real Sitio de San Ildefonso, Segovia (Spain).
The event aims to strengthen transnational cooperation among Local Action Groups (LAGs) at European level, although inter-territorial cooperation will also be encouraged. The event will also promote the exchange of experiences, good practices, and knowledge to generate synergies that reinforce local capacities to address common challenges.
The target of the event are Local Action Groups, CAP SP managing authorities and any entity or organization linked to rural areas interested in implementing cooperation projects under the LEADER measure within the CAP SP. Its provisional agenda, will include, among other activities:

Presentations on LEADER cooperation by the EU CAP Network and the Managing Authority of the Spanish CAP SP.
LEADER cooperation experiences from different Member States.
Presentations on cooperation projects and field visits to LEADER cooperation projects in the area.
Marketplace for the exchange of themathic areas of interest for LEADER cooperation among EU Local Action Groups.
Participatory activities to foster the creation of new LEADER cooperation projects among attendees.

The event will take place in person to facilitate networking and the development of new LEADER cooperation projects among different countries. Nevertheless, it will be livestreamed to give it greater visibility.
The event website, the final agenda and other relevant information will be available soon.
You are encouraged to disseminate this event among European LAGs in your territories.
Save the date!

Conference: The Future of Rural Europe – Making migration work for regions in decline
2026-03-10 10:00 - 17:00
This conference marks the conclusion of the Horizon Europe-funded project PREMIUM_EU, which has examined impacts of mobility on regional development across Europe.
Across Europe, many rural and peripheral regions are facing a tipping point. As younger people and skilled professionals move to urban centres, smaller towns and rural areas are struggling with demographic decline, shrinking workforces, and a loss of vitality. Yet in a Europe of free movement, regional futures are not set in stone.
The in-person event, hosted at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, will launch the Resilient Regions Policy Dashboard: a digital knowledge and policy-generating tool that helps identify tailored, data-driven strategies to improve regional attractiveness, address population decline, and strengthen long-term resilience.
In-person registration is full, but joining the event via a webstram is possible. More on the link below.

Gender-inclusive policies for farming and rural areas
2026-03-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
This ELIF (European Local Innovation Forum – an AEIDL initiative) webinar, will explore practical approaches to advancing gender equality in agriculture and rural areas. Drawing on the GRASS CEILING project, the session will present a Roadmap for action (2025–2035) and introduce the Rural Gender Policy Toolkit, including the Rural Women Innovation Compass.
The discussion will address key structural barriers and showcase women-led initiatives recognised through the RUWI Awards, supporting more inclusive rural and agricultural policies beyond 2027.
Participation: Open to ELIF members and stakeholders interested in gender equality in rural areas. By registering, participants will be considered ELIF members and will receive AEIDL newsletters, ELIF event invitations and related updates.

Bridging Vision and Action: Smart Rural Development That Leaves No Region Behind
2026-03-24 09:00 - 16:30 | Sofia, Bulgaria
Bridging Vision and Action: Smart Rural Development That Leaves No Region Behind is organised by representatives of the 4 EU macro-regional strategies and the SMART ERA project.
The event is held under the auspices of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Danube Strategy and supported by funds from the City of Vienna, Horizon Europe, Interreg Danube Region, and Interreg Baltic Sea.

The event will address what it takes to support successful and smart rural development and how we can bring our vision into concrete action. Attendees will:

discuss with you the future of (smart) rural development,
demonstrate good practices of evidence-based decision-making, and
share and test approaches for smart rural development.

Find the programme here. REgister until Marh 13 on the link below.

Readiness of Ukraine to implement the EU LEADER programme
2026-03-25 11:45 - 16:00 | European Committee of the Regions, Rue Belliard 101, Brussels, 1040
Ukraine’s recovery will not succeed without strong and empowered local communities. While the European Union has mobilised significant financial instruments for Ukraine’s reconstruction, funding often fails to reach the local level where recovery actually happens.
The policy seminar will focus on bringing together Ukrainian local leaders, EU policymakers, Members of the European Parliament, representatives of EU institutions, and civil society organisations. The event will explore how EU recovery instruments could better support community-led approaches, pilot the LEADER methodology in Ukraine, and enable recovery funding to reach municipalities and local partnerships directly.
Confirmed speakers:
– Thibaut Guignard – President of LEADER France and member of the European Committee of the Regions, Mayor of Plœuc-L’Hermitage
– Aelig Le Gentil – Leader France
– Serhii Zamidra – First Deputy Head at All-Ukrainian Association of Communities
– Lukáš Veselý – Deputy Head of Unit – Ukraine’s Reconstruction & Accession (DG ENEST.D1)
– Sviatoslav Surma, Fond Rydnia Stryj
– Michaela Macharik – President of Czech-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry & Commerce

Register in the link in the “details” section

COM4LGD Event: Reclaiming Local Food Economies
2026-04-07 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
On 7 April 2026, an online event organized by ECOLISE will take place as part of the COM4LGD project: “Reclaiming Local Food Economies – Community Wealth, Territorial Resilience, and the Future of Food in Europe”.
This session will bring together community-led initiatives and stakeholders to explore how local actions are shaping more just, sustainable, and resilient food systems across Europe.
The workshop will highlight practical approaches such as community-supported agriculture, food cooperatives, and local food councils, while linking these experiences to policy discussions and future pathways for European food systems.
Participants will gain insights into:

Community-led approaches to sustainable food systems
The role of local food economies in resilience and wellbeing
Policy perspectives and advocacy for fair and sustainable food futures

Date: 7 April 2026Time: 13:00 – 14:30 (CEST)Format: Online
More information: https://ecolise.eu/event/reclaiming-local-food-economies-community-wealth-territorial-resilience-and-the-future-of-food-in-europe/
The ELARD Knowledge Hub is a partner in the COM4LGD project.

Traceability and Ecosystem Services: Policy and DigiMedFor Insights
2026-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
On 8 April 2026, the DigiMedFor project will host a webinar on “Traceability and Ecosystem Services: Policy and DigiMedFor Insights”.
This online session will bring together experts and stakeholders to explore how policy frameworks and digital solutions can support more transparent and sustainable forest value chains in Mediterranean regions.
The webinar will present key DigiMedFor results, including tools and approaches that improve monitoring, traceability, and the recognition of ecosystem services, complemented by practical insights from project partners.
Participants will gain insights into:

Policy frameworks shaping forest traceability and ecosystem services
DigiMedFor solutions supporting transparency and sustainability
Practical tools and experiences from project partners

Date: 8 April 2026Time: 11:00 – 12:15 (CET)Format: Online | Free | Open to allLanguage: English
Register here: https://digimedfor.eu/2026/03/06/policy-insights-wood-traceability-and-ecosystem-services/
The ELARD Knowledge Hub is a partner in the DigiMedFor project.

Open seminar: Solar Power Plants and the Community Use Model
2026-04-14 17:00 - 18:30 | Peetri küla Energia- ja Tervisekeskus, Kesktee 14, Peetri alevik, Järvamaa county, 73113, Estonia
In the context of the EC4RURAL project, the Pärnu College of the University of Tartu invites you to participate in an open seminar, where the principles of building solar power plants, maintenance of energy systems and the practical use of renewable energy will be introduced. The seminar offers an opportunity to ask for advice and discuss the challenges and possible solutions in the field with experts.
The speaker will be Robert Mägi (Solarflow OÜ), a specialist in the use of renewable energy with long-term experience.
This seminar takes place within the framework of the EC4RURAL project, funded by the LIFE Programme, and is free of charge for participants.
For additional information, please contact Ly Lumiste (Project Manager) at ly.lumiste@ut.ee .

2026 General Assembly Meeting
2026-04-21 10:30 - 13:00 | Hotel Club San Diego, Acquafredda di Maratea, 85044, Italy
ELARD’s General Assembly Meeting will take place on 21 April in Maratea, Italy. The meeting will be organised in a hybrid format, allowing participation both in person and online.
Agenda
1. Opening and welcome
2. Adoption of the agenda
3. Approval of the minutes of the previous General Assembly
4. Decision on adopting new members (Cyprus, Malta; depending on the applications received).
5. Presentation of the 2025 Financial Report with Hub
6. Presentation of the 2025 Activity Report with Hub
7. Decision on granting discharge to the Council for the financial year 2025
8. Decision on 2026 Membership fees
9. Presentation of the 2026 Activity plan and budget with Hub
10. Decision on approval of the 2026 Activity plan and budget
11. Council by-elections
12. Upcoming meetings and representation
13. Any Other Business (AOB)
14. Closing of the meeting

European networks, local impacts: advocacy for LEADER-CLLD at EU and Italian levels
2026-04-21 15:30 - 18:00 | Hotel Club San Diego, Acquafredda di Maratea, 85044, Italy
This hybrid ELARD members meeting will be the opportunity to discuss advocacy for a strong LEADER-CLLD in the next programming period.
Agenda

Welcome and introduction to ELARD
Voices from Italy
LEADER after 2027
Exchange with members and Italian LAGs, open discussion with all participants

Short national updates
Ongoing developments, challenges, priorities and concerns

Should you be interested in attending remotely, please contact elard@elard.eu to receive the link.

Unveiling Successes, Shaping Futures: Final Event COM4LGD
2026-04-23 08:00 - 2026-04-24 17:00 | Lisbon, Portugal
On 23–24 April 2026, the COM4LGD project will host its final event, “Unveiling Successes, Shaping Futures”, at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal.
This two-day event will bring together partners, policymakers, and community actors from across Europe to reflect on the project’s achievements and explore how local green initiatives can continue to drive sustainable and inclusive transformation.
Over the past years, COM4LGD has worked across all 27 EU Member States to address climate, environmental, and social challenges by empowering communities, strengthening cooperation with local governments, and fostering inclusive participation.
Participants will have the opportunity to:

Explore key project achievements
Share lessons learned from implementation
Discuss future directions for local green action in Europe

Date: 23–24 April 2026Time: 08:00 – 17:00Location: Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
More information and registration here: https://communitiesforlocalgreendeals.ecolise.eu/activity/unveiling-successes-shaping-futures-final-event-com4lgd/
The ELARD Knowledge Hub is a partner in the COM4LGD project.

RURACTIVE: Empowering rural communities to act for change
2026-04-23 13:30 - 15:30 | Online
The third RURACTIVE Forum, taking place on 23 April 2026 at 13:30 – 15:30 CET online marks a transition towards structured policy formulation. Building on the previous meetings, which took place in February and November 2025, this edition focuses on transforming identified rural challenges into concrete, evidence-informed policy options.
The Forum takes place at a key moment in the European policy cycle, as discussions advance on the post-2027 framework and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034. RURACTIVE contributes as a science-policy interface and a platform for bottom-up intelligence from the Rural Development Drivers (RDDs) sustainable multimodal mobility, energy transition and climare neutrality, sustainable agri-food systems and ecosystems management, culture and cultural innovation, local services, health and wellbeing, and governance, nature-based and cultural tourism.
The meeting is designed as a hands-on co-creation exercise aimed at:

Translating rural challenges into structured policy options.
Identifying systemic barriers affecting rural innovation.
Generating proto-recommendations aligned with current and upcoming EU policy frameworks.
Contributing directly to EU and national policy discussions. The session forms a key step toward the development of RURACTIVE’s policy recommendations and guidance.

Participants are invited to follow a structured three-step process in which expert-framed rural challenges are collectively analysed to identify systemic barriers and generate policy options, which are then consolidated into structured proto-recommendations aligned with the current EC policy framework.
The Forum is open to rural practitioners, Rural Development Drivers, EU and national policy actors, thematic experts, and representatives of European networks engaged in community-led rural innovation.
Registration and agenda on the link below.

Open seminar: Solar Power Plants and Community Use Model
2026-04-28 17:00 - 18:30 | Metsanurme Village Center, Metsanurme Village, Saku Parish, Saku Parish, Harju, 75506, Estonia
In the context of the EC4RURAL project, the Pärnu College of the University of Tartu invites you to participate in an open seminar, where the principles of building solar power plants, maintenance of energy systems and the practical use of renewable energy will be introduced. The seminar offers an opportunity to ask for advice and discuss the challenges and possible solutions in the field with experts.
The speaker will be Robert Mägi (Solarflow OÜ), a specialist in the use of renewable energy with long-term experience.
This seminar takes place within the framework of the EC4RURAL project, funded by the LIFE Programme, and is free of charge for participants.
For additional information, please contact Ly Lumiste (Project Manager) at ly.lumiste@ut.ee.

DigiMedFor Final event
2026-05-13 09:30 - 17:00 | France, Carnoules
On 13 May 2026, the DigiMedFor project – of which the ELARD Knowledge Hub is a partner – will host its Final Event in Carnoules, France.
This on-site event will bring together project partners, stakeholders, and forestry professionals to present key results, share lessons learned, and explore how digital solutions can support more sustainable management of Mediterranean forests.
Date: 13 May 2026
Time: 09:30 – 17:00
Format: On siteLocation: Carnoules, France
The public dissemination day is open to external participants and will include presentations of project results and tools, a Q&A session, as well as a forest visit with demonstrations in Collobrières.
Register by 30 April: https://digimedfor.eu/2026/02/11/digimedfor-final-event/

LINC LATVIA 2026
2026-05-26 - 2026-05-28
Registration is now open. REGISTER HERE
LINC Team Latvia is pleased to invite you to the LINC conference, a LEADER-Inspired Network Community event dedicated to networking, knowledge sharing, and exchanging experiences within rural development communities across Europe.
LINC 2026 will take place in Jūrmala, Latvia, from 26 to 28 May 2026.
The conference will offer inspiring insights into rural development and LEADER projects, showcasing various approaches, regions, and community-driven solutions from Latvia and beyond.Get ready to enjoy the classic LINC experience, including the official opening parade, inspiring study tours, a delicious European buffet, engaging cooperation workshop, exciting European Games, and festive evening events.
Register and prepare to be part of an inspiring European rural development community!

From theory to action: EU LEADER approach in non-EU countries
2026-06-03 - 2026-06-04 | Tartu, Estonia
FAO is organising a technical workshop on 3–4 June 2026 in Tartu, Estonia, to explore the role of the EU LEADER approach in supporting the sustainable transformation of local agrifood systems. The event will bring together policymakers, Local Action Groups, researchers and practitioners to exchange experiences, discuss implementation challenges, and examine how LEADER can be adapted in different national contexts.
The programme includes discussions on policy frameworks, lessons learned from EU Member States, and country experiences beyond the EU, as well as opportunities to build new partnerships. A field visit to the LAG Tartu County Development Association area will showcase practical project examples.
Participation is open upon application until 26 April 2026.

Anchoring rural areas in the National and Regional Partnership Plans - Rural Pact Policy Lab
2026-06-03 09:00 - 17:00 | Brussels, Belgium
EXPRESS INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE BY 24.04.2026
As the 2028-2034 funding period approaches, the Member State institutions responsible for designing the future National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) are reflecting on how to make best use of their resources and of the time available to both develop and negotiate the Plans. They are also reflecting on or have already started to build the partnership of authorities and organisations that should take part in the design, implementation and monitoring of the future plans. This is a good moment to discuss how the plans could best answer rural challenges in the diversity of European contexts and how the partnership principle could be effectively applied to involve rural authorities and representatives.
The European Commission’s legislative proposals for the 2028-2034 EU budget published on 16 July 2025 bring significant changes regarding EU funding. An important change is the merging of funding instruments and policies under shared management with Member States, including rural development policy, under one National and Regional Partnership Plan per Member State, funded through a single fund.
This new fund – the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security – is intended to improve synergies and complementarities between policy domains and promote a more integrated approach to rural action across sectors and governance levels to address complex needs in rural areas.
While the Commission proposals are under negotiation with the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, the national and regional authorities, involving local actors, need to consider how to devise the plans that would allow for the most efficient use of the resources available to support rural territories, including the 10% rural target that has been proposed to support a consistent agenda of measures in these territories.
The Policy Action Lab will provide a space to build capacities and exchange on how rural areas challenges and opportunities can be tackled in the NRPPs: the opportunities for policymakers can mobilise with examples of integrated measures; which engagement mechanisms can be used to best involve rural authorities and representatives in the development of the Plans; and how performance measurement and territorial coding will work in practice.
Objectives

To build the capacity of the Rural Pact Community members – in particular policymakers at national and/or regional levels and rural community members – on the diversity of measures that could support rural communities within the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs);
To reflect and draw recommendations on how rural actors and communities could best be involved in the planning and preparation of the Plans at national and/or regional levels, in line with the partnership principle;
To build a better understanding of the proposed provisions for monitoring and tracking expenditure in the performance framework, including territorial coding.

The Policy Lab endeavours to ensure that the participants have a clear idea of how the NRPPs can be operationalised to the benefit of rural communities.

Target audience
The target audience consists of policymakers at national and regional levels involved in the design of the National and Regional Partnership Plans, as well as stakeholders representing rural communities.
Approximately 100 participants will be recruited via an online call for expression of interest. In case of oversubscription, the RPSO will select participants based on their potential to contribute to the dialogue at all governance levels, their readiness to share or disseminate relevant examples, as well as the ability to communicate in English, and geographical balance.
The event will take place in Brussels and will be held in English with no interpretation. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for a limited number of accepted participants, in particular civil society organisations, local authorities and research institutions that need support to participate.

Energy Communities, their Potential and how to boost citizen engagement (hybrid)
2026-06-08 15:00 - 17:45 | Comet Louise, Place Stéphanie 20, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
This conference brings together the final results and learnings from three EU LIFE-funded projects POWER-E-COM, DISCOVER and ISLET. Participants will explore the main barriers to creating energy communities and how to overcome them, gain insights into key technical aspects of the process, and learn from concrete best practices implemented across Europe.
The event will be followed by a networking cocktail, offering participants the opportunity to connect with speakers and fellow attendees.
About the projects:
POWER-E-COM fosters cooperation between regional and local authorities and citizens to develop RECs across six European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain. It works with regions at different stages of the energy transition to design and implement adaptable REC models, while providing training, mentoring and practical tools to help stakeholders set up and scale community energy projects.
DISCOVER supports the development of Community Energy Projects by providing integrated support services to project initiators. It works with pilot regions in Italy, France, Croatia, Bulgaria and Austria to establish local One Stop Shops offering guidance on technical, financial, legal and organisational aspects, helping communities launch and implement energy projects across their full lifecycle.
ISLET supports collaboration between public authorities, private investors and citizens in order to develop RECs on small Mediterranean islands. It involves pilot and test islands in Greece, Italy, Croatia and Malta to design and validate REC models that can be applied across other Mediterranean islands.

Agenda:
Welcome participants and introduction – FEDARENE | 15:00
Keynote speech: Setting the Scene on Energy Communities: What they are and why their importance is increasing – Vinicius Valente, CINEA | 15:15
POWER-E-COM: Chances, Challenges & Changes: Energy Communities on the rise!? – Ingo Ball, WIP | 15:30
ISLET: Learnings on Community Building for Renewable Energy Communities – Alexis Chatzimpiros, Samsø Energiakademi | 15:45
DISCOVER: The Cost of Success: When the Growth of Energy Communities Creates New Challenges – Helmut Herglotz, Pixel Energy Solutions | 16:00
POWER-E-COM: Business Models for European Energy Communities –
Francisco Puente / Álvaro Moral, ESCAN | 16:15
ISLET: Experiences from Renewable Energy Communities on Islands – Élodie Bossio, FEDARENE | 16:30
DISCOVER: Building Trust in Energy Communities: The Role of Transparency and Governance – Damir Medved, Without Borders | 16:45
Q&A. FEDARENE | 17:00
Wrap-up & Conclusions – FEDARENE | 17:20
Networking Cocktail: A refreshment will be served to the in-person attendees on Comet Meeting’s floor 0. | 18:00 – 19:30

4th European Rural Geographies Conference
2026-06-22 - 2026-06-26 | Portugal, Porto
From 22 to 26 June 2026, the 4th European Rural Geographies Conference “Reinventing Rural Spaces: Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability in a Changing World” will take place at the University of Porto, Portugal.
This international conference will bring together researchers and practitioners to explore how rural areas can respond to today’s key challenges – including climate change, innovation, and socio-economic transformation.
The programme will feature expert sessions, presentations, and field visits, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and forward-looking discussions on rural development.
Marion Eckardt, Head of ELARD Knowledge Hub, will participate as an inaugural conference speaker, contributing to raising awareness of ELARD and LEADER principles and sharing insights from ongoing projects.
Date: 22–26 June 2026Location: University of Porto, Portugal
More information: https://4-ruralgeographies.euroissues.pt/

European Rural Parliament special event: Putting rural civil society in position - livestream on June 23
2026-06-23 11:00 - 15:00
European Rural Parliament Special Event

European Rural Parliament Special Event
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 11:00 – 15:00 CET
Scotland House, Brussels | Live Stream Available

About the Event

On ctober 23, 2025, we concluded the inspiring 6th European Rural Parliament (ERP) and European Rural Youth Parliament with a powerful collective outcome: the Declaration of Inverurie. This declaration was translated into a Call to Action and presented to European Executive VP Fitto and Commissioner Hansen in March 2026.

We now invite all ERP participants to join us for a follow-up meeting to learn about the progress of this advocacy process. This special event, titled “Putting Rural Civil Society in Position,” is organised in cooperation with the Scottish Government and will take place at Scotland House in Brussels.

Event Objectives

This event aims to translate the outcomes of the 6th ERP and the Declaration of Inverurie and Call to Action into concrete policy dialogue and action at the European level. Key objectives include:

Assessing progress on the Declaration of Inverurie and Call to Action.
Strengthening partnerships between rural stakeholders, EU institutions, and policymakers.
Positioning rural voices in key upcoming EU policy processes, such as the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and Cohesion Policy.
Reaffirming and strengthening the role of organized rural civil society in shaping European policies.
Ensuring rural communities are actively involved in decision-making.

FIND THE AGENDA HERE

Join the Live Stream

A live stream is available for all ERP participants. Join us virtually via the link below:

Teams Link: Join Live Stream

Meeting ID: 355 701 969 068 869
Passcode: [REDACTED]

In-person participation

In-person participation is limited and by invitation only. Invitees are specifically selected to represent key players in relation to rural actors and policy.

Organised in cooperation with the Scottish Government
