International Rural Pact Policy Action Lab brings EU representatives to Kotka region

More than 150 international visitors are expected to attend the Rural Pact Policy Action Lab event in Kotka on 29 September–1 October. This is the first time the Policy Action Lab is held outside Brussels. The focus of the event is on conditions that support a competitive and diversified rural economy and improve the attractiveness of rural areas.

The Policy Action Lab offers an excellent opportunity to tell EU policymakers about the long-
term and productive work done in Finland to promote rural development.

The event will be
opened by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Pekka Pesonen
and Deputy Director General of DG Agri Pierre Bascou.

The programme includes examples of Finnish rural development projects and local action in
Southeast Finland. Vesa Ristimäki will talk about his business at the Pyhtää Culture House
and Tuomo Puhakainen, with his more than 45 years of experience in telecommunications,
will explain the various phases of the optical fibre projects in Parikkala and Rautjärvi. Village
activist Kaisa Pethman will speak about development work at the Vuolenkoski village.
Professor of Regional Studies and Economic Geography Teemu Makkonen from the
University of Eastern Finland will explore rural development from the perspective of research.

The event is organised by the Rural Pact Support Office in cooperation with the Finnish
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Finnish Rural Network and the Finnish Rural Policy
Council. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry joined the Rural Pact in March, and the event
is part of the implementation of the EU rural vision.