Programme

How to foster the implementation of the Long-Term Vision for EU's Rural Areas?

Moderated by Mr. Josep Puxeu Rocamora, NAT Section vice-president and President of the Study Group

9:30 | Opening remarks

by Mr. Marc Decoster, EESC Member and Rapporteur of the own-initiative opinion

9:40 | Setting the scene: 2 years of implementation of the Long-Term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas 

• Mr. Mario Milouchev, Director of Directorate D "CAP Strategic Plans II", DG AGRI: state of play of the long-term vision and the contribution of the Common Agricultural Policy to the Long-term vision
• Mrs Merja Haapakka, Policy Coordinator, DG REGIO: Contribution of the Cohesion Policy to the Long-term vision

Q&A

10:20 | Session I – Rural economic activities and financing: challenges, opportunities, and enhanced funding access for civil society organisations, enterprises and social economy in rural areas

Moderated by Mrs Piroska Kállay, EESC Gr. II member 

• Mr. Diogo Machado Mendes, Senior Economist, European Invesment Bank 
• Mrs. Veronique Willems, Secretary General, SMEUnited
• Mr. Thibaut Guignard, President, LEADER 
• Mrs Marta Domènech Tomàs, Director General de Turisme de Catalunya 

Q&A

11:40 | Session II – Rural Pact and Governance: scaling-up governance in rural development and exploring mechanisms for active involvement of rural stakeholders in decision-making processes

Moderated by Mrs Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, EESC representative to the Rural Pact

• Mr. Radim Sršeň, Member of the Committee of the Region and Chair of the Rural Pact Coordination Group
• Mr. Gérard Peltre, President of Ruralité Environnement Développement 
• Mr. Piotr Styczeń, European Rural Parliament Youth
• Mr. Guillaume Corradino, Director of Euromontana 

Q&A

12:45 | Closing remarks

by Mr. Marc Decoster, EESC Member and Rapporteur of the own-initiative opinion