During the NAT commission meeting on 18 September, members discussed member of the Leitrim County Council Enda Stenson's opinion on Rural Agenda. During the meeting, Cllr Stenson highlighted the objective of formulating a true agenda for rural revival which must incorporate the following: support for sustainable and vibrant rural communities, support for enterprise, employment and job creation, improvement of digital and infrastructure connectivity, maximisation of the potential of rural tourism and embrace of rural areas' creativity and cultural potential.

"The new long-term vision for rural areas must be transformed into a concrete policy framework. This Rural Agenda should propose a set of integrated policies that enable and empower rural communities to turn challenges into advantages; these challenges include decarbonisation, climate change, digitalisation, generational change, integration of new migrants and social innovation. I hope that the European Commission will react very quickly and implement the measures we have outlined to make sure that people can live, work and raise a family, with access to relevant services, in our wonderful rural communities" said Cllr Stenson.

Mr Dariusz Strugała, Mayor of Jaraczewo (Poland) and EA Group's coordinator in the NAT commission said after the meeting that rural and intermediate areas account for 88% of the EU's territory, are home to 55% of its population, generate 43% of its gross value added and host 56% of its jobs. Rural development, he added, is therefore extremely important to the Committee of the Regions, and a vital tool for achieving the territorial cohesion objective enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty.