The Director of IRMO, Jakša Puljiz,PhD participated in the international conference “The Future of Rural Development Policy after 2027,” held from 23 to 25 March 2026 at Terme Tuhelj. The conference was organised by the LEADER/CLLD Thematic Working Group of the National Network of the Common Agricultural Policy and brought together representatives of European and national institutions, experts, and stakeholders in rural development.
The central day of the conference was dedicated to discussions on the future Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU and the role of rural policies after 2027, with a focus on the LEADER/CLLD approach, territorial instruments, and the integrated development of rural areas.
As part of the panel “Rural Development Policy Today and after 2027 in Croatia,” Dr Puljiz delivered a presentation entitled “Croatian Experiences with EU Territorial Tools – Lessons for the Future,” in which he presented the development and application of the territorial approach within EU cohesion policy in Croatia.
The presentation particularly highlighted key implementation challenges, including coordination across sectors, administrative capacities, and the need for a stronger territorial approach in the forthcoming programming period.
The conference further confirmed the importance of an integrated and participatory approach to rural development, as well as the role of research institutions in providing an analytical basis for future territorial policies of the Republic of Croatia.
