Policy vision for sustainable rural economies in an enlarged Europe Implemented by a joint initiative of ARL and DATAR (Délégation à lAménagement du Territoire et à lAction Régionale) an international group of experts elaborated the Vision encompassing the shift from a sectoral i.e. pure agricultural policy of today to a territorial policy for rural regions to be implemented over a 25 year time horizon. This policy constitutes a desired vision for Europes rural areas which requires: (1) appropriate institutions (2) diversifying the economic activities in rural areas and (3) integrating agricultural and rural policy. To achieve that shift to an integrated policy we need new institutional frameworks both on European and national levels effective instruments to guarantee the sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture the care for the rural population as a whole not only for farmers the improvement of quality products and production processes meeting the required environmental and animal welfare standards guaranteeing international competitiveness compatibility of the single European market for agricultural products with respect to prices and safety standards with commitments under the WTO a policy design and implementation at a decentralised level and a coordination of that policy at European and national levels for the benefit to implement the principles of solidarity and cohesion.