EU Rural vision

The Rural Pact Support Office is excited to share 10 inspiring good practices developed by various rural communities across the EU. These practices showcase innovative approaches to rural development, encouraging members of the Rural Pact Community to learn from successful examples and implement similar strategies in their own regions.

On 8 June 2023, the Rural Pact Support Office hosted a Good Practice webinar entitled “Strengthening digital skills of rural people to benefit from the digital era”, which brought together around 60 practitioners from 20 EU and 4 non-EU Member States to share experiences and initiatives aimed at enhancing digital skills development in rural areas.

As part of the implementation of its Long Term Vision for Rural Areas (LTVRA), the European Commission is preparing a Rural Toolkit on EU funds to be launched in late 2023. This toolkit will guide local authorities and stakeholders in rural areas in identifying and making an effective use of the many EU funding opportunities available in the EU panorama, including using EU funds jointly.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released a paper that explores the potential synergies between agricultural and rural policies.

The European Commission has funded a study that evaluated the contribution of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) and National Rural Networks (NRNs) in implementing EU Rural Development Policy.

Euromontana has released its annual booklet of good practices for 2023, featuring 11 inspiring initiatives from across Europe. These initiatives were collected by Euromontana in 2022 to highlight projects that drive change and promote sustainable transformation in mountain areas.

WELCOMING SPACES, a four-year project funded by Horizon 2020, aims to tackle the dual challenge of revitalising shrinking regions in the EU while creating inclusive environments for non-EU migrants. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the project investigates successful revitalisation approaches through geographical context, institutional frameworks, discourse, and the interactions between locals and migrants.

In rural areas across Europe, young people often encounter the harsh reality of unemployment and limited educational prospects, leaving them at risk of social exclusion, in particular for those identified as NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training).

Horizon Europe is the European Union's flagship funding programme for research and innovation. At its core, the programme aims to enhance Europe's competitiveness by fostering scientific breakthroughs and promoting collaborative efforts between the business community and academia to address pertinent societal challenges.

How is health care delivered in your rural area? Do you have a family doctor in your village? How far are you from an emergency centre and acute specialist services?

As the holiday season kicks into high gear, many people are seeking respite in tourist destinations that offer unique experiences and a connection with nature.

The European Parliamentary Research Service has published the guide to EU funding, edition 2023. It is designed to help regional and local authorities, NGOs, businesses, professionals, and citizens access funding for their projects.

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme was launched in 2021 and will run for seven years until 2027. It was created along with the 2021-2027 Justice programme under the Justice, Rights and Values Fund.

ACCTING, funded by HORIZON 2020, is supporting innovative projects to reduce inequalities and negative impacts on vulnerable groups as part of the European Green Deal.