Landmark ‘Right to Stay’ Strategy Launched
What if young people didn't have to leave their families and communities in search of job opportunities? The Right to Stay strategy starts to address the economic decline of rural communities..... Read More
European Commission Launches landmark ‘Right to Stay’ Strategy
The Right to Stay strategy is a flagship policy framework designed to ensure that all Europeans can remain and build their future in the place they call home, rather than being forced to relocate due to economic decline or lack of opportunities and essential services.
The launch event will bring together EU institutions, national and regional leaders, policymakers and civil society organisations to shape the strategy. Alongside Executive Vice-President Fitto, key speakers include: Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos, representing the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU; Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions; and Enrico Letta, former prime minister of Italy and author of the report Much More than a Market which highlighted how growing regional divides risk pushing people, particularly young workers, to abandon their hometowns in search of better prospects.
Discussions will focus on how to ensure that the Right to Stay, highlighted in the EU’s 2024–2029 political priorities and in Executive Vice-President Fitto’s mission letter, can further reinforce cohesion, competitiveness, and territorial fairness in the whole EU.
Executive Vice-President Fitto said: “The ‘Right to Stay’ is about people, communities, and territories. It is about giving all Europeans back the freedom to remain, to grow, and to build their future in the place they call home. Leaving should always be a free choice — never a necessity driven by a lack of opportunities. That is why we are working to make every European region more competitive, more connected, and more attractive by investing in services, connectivity, and education. Because when territories grow and develop, people can truly choose to stay, succeed, and belong.”
The event will be webstreamed live.
A call for evidence has also been launched, with a deadline of 5 June 2026 (midnight Brussels time).
SUSTAINAGRO
Sustainability in Rural Enterprises and Innovation
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