About the Congress
Rural areas form an extremely diverse social fabric. They are a font of cultural heritage, an economic pillar and an exceptional natural resource. They include an inseparable bond between agriculture and the other areas of activity of its inhabitants, visible in the natural, cultural and socio-economic landscape. The European Congress of Rural Renewal and Development was created precisely to discuss and touch upon all these areas.
The Congress is the largest event devoted to the future of rural areas organised under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Congress will take place at the Poznań International Fair, 8-10 May 2025
The Congress is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in cooperation with the Greater Poland Voivodeship government.
The Congress will provide a platform for the exchange of experiences and discussion: about the global challenges faced by contemporary rural areas and agriculture, about a vision for the future and about the power of cultural heritage.
About people, local communities and their driving force, about values that are key to preserving the specificity and vitality of rural areas, about possible systemic solutions and policies oriented towards rural areas in Poland and Europe. In short, it will talk about everything that is important for Polish and European rural areas and their inhabitants.
The Congress will be attended by around 1,500 people from Poland, EU Member States and Europe - representatives of ministries responsible for rural development, institutions working for the development of villages and rural areas, local, NGOs, researchers, leaders of rural communities.
► The programme will include:
The Congress will include plenary sessions, panel discussions, workshops and side events.
► At the Congress there will be:
- 60 exhibition stands,
- 6 - 7 conference rooms hosting concurrent side events.
► The programme includes events dedicated to:
- contemporary understanding and practice of rural renewal in EU countries,
- vision for a rural Europe,
- the Long-term vision for rural areas,
- The countryside in the European Union - 20 years of change in the Polish countryside,
- European Rural Parliament,
- young people in rural areas
- women in rural areas,
- new ideas, best practices and innovative solutions for agriculture and rural areas,
- the cultural heritage of the Polish countryside,
- sport - the power of local communities.