Project Legacy

PoliRuralPlus will build directly on the successful PoliRural H2020 project, which developed an action-orientated Foresight Process & ICT Tool Box that was validated by 12 Regional Action Plans (RAP) focused on rural areas and people.

The PoliRural project (From 1 June 2019 to 30 September 2022) emphasised the importance of taking an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to rural-urban development and called for more concerted action at the local, regional, national, and European levels to promote sustainable and inclusive development across rural and urban areas.

Key recommendations for further work included:

● Developing and implementing new governance models that are better suited for addressing the complex and interconnected challenges facing rural and urban areas.

● Enhancing the capacity of local and regional authorities to develop and implement effective integrated rural-urban strategies.

● Improving communication and collaboration between different stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, civil society organisations, and private sector actors.

● Fostering innovation in areas such as digital technologies, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy to promote economic development and environmental sustainability in rural areas.

● Ensuring that rural areas are included in national and European policy frameworks, and that policies are tailored to meet the specific needs and characteristics of rural areas.

● Strengthening the evidence base on integrated rural-urban development through rigorous research and evaluation of policies and interventions.