14:30 | Opening session

  • Welcome and opening remarks by Mr Peter Schmidt, President of the NAT Section and by Mr Stefano Palmieri, President of the ECO Section, European Economic and Social Committee
  • Presentation from the European Commission on the long-term vision and Rural Pact by Ms Alexia RoubyDG AGRI and Mr Eleftherios StavropoulosDG REGIO

15:00 | Session 1: Preliminary views from the EU institutions on the long-term vision

Moderator: Mr Peter Schmidt, President of the NAT Section

15:40 | Session 2: Roundtable on the implementation of the Rural Pact and on the potential role and areas of collaboration for the EU institutions

Moderator: Mr Josep Puxeu Rocamora, Vice-president of the EESC's NAT Section, and rapporteur of the opinion Towards a holistic strategy on sustainable rural/urban development

16:30 | General conclusions by Peter Schmidt, NAT Section President 

16:40 | General discussion and vote on the NAT/839 opinion on the long-term vision for rural areas

The debate can be followed via webstreaming in the following languages: EN, FR, DE