The paper presents an assessment of the barriers to cross-sectoral coordination, proposes a framework for integrated rural policy, and discusses how a structured strategy could foster sustainable rural development. The proposed framework includes the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Rural Development Council, a Joint Rural Development Fund, and enhanced community-led development mechanisms. Findings suggest that implementing these measures could significantly improve policy coherence, optimize resource use, and enhance rural resilience. The study concludes with recommendations for policy integration, future research directions, and best practices for fostering long-term rural sustainability.
This policy brief presents key findings from the PoliRuralPlus project, which supports sustainable rural–urban development across Europe. It highlights shared challenges and proposes strategic actions, including AI-enabled knowledge systems, FAIR data spaces, and support for circular economies and local food chains. The recommendations aim to guide EU and regional policies in line with the Green Deal and Digital Decade goals.
This report presents exploitation roadmaps to 2030 and beyond, based on Key Exploitable Results (KERs) and tailored to specific regions. The roadmaps encompass societal impact, research and innovation, capacity building, business and financial growth, and policy development, ensuring long-term benefits for rural and urban stakeholders.
Webinar of the PoliRuralPlus series, titled "Lessons Learned Part 1", was held virtually on March 27, 2024. The session aimed to disseminate experiences and knowledge accrued from the PoliRural project, focusing on Foresight methodologies applied across various European regions. The webinar featured insightful contributions from key participants including Gabriel O’Connelll and John O’Flaherty from the Monaghan pilot, Santa Vītola from the Vidzeme pilot, and Tuula Löytty from the Southern Finland pilot. They shared significant feedback based on their extensive experiences with the Foresight process within the PoliRural framework.
The second webinar of the PoliRuralPlus series, entitled "Lessons Learned Part 2," was conducted on April 22, 2024. This session continued the exploration of the advancements and insights gained from the initial phase of the PoliRural project, focusing specifically on the development and application of innovative tools to support rural development. This webinar provided an in-depth discussion on three pivotal tools developed during the PoliRural project, aimed at enhancing the semantic analysis of texts, exploring policy options, and evaluating the attractiveness of rural regions. These tools are essential for stakeholders involved in regional planning and policy-making.