How can stakeholder engagement translate into tangible policy change for rural areas?

This question was central to the EU CAP Network workshop Engagement of Rural Stakeholders in National & Regional Partnership Plan (NRPP) Development, held in Ireland on 8 October 2026. The event provided an opportunity to connect European approaches to partnership and multi-level governance with experiences from the Slovak PoliRuralPlus pilot.

The workshop explored approaches from Sweden, Finland and Italy, including regular stakeholder hearings, interministerial workshops, regional needs assessments and collaborative innovation formats. Across these examples, a common message emerged: stakeholders must be involved throughout the policy cycle, and public authorities must explain how their contributions influence decisions.

The Slovak pilot experience reinforces this principle. Rural communities, local authorities, farmers, civil society and businesses bring practical knowledge that can help policymakers identify gaps, understand territorial differences and develop more relevant interventions. Through the Vision for More Attractive Rural Areas 2040, PoliRuralPlus supports participatory dialogue, cross-sectoral cooperation and stronger links between rural development priorities and policymaking.

For the preparation of the NRPP, this means ensuring that rural development priorities are reflected across policy areas and funding instruments. It also requires stronger cooperation between national institutions and regional and local actors, alongside transparent feedback on the outcomes of consultations.

The discussions reaffirmed the importance of moving beyond formal consultation towards genuine partnership, shared responsibility and measurable influence on policymaking.

Rural stakeholders should not simply be consulted about their future; they should help shape it. Connecting local knowledge, strategic vision and institutional decision-making is essential to building more attractive, inclusive and resilient rural areas across Europe.

For more information: https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/events/engagement-rural-stakeholders-national-regional-partnership-plan-nrpp_en

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