• The National Rural Network holds its last assembly before its conversion
• The new CAP Strategic Plans transform all rural networks in the Member States into national CAP networks.
• The National CAP Network becomes the new umbrella for rural development and agricultural policies together.

The National Rural Network (RRN) held its final meeting today, Monday, October 24 , in 14 years, before becoming the National CAP Network for the upcoming 2023-2027 period.

The 140 civil society members who make up the RRN Assembly have been summoned to meet in person and firsthand:

• The revitalization activities carried out by the RRN in the last year
• The conversion of the NRN to the “National CAP Network”
• Learn about the new “European CAP Network”
• Open a debate and make suggestions for the new period

National CAP Network

The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2023. For the first time, a single plan (the CAP Strategic Plan) will integrate the rural development initiatives of the seventeen autonomous communities, as well as the supra-regional measures that were previously included in the 18 Rural Development Programmes.

As a result, the National Rural Network (RRN) is being transformed into the National CAP Network, bringing together both the agricultural policies of the first pillar and the rural development policies of the second pillar under a single umbrella. This change entails a transfer of functions within departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food . Thus, the RRN is moving from the Directorate-General for Rural Development, Innovation, and Agri-Food Training to the Secretariat of Agriculture, more specifically to the Subdirectorate-General for Agricultural Policy Planning.

News

The National CAP Network is becoming an open network without membership. This governance change means that the current NRN Executive Committee will not be renewed, nor will new members be included in its assembly.

In order to maintain the strong network of contacts and work carried out by the RRN over the past 14 years, all current members of the RRN Assembly will continue to be invited to participate in any new activities that will be developed in the future, as well as to submit proposals and suggestions for collaboration.

The new National CAP Network will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the objectives of the new CAP 2023-2027. To this end, all the communication and dissemination activities carried out to date will be maintained, giving greater emphasis to the economic and environmental objectives set out in the new CAP.

In any case, the RRN will retain its acronym, name, and visual identity to remain recognized as a national leader in rural development, and now also in favor of agricultural policies.

RRN Activities 21-22

As a final touch to the existence of the NRN as it was known until now, its outgoing team has detailed the activities carried out by the NRN in the recent period in the areas of:

• Rural youth
• Rural women
• LEADER Approach
• Innovation
• Entrepreneurship
• Good practices

All conferences, publications, meetings, and material generated on these topics can be consulted on the NRN website , which will remain current, updated, and with the current domain for the next period, as it will be the same page that will host the National CAP Network.