Publicada por Lab. Territorio

The “Rural Agreement” will bring together leaders and experts in Ourense to promote a new vision for rural areas

In a context of ecological transition and urgent need for territorial rebalancing, rural areas can no longer be treated as peripheral spaces. They must be recognized as key drivers of social innovation, economic sustainability, and territorial cohesion. With this motivation, the event “Rural Agreement: Leading the Transition from Rural Municipalities” emerges as a strategic opportunity to place rural challenges at the heart of public policy.

This workshop is organized by the Municipality of Carballeda de Avia, in collaboration with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), the Provincial Council of Ourense, the Regional Government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia), and the General Secretariat for the Demographic Challenge. It will take place on 28 and 29 October 2025, at the Marcos Valcárcel Cultural Center in Ourense, and will include visits to the villages of Penedo and Muimenta. The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), through Laboratorio do Territorio (Land Lab), is part of the organizing committee.

More than a program of visits and debates, the Rural Agreement will be a space for dialogue among experts, rural stakeholders, institutional representatives, and leading initiatives from Spain and Europe. The goal is to build a shared vision to address the major challenges and opportunities facing rural municipalities and to agree on general guidelines that will steer coordinated public action in the short and medium term.

The program includes:

• Roundtables on rural policy, innovation, and sustainability
• Presentation of inspiring case studies from Spain, Portugal, and Italy
• Field visits to real-life experiences in Penedo and Muimenta
• Networking spaces to foster alliances and collaborations

In addition, the Innovative Rural Municipality Award will be presented, recognizing exemplary local projects.
Attendance is limited and spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals may register before October 10 by writing to: secretariatecnica@eusyan.com

More information: Program of the event (draft 22/09/2025)