On 9 February 2026, a high-level expert Round Table titled “Updated Vision for an Attractive Rural Slovakia 2040” took place at the Representation of the European Commission in Bratislava. The event gathered over 30 representatives from ministries, national and regional authorities, academia, civil society, business stakeholders, and young rural leaders.
The discussion built upon the zero draft Vision for More Attractive Rural Areas 2040, developed during the PoliRural project (2029-2021) through a mission-oriented foresight process. The current update continues this approach, responding to new geopolitical, economic and societal developments, with stronger emphasis on rural-urban linkages and digitalization.
Rural Areas as Strategic Spaces
Participants agreed that rural areas are far more than agricultural production zones. Rural Slovakia was recognised as a multidimensional space encompassing economic vitality, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and demographic resilience. Rural development must therefore be approached as an integrated territorial system connecting innovation, public services, infrastructure, environmental protection, generational renewal and strong rural–urban linkages.
Key Challenges
The Round Table highlighted limited access to healthcare, education and public services, outmigration of young people and ageing population, weak infrastructure in small municipalities and fragmented public policies and insufficient coordination.
Participants stressed that rural challenges require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches rather than isolated sectoral measures.
Generational Renewal and Youth Empowerment
Special attention was given to the role of young people in shaping rural futures. Speakers stressed the importance of simplifying administrative procedures for young farmers and entrepreneurs, strengthening innovation ecosystems, aligning formal and non-formal education with regional needs and ensuring long-term stability of support mechanisms.
Youth engagement was recognised as essential for achieving a resilient and attractive rural Slovakia by 2040.
Linking to Slovakia 2040
The Round Table recommended aligning the updated Vision with the national “Vision and Strategy for the Development of Slovakia until 2040,” currently being prepared by the Slovak Academy of Sciences for the Government of the Slovak Republic. Ensuring that rural perspectives are reflected across all policy domains was identified as essential.
Continuing the PoliRuralPlus Momentum
The event confirmed the need for long-term, coordinated and participatory rural policy. It also demonstrated continuity between the foresight foundations of PoliRuralPlus and the ambition to strengthen integrated territorial governance.
The conclusions will be incorporated into the updated Vision for an Attractive Rural Slovakia 2040 and submitted to the Government Council for NGOs.
Existující komentáře