The 2nd European Conference on Rural Development, Cork 2.0, was held in September 2016. More than 300 participants discussed the current and future challenges facing European rural areas and the potential responses that the European Rural Development Policy can provide, concluding with a declaration of ten principles.

The Cork 2.0 Declaration contains ten guiding principles for European rural development policy:

1. Promote the prosperity of rural areas
2. Strengthen value chains in rural areas
3. Invest in the viability and vitality of rural areas
4. Preserve the rural environment
5. Manage natural resources
6. Stimulate action against climate change
7. Promote knowledge and innovation
8. Improve rural governance
9. Advance the implementation of policies and simplification of administrative processes
10. Improve performance and accountability

The Cork 2.0 Action Plan has now been published, which includes a series of concrete initiatives to turn these principles into reality.

This Action Plan is a living document: suggestions and initiatives for the Action Plan can be submitted by sending them to: agri-cork-2-conference@ec.europa.eu

More information on the European Commission's DG AGRI website: CORK 2.0 Information