European Rural Parliament in Scotland

European Rural Parliament 2025 – Grounded in Scotland, Focused on Action

Last week I attended the 6th European Rural Parliament (ERP), which took place in Aberdeenshire. And I have to say, it wasn’t just a gathering – it was an inspiring call to action!

As someone who works hands-on in rural development, I came looking for practical ideas, real-world examples, and a fresh inspiration. I left with all that – and more.

Over several years, we at Scottish Rural Network (SRN) have been funding Scottish Rural Action (SRA), a civil society organisation, to develop and lead a rural movement that can help shape and inform policy development that truly reflects the needs of rural and island communities, businesses and stakeholders.

This has led to a wide range of SRA led engagement, with the highpoints being the biennial Scottish Rural and Island Parliament (SRIP) and more recently, the Scottish Rural and Island Youth Parliament (SRIYP).

However, the ERP is by far the single largest undertaking delivered by SRA. Working with a range of Scottish and European partners, including SRN, the event took place at the Inverurie Community Campus and brought together over 350 delegates from 35 countries.

The theme, “Rural Community Solutions to Global Challenges,” wasn’t just a slogan. It shaped every conversation, every workshop, and every study visit.

Scotland’s Rural Backbone

Scotland was a fitting host. Inverurie and the surrounding Aberdeenshire region showcased the grit and ingenuity of rural communities.

The three-day programme was packed workshops, study trips, panel discussions, themed summits and speeches from keynote speakers.

From the opening speeches to the local produce on offer, there was a strong sense of place. The weather threw us a few curveballs but was glorious on the Wednesday when a packed programme of study visits took place, showcasing how rural communities are about adapting and pushing forward.

Workshops

The first day saw a packed agenda of up to 20 workshops covering a huge range of themes. I attended workshop 1 – “Rural Movements – Strengthening Rural Movements: Roles, Representation and Financing”. A robust conversation was had about how the ERP can remain relevant and effectively influence the development of future rural and island policy.

European Rural Youth Parliament

In the afternoon the European Rural Youth Parliament (ERYP) took place at the Thainstone Mart, where young people from across rural and island Europe took part in discussions and workshops.

Later that evening, ERP delegates joined the ERYP at the Mart.  After being piped in by Ciara Anderson of Alba pipers, ERYP representatives took part in a very powerful panel discussion, hosted by Cabinet Secretary, Maria Gougeon in front of the ERP attendees.

Following dinner we were treated to a musical performance by Ellie Beaton, award winning Aberdeenshire folk singer who performed bothy ballads in Doric.

Study Trips

Day two saw eleven study trips take place, ranging across Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus. For me this was one of the most impactful experiences of the ERP! I took part in the Community Led Tourism study visit, which took in visits to Cullen and Portsoy.

Hosted by Carron Tobin of SCOTO, we met with community leaders and volunteers of both communities and heard about how they are tackling the complex balance between community priorities, wealth building and sustainability. This included visiting a volunteer run tourism information centre in Cullen and community owned boat building enterprise and hostel in Portsoy. Also, we were able to taste the world-famous Cullen Skink, which was absolutely delicious!

On return to Inverurie there was the opportunity to take part in three different summit discussions. I attended the “CLLD/LEADER Connect Drop-in Session”, which offered Local Action Groups (LAG) from across Europe the opportunity to explore collaboration projects with each other.

The Michael Dower Award for Rural Resilience

Later that day we experienced a powerful moment with the presentation of the Michael Dower Awards. Named after one of rural Europe’s most respected voices in the rural community development, the award honours those who embody resilience, leadership, and vision. Michael’s legacy was felt throughout the Parliament – his belief in bottom-up development and community power is more relevant than ever.

The recipients were grassroots leaders who’ve made a tangible difference, and it was both humbling and emotional to witness.

It was particularly encouraging that the winner of the community award was the Knoydart Foundation, who have demonstrated the very best of rural community resilience and community-led innovation.

This was followed by a traditional ceilidh with the Haggis Chasers providing the musical accompaniment.

The Declaration of Inverurie

The event opened on its final day with a keynote speech from George Burgess, Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate of Scottish Government who outlined the governments commitment to sustainable and resilient rural and island communities and recognised the strength of the CLLD approach and the need for a strong LAG network in Scotland.

Following this was a fascinating and passionate panel discussion with: Alexia Rouby (European Commission DG Agri), Radim Sršeň (Council of the Regions), George Burgess, (Scottish Government), Aiva Apša-Ķīšeniece (Resilience and Sustainability Specialist, Latvian Rural Forum) and Michaela Scott (ERYP Advisory Board).

It was concerning but also inspiring to hear from the Georgian panel member about the very real threats the country faces but also the opportunities that the strengthening of rural communities can bring.

We then witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Inverurie – a bold, collective statement shaped by delegates over three days. It calls for stronger representation of rural voices in policy making, urgent climate action, and investment in infrastructure, youth, and innovation. It’s not just a document – it’s a call to action. And it’s up to all of us to make sure it doesn’t gather dust!

You can view the Deceleration here

Final Thoughts

What struck me most was the honesty – there was no sugar-coating the challenges rural areas face. But there was also no shortage of solutions.

Scotland gave us a backdrop of rugged beauty and resilient communities. The ERP gave us the space to connect, challenge, and commit.

I headed home with a notebook full of ideas, a phone full of contacts, and a reinvigorated sense of purpose.

European Rural Youth Parliament