Happy World Rural Development day!

Today, on World Rural Development Day, we reaffirm our dedication to rural communities and the transformative power of LEADER-CLLD. Rural areas are the backbone of Europe, and their development must be locally owned, inclusive, and sustainable.

The next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is a critical moment for rural Europe. At the EU level, ELARD has been at the forefront of advocacy to ensure that LEADER-CLLD, Smart Villages, and local cooperation remain central to the next funding cycle. While the European Parliament has finalised its position, we continue to push for:

– Mandatory earmarking of at least €78.29 billion for LEADER-CLLD and related initiatives, with 30% of the Rural Target dedicated to local development.
– Strict conditions for the Rural Target, ensuring investments genuinely address rural challenges—not just those located in rural areas.
– Binding obligations for Member States to implement LEADER-CLLD in rural, coastal, and disadvantaged areas, modelled on Article 18 of the CAP Regulation.

Now, the focus shifts to national action. We urge our members and partners to engage with ministries and decision-makers to protect rural funding and ensure transparency and accountability in allocations. Your voice matters: use our advocacy tools to shape the future of rural Europe.

ELARD Knowledge Hub is a powerhouse of collaboration, currently managing five EU-funded projects that address pressing rural challenges:

– EC4RURAL: Accelerating the clean energy transition in rural areas across Spain, Estonia, and Belgium via Energy Communities
– NEXRUR: Strengthening innovation and cooperation between the EU and China for rural development.
– RUSTIK: A transdisciplinary research project co-creating solutions with rural communities and policymakers.
– COM4LGD: Empowering local green deals through community organising and advocacy across all 27 EU Member States.
– DigiMedFor: Modernising the Mediterranean forest-wood supply chain for sustainable management.
– RECAH: Supporting rural energy communities to take climate action into their own hands.

We also contribute as associated partners to initiatives like G.R.A.I.N.: —transferring LEADER-CLLD expertise to Ukraine to strengthen local governance, and IDRON: enhancing water resilience in drought-prone Mediterranean regions.

ELARD’s strength lies in our 33 members from 30 countries, united by a shared mission: knowledge exchange and collective action. Through our network, LAGs access best practices, peer learning, and advocacy support to drive bottom-up rural development. Whether it’s  about LAG management, training LAG boards, indicators for evaluation… our network is actively sharing both formally and informally. And whether it is about youth employment (Cowork4YOUTH), energy efficiency (RENOVERTY), or gender equality (FLIARA), our projects ensure that no rural community is left behind.

On this World Rural Development Day, we call on policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens to:

=> Prioritise rural funding in national and regional plans.
=> Protect LEADER-CLLD as a tool for local empowerment.
=> Invest in knowledge-sharing to unlock rural potential.

Rural areas are not just recipients of development: they are its drivers. Let’s ensure they have the resources, ownership, and voice to thrive.