On 6 May 2026, the European Committee of the Regions adopted an opinion calling for rural development to be fully recognised as a core objective of Cohesion Policy. Led by rapporteur Radim Sršeň of the Czech Republic, the opinion urges the European Union to provide dedicated funding and a coherent approach that extends beyond sector‑specific agricultural policies. Rural areas cover about 80% of EU territory and house nearly 30% of its citizens, yet remain underinvested, weakening economic, social and territorial cohesion. The opinion highlights the strategic role of rural regions in climate action, renewable energy, food systems and social cohesion, and stresses the need for a stronger, integrated framework that aligns existing funding instruments. It also calls for subsidiarity‑based governance, stronger support for place‑based approaches such as LEADER and Smart Villages, and enhanced capacity‑building across all governance levels.
© European Union (1995‑2025).
Summary adapted from material on the European Committee of the Regions website (https://cor.europa.eu ).
Original source © European Union under CC BY‑4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .
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