As reaffirmed by a recent OECD report, there are serious challenges for rural regions now and in the years ahead : many rural regions face problems of decline with out-migration, ageing, a lower skills-base, lower than average labour productivity, isolation, lack of infrastructure and difficulties with public service provision, particularly in the most remote regions.
How can rural regions face these challenges and find their place in the global context of increased competition? This question was at the heart of the conference, organised in Lillehammer on 29 February 2008 by the Assembly of European Regions (AER), at the kind invitation of Oppland County, Norway.
The objective of our reflection was to put forward concrete recommendations for future EU rural development policy, and also to identify and disseminate information on innovative tools and methods for diversifying the economy of rural areas.
The forthcoming debate on the EU budget review for 2007-2013, the on-going "health-check"of the CAP, and also the wider current debate about climate change and biodiversity provided the right context for our debate.
The conference was preceded by a plenary meeting of Committee 1, on 28 February 2008 and meetings of the working groups. For further details on the outcomes of these events, please click here!
All outcomes are available below. For further information, you can also contact Estelle DELANGLE, at the AER Committee 1 secretariat (+33 388 22 74 38)


Session 1: Future of Rural Development policy
SESSION II: Second homes as an opportunity for rural areas?
CONCLUDING SESSION: Delivering sustainable rural land management in a changing Europe