Piotr Całbecki, Chair of the Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) of the European Committee of the Regions and member of the EPP-CoR, has called on the European Commission to renew and strengthen the mandate of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG), underlining its essential role in ensuring that rural voices are heard in EU policymaking.
In letters addressed to Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen and Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto, Całbecki expressed concern over the reported intention not to extend the RPCG’s mandate. This development has raised serious concerns among stakeholders engaged in the Rural Pact process and risks undermining progress toward more inclusive and effective rural policies.
Rural areas across Europe continue to face widening disparities compared to urban regions, alongside growing socio-economic challenges. Całbecki stressed that current policy efforts have yet to sufficiently address these trends, and that the EU’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas requires stronger implementation, with greater involvement of local and regional authorities.
He highlighted that the RPCG has proven to be a unique and valuable governance platform, bringing together EU institutions, Member States, civil society, and researchers, and playing a central role in fostering cooperation and ensuring that rural perspectives are integrated into EU policies.
At a time when discussions on the EU’s post-2027 policy framework are gaining momentum, Całbecki warned that discontinuing the RPCG would risk weakening stakeholder engagement and sending an unintended signal about the importance of partnership in EU governance. “The Rural Pact Coordination Group has demonstrated its value as a platform for dialogue and cooperation. Strengthening it would help translate ambitions for rural areas into concrete results,” said Piotr Całbecki.
He reaffirmed his readiness to work closely with the European Commission and all stakeholders to further enhance the Rural Pact framework, encouraging a renewed mandate for the RPCG that reinforces structured stakeholder participation and supports more effective delivery of EU rural objectives.
This call is further reinforced by the upcoming CoR opinion on the Future of Rural Development post-2027, led by rapporteur Radim Sršeň, which will be presented at the next CoR plenary session. The opinion highlights the need to ensure the continuity of measures supporting rural areas under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034. In particular, the opinion calls for sufficient funding for rural development, for rural development to be recognised as a distinct EU objective rather than being subsumed under the Common Agricultural Policy, and for locally based approaches to rural development to be maintained and strengthened in the next programming period.
Całbecki also reiterated his openness to continued dialogue with the European Commission to share insights from regional and local authorities and contribute to shaping a stronger future for rural Europe.