The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) believes that in the heartlands of Europe lie the seeds of its future prosperity. In an own initiative opinion adopted at its April plenary, it underscores its steadfast commitment to nurturing rural communities and reaffirms its dedication to the long-term vision for the EU's rural areas (LTVRA). The EESC proposes a European charter of rights and responsibilities as a step toward a comprehensive EU rural strategy.
On 7 November, the Rural Pact Coordination Group (CG) convened for its second meeting since its inception. The CG plays a crucial role in developing strategies, coordinating actions, and ensuring effective implementation of the Rural Pact and brings together diverse stakeholders to address challenges and advance sustainable development in rural areas.
Academia, local civil society organisations, representatives of regional and national authorities and members of the European Economic and Social Committee met at a conference in Dolni Vítkovice, a former industrial area for coal mining and steel production in Ostrava, on 11 October 2022. The conference on Reinventing the Moravian-Silesian Region in search of a socially just transition was organised by the EESC's Civil Society Organisations' Group as part of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The appeal of living in the countryside may have grown over the past few years, but many rural areas in the EU still battle with a number of problems that prevent people from staying or moving there
An extraordinary NAT Bureau meeting took place in France, Rouen, on 8-9 September 2022, upon the initiative of Mr Arnold Puech d'Alissac (Member of the Group of Employers). The aim was to explore the French approach on carbon-farming as a follow-up of the EESC opinion on sustainable carbon cycles, as well as the agricultural assets of the Normandy region.
NAT members promoted the EESC messages on Rural Development at the European Rural Parliament annual meeting in in Kielce (Poland) on 12-15 September 2022. The event gathered around 350 participants from 39 European countries.
On 15–16 June the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) officially joined the Rural Pact community during the first Rural Pact Conference. The EESC, as one of the organisers of the conference, participated in different panels to promote the application of a truly holistic approach to sustainable rural/urban development.
The EESC is calling on policy-makers to implement a comprehensive and holistic strategy for balanced, cohesive, equitable and sustainable rural and urban development. This will involve harnessing the role of local communities, boosting traditional industries and creating new economic activities and job opportunities in rural areas, while fostering synergies with urban areas. The opinion adopted on this topic will contribute to the implementation of the Commission's long-term vision for the EU's rural areas put forward last June.
