• A Thematic Group is a small group of experts formed to find practical solutions to a specific issue.
•   The National Rural Network (RRN) is part of these thematic groups with the aim of ensuring that the Spanish rural environment is represented in Europe.

Thematic working groups, or Thematic Groups (TG), are specific groups of experts formed to find practical solutions to a specific need or issue.

The European Networking Rural Development ( ENRD ) has just created 5 working groups with the following themes :

1.     WG “Making the 7 LEADER principles work for all LAGs through the CAP”

2.     WG “Sustainability Agreements in the Agri-Food Supply Chain”

3.     GT “Carbon Agriculture”

4.     GT “Ruralize the laws”

5.     GT “Rural Revitalization”

The RRN is part of these thematic groups with the aim of ensuring that the Spanish rural environment is represented in Europe through selected experts.

What they consist of

The constitution of the new thematic groups responds to the following objectives:

1.     Thematic Group "Making the 7 LEADER principles work for all LAGs through the CAP"

EITHER The seven principles of the LEADER approach as defined in current legislation are: appropriate territorial (subregional) level + bottom-up level + association of local public and private socio-economic interests + strategies + networking + innovative features in the local context + cooperation with other territorial actors.

EITHER GT Objective : to facilitate the understanding of the 7 LEADER principles and to establish which factors facilitate or hinder their implementation from the Local Action Groups (LAG) .

EITHER First meeting : March 10, 2022

EITHER More information: here .

2.     Thematic Group "Sustainability Agreements in the Agri-Food Chain"

EITHER The European Green Deal establishes a growth strategy for the European Union based on a resource-efficient economy and committed to climate neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, the European Commission has deployed all its policy areas, including agriculture and rural development through theFarm to Fork strategy .

EITHER GT Objective : To establish sustainability agreements (horizontally and vertically) along the food value chain, identifying challenges and barriers along the way and appealing to collaboration among all stakeholders.

EITHER First meeting : March 17, 2022

EITHER For more information, here .

3.     Thematic Group “Carbon Agriculture”

EITHER The agricultural and forestry sectors are critical to meeting the EU's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and the 55% reductions required by 2030. Therefore, the new CAP favors land management practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon sequestration.

EITHER WG Objective : To explore ways to improve carbon farming by gathering good practices, ideas, and examples from the current CAP and other programs, such as LIFE, Interreg, and Horizon 2020.

EITHER First meeting : March 24, 2022. To join this group, you can apply by February 28 at the following link .

EITHER More information here .

4.     Thematic Group “Ruralizing the Laws”

EITHER The “ruralization of laws” is one of the elements described in the European Commission's communication “A Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas ,” launched in June 2021. What is it?: the mechanism for evaluating the expected impact of various legislative initiatives in rural areas.

EITHER The objective of this group is to support the design and implementation of these analyses within Member States at different administrative levels.

EITHER The first meeting of this Group was on January 27, 2022.

EITHER Your information is available here .

5.     Thematic Group “Rural Revitalization”

EITHER In June 2021, the European Commission presented the   Vision   for rural areas in 2040 , identifying the challenges they face   rural areas, as well as highlighting some of their most valuable opportunities. The vision aims for rural areas to be better connected, stronger, and more resilient by 2040.

EITHER For this purpose, a rural revitalization thematic group was also established. that will shape the   future platform that the European Commission will develop to revitalize rural areas.

EITHER The first meeting of this group was on December 15th. and will meet again on March 31, 2022 .