These two days address the second pillar dealing with rural development – the new rules, the issue of coherence with respect to the first pillar and what the challenges are for the specific national implementation. The EU Regulation on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD Regulation) is the basis which establishes the range of possible measures for rural development. Does the focus of the second pillar in practice lie on sustainability as stated by the European Commission? What are the challenges for the Member States? How to avoid overlapping with the first pillar’s greening requirements? Specifically the applicability and feasibility of new financial instruments for all European Structural and Investment Funds will be addressed for rural development. New European networks, such as those on innovative partnerships will be discussed, and auditing and stated challenges exchanged.