On the second day of the European Congress on Renewal and Rural Development, taking place from 8 to 10 May at the MTP Poznań Expo, the RUSTIK project will be featured in a dedicated session focused on strengthening rural communities through sustainable transformation.
The Congress, organised by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in cooperation with the Greater Poland regional government and under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, brings together over 1,500 participants from across Europe, including policymakers, researchers, NGOs, and rural leaders.
During the session titled “RUSTIK: Strengthening rural communities on their way to sustainable transformation”, our partners Ewa Korcelli-Olejniczak from the Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization (IGSO PAS) will represent the Woj. Mazowieckie Living Lab in Poland (this Living Lab is co-organised in cooperation with the Foundation for the Development of Polish Agriculture (FDPA)), while Ilona Rac from the University of Ljubljana will represent the Osrednjeslovenska regija Living Lab.
They will present key insights from the RUSTIK project, which supports rural areas in addressing complex challenges through a combination of data-driven analysis and community-based approaches, helping to guide sustainable and inclusive rural transformations.
RUSTIK’s participation aligns with the Congress’s emphasis on rural resilience, inclusive development, and innovation, contributing to the broader conversation on the future of rural Europe.
The event opens on 8 May with a full day dedicated to Greater Poland, Regional Development and Youth, highlighting the region’s achievements in rural renewal, the role of women in leadership, and the perspectives of youth on the future of rural areas. The first day also included sessions on food production, health, education, local governance, and rural tourism, setting the stage for in-depth discussions over the following days.
The Congress continues through 10 May with further sessions on agricultural policy, international cooperation, and the future of rural development in the EU beyond 2027.
