On 15 and 16 September, the European Youth Centre in Budapest hosted a consultative meeting with the objective of developing a roadmap to support the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)3 on the social, economic and political participation of rural youth.

The event brought together representatives from rural youth organisations, public authorities, researchers, and Congress youth delegates for two days of structured discussion and collaborative work.

 The meeting opened with a review of the Recommendation and underlined the importance of a practical, flexible roadmap to guide implementation at national and local levels. Discussions centred on the persistent challenges facing rural youth, in particular ensuring equitable access to key services, fostering meaningful participation, and strengthening governance structures to better reflect the needs and voices of young people in rural areas. Participants highlighted the importance of targeted actions to address these priorities, as well as the need to create synergies with existing initiatives and processes at European, national, and local levels.

 Through the exchange of experiences and best practices, participants identified concrete initiatives and priorities for inclusion in the roadmap. The working sessions facilitated discussion on stakeholder roles, necessary support measures, and mechanisms for cooperation. The group emphasised the meaningful engagement of rural youth throughout the development and implementation of the roadmap.

The meeting also drew on the outcomes of the European Rural Youth Forward Conference held in February 2026 in Spain. The proposals and priorities developed during the consultative meeting will contribute to ensuring that the Recommendation is implemented through effective and sustained action across Europe.