The article presents the results of research into the conceptual foundations of social inclusion policy, identifies its principles, goals and subjects in accordance with modern world practice. It has been proven that social isolation is an urgent problem of modern times in countries regardless of their level of development and carries with it significant negative socio-economic consequences for individuals, countries and the world community in the form of increased social tension and conflict, loss of human capital and GDP. Methodological aspects of the social inclusion basic principles and ideas implementation in the policy of rural development in the European Union are determined. It has been established that social inclusion as a tool for ensuring sustainable rural development is implemented at the pan-European, national and local levels within the framework of various components of institutional support for rural areas. Promotion of social inclusion is carried out through the implementation of numerous programs focused on the support of certain socially vulnerable groups of the population – youth, women, migrants, disability people, etc. The institutional basis for the systematic implementation of the social inclusion policy in rural areas is formed by the European network for rural development, which includes government institutions of various levels and stakeholders of sustainable rural development, represented through local action groups. It has been proven that the systematic implementation of social inclusion initiatives has become a guarantee of progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development in rural areas, the basis of the formation of a comfortable and conflict-free environment for life without any social, economic or other discrimination.