Rural Europe must count in every EU policy

EESC President, Seamus Boland, with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms. © EU/EESC 2026 Rural areas are essential to Europe’s prosperity and resilience, yet many people living there have poorer access to services, jobs and infrastructure. In an opinion adopted at its September plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee calls for a practical, EU-wide ‘rural proofing’ tool to ensure that policymakers assess the impact of decisions on rural communities from the outset. This approach should also shape the next EU budget and National and Regional Partnership Plans.