Although local entities are represented in various European bodies and initiatives, small rural municipalities face challenges in accessing decision-making mechanisms within these forums, as well as in securing support and resources to implement the ideas and proposals discussed. As highlighted in the 2024 European Rural Pact, these communities have not received sufficient attention in terms of policy and funding. They often lack dedicated financial resources, and when such funds do exist, bureaucratic hurdles limit their effectiveness.
In response, mayors of rural Spanish municipalities are calling for greater involvement of local communities in shaping the future of rural areas through a Rural Agreement. Within this framework, the conference “Rural Agreement: Leading the transition from rural municipalities” was launched as a strategic opportunity to place rural challenges at the heart of public policy.
The event, promoted by the Municipality of Carballeda de Avia, was supported by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), the Provincial Council of Ourense, the Regional Government of Galicia, and the General Secretariat for the Demographic Challenge. It was held on October 28 and 29, 2025, in Ourense.
The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), through the Territory Laboratory, was part of the organizing committee. In addition to helping design the program, it was responsible for planning and facilitating interactive sessions, which included two working groups where participants discussed and agreed on key actions and priorities across six thematic areas, such as housing, youth and migration, recovery of agricultural land, and energy transition, among others.
As a result, a list of more than twenty demands was drawn up, through which rural municipalities appeal to regional, national, and European administrations to address their specific needs. Key actions include recognizing their essential role in societal prosperity and prioritizing investment allocation, active participation in the design of national and European policies, and improved coordination among administrations. Other demands include promoting mechanisms that prioritize rehabilitation over new housing construction in rural areas, intensive use of tools to mobilize and recover land, strengthening knowledge of land ownership to facilitate access, fiscal and financial incentives for generational renewal, and streamlining the approval process for small-scale energy projects.
These sessions demonstrated the ability of rural municipalities to lead transformation processes from the local level, articulating concrete and feasible proposals. The Rural Agreement thus emerges as a key tool to strengthen territorial cohesion, ensure equitable access to opportunities, and build a sustainable future for rural areas, with their communities as the driving force behind change.
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The “Rural Agreement” will bring together leaders and experts in Ourense to promote a new vision for rural areas
Vídeo plenario 28 Oct.
Vídeo plenario 29 Oct.
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