On 18 June 2026, the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South-East Europe (SWG), in cooperation with partners of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue South-East Europe (APD SEE), organized a thematic session during the IAMO Forum 2026 in Halle (Saale), Germany.
The session, entitled “Strengthening Evidence-Based Agricultural Policy in South-East Europe: Methods, Data and Policy Learning for EU Integration”, brought together policymakers, researchers, international organizations and agricultural policy experts from South-East Europe and the European Union.
Discussions focused on the role of evidence-based policymaking in addressing key challenges facing the region, including generational renewal, rural development, climate change adaptation, agricultural competitiveness and the alignment of national policies with the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Participants exchanged experiences on agricultural policy monitoring, evaluation methodologies, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), rural youth dynamics and data-driven policy design.
Key contributions were provided by leading experts from academia, international organizations and public institutions, highlighting innovative methodological approaches and practical solutions to support agricultural and rural development in EU pre-accession countries.
The event was organized within the framework of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue South-East Europe (APD SEE) and implemented by Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South-East Europe (SWG). APD SEE is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and aims to strengthen evidence-based agricultural policymaking, regional cooperation and preparation for EU integration across South-East Europe.
The session contributed to the broader objectives of IAMO Forum 2026 by fostering dialogue between policymakers and researchers and promoting the use of robust analytical evidence for more effective agricultural and rural development policies.
