Two days of meetings, exchanges and field visits brought Rural Pact members together in Finland for the latest Policy Lab “Strengthening a Diversified Rural Economy in the Post-2027 Period”. This marked the first Lab event held outside Brussels, offering participants the opportunity to discover Finland's rural landscape and learn from its local organisations and networks. A central topic throughout the event was the future National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), whic

As Malta prepares for the next EU programming period, early stakeholder engagement matters. Drawing on discussions with Malta’s Local Action Groups and experiences from across Europe, we explore why rural voices, LEADER and bottom-up development need a meaningful place in shaping Malta’s future NRPP.