In the European Union, rural development is the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It is not only about supporting farmers but also about investing in local infrastructure, social services, innovation, and environmental solutions. The EU has set ambitious goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, restoring biodiversity, and adapting to climate change. Communities are becoming key players, as green transformations are implemented locally.
The European Commission has created the Rural Pact – a platform that brings together communities, businesses, authorities, and civil society organizations to achieve the goals of the long-term vision for rural areas by 2040. The community-led local development (CLLD) approach and the LEADER initiative prove that successful change is possible when communities are equal participants, not just recipients of policies.
For Ukraine, the transition from “agricultural development” to a comprehensive vision of rural development opens new opportunities. It is important to understand how environmental aspects are integrated into EU policies and how they can become real tools for Ukrainian communities in the context of future accession to the CAP.
Why is this important for Ukraine?
- Ukraine needs to be integrated into the European rural development policy.
- The EU expects future member states to be ready to implement climate and environmental goals at the local level.
- Communities need practical solutions to combine economic growth with environmental sustainability.
- This is a chance for Ukrainian communities to position themselves as active partners in European integration.
At our Discussion Place on rural development, we will address the following questions:
- What environmental requirements are embedded in the CAP and other EU rural development policies?
- How is the environmental dimension taken into account in national and local development strategies in Ukraine?
- How to make communities see environmental measures not as limitations, but as opportunities for development?
Format: An open discussion with the participation of European and Ukrainian experts, community representatives, businesses, and civil society organizations.
We invite representatives of rural communities, analysts, NGOs, and all those interested in Ukraine’s European integration and sustainable rural development to join the online discussion.
📅 Date: October 29, 2025, 14:00 – 16:00 (CET time)
📍 Where: Online (Zoom)
🔗 Registration: https://forms.gle/vH7FbEXxJT8qV5FN9 (deadline – October 27, 2025)
🗣 Working languages: English and Ukrainian (simultaneous interpretation will be provided)
Further inquiries: 📧 greendossier@gmail.com | info@dossier.org.ua
* This event is a public event in accordance with Article 307 of the Civil Code of Ukraine. By participating in the event, you consent to the video recording that may be conducted during this event.
This article prepared in the frame of “AgriFuture UA: Driving Sustainable Agriculture and EU Integration through CSOs” project implementing by ICO IC «Green Dossier» with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework «European Renaissance of Ukraine» project.
Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation.
