References

Original Reference: Chrodis+ (2017), Diabetes counselling on wheels: Early detection and counselling on diabetes for citizens of Turkish origin and the rural population Germany.

Brief Summary: The document focuses on transport inequality in rural regions, highlighting the lack of accessible public transport and the reliance on private cars. Implications: Limited transport options hinder rural-urban integration, reducing access to services and opportunities in urban areas. Recommendations: Address transport inequality by including rural public transport initiatives in regional action plans, such as improving bus routes, promoting active travel options, and enhancing digital infrastructure to reduce the need for long-distance travel.

URL: Challenges in Rural Transport

Original Reference: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (2020), ‘Masterplan Medizinstudium 2020’, web page, accessed 18 July 2023.

Brief Summary: This announcement focuses on fostering innovation for rural-urban integration, stressing the importance of collaborative approaches. Recommendations for PoliRuralPlus include fostering innovation ecosystems within rural areas and facilitating rural-urban knowledge exchange. This aligns with the PoliRuralPlus approach of fostering sustainable innovation to enhance rural-urban partnerships, particularly through digital tools and community engagement strategies.

URL: https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/shareddocs/bekanntmachungen/de/2017/10/1424_bekanntmachung.html

Original Reference: Barca, F., McCann, P. and Rodríguez-Pose A. (2012), ‘The case for regional development intervention: Place-based versus place-neutral approaches’, Journal of Regional Science, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 134–152.

Brief Summary: Investigates regional economic development trends. Recommendation: PoliRuralPlus projects should incorporate economic diversification strategies in rural regions, with a focus on innovation in agriculture, tourism, and technology to build stronger rural-urban economies.

URL: Ideas Repec

Original Reference: Juan, A. M. and McEldowney, J. (2021), Smart villages: Concept, issues and prospects for EU rural areas, European Parliamentary Research Service, Brussels.

Brief Summary: This briefing explores the regional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on EU regions. Implications: COVID-19 has revealed the vulnerabilities of rural regions, particularly in health and employment. Recommendations: Focus on creating resilient infrastructures in rural areas that ensure continuity of services and employment, reinforcing the rural-urban connection in times of crisis like the pandemic.

URL: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/689349/EPRS_BRI(2021)689349_EN.pdf

Original Reference: Carrosio, G. and Osti, G. (2019), ‘Popolo, politica, partecipazione: Il governo delle aree rurali fragili in Italia e Europa’, Culture Della Sostenibilità, No. 24, pp. 7–16.

Brief Summary: The study discusses the challenges rural regions face in environmental governance and climate adaptation, particularly in managing natural resources. Implications: Rural areas need stronger governance frameworks for climate adaptation, especially for managing shared natural resources. Recommendations: Develop governance models in regional action plans that focus on climate adaptation, resource management, and sustainability, fostering cooperation between rural and urban areas in addressing environmental challenges.

URL: Challenges for Environmental Governance

Original Reference: Eurofound (2019), Is rural Europe being left behind? Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Brief Summary: This report explores the rise of platform work and its impact on working conditions. RAPs should address the challenges of platform work in rural areas, including precariousness and lack of regulation. PoliRuralPlus pilots can consider regulatory frameworks to support rural workers engaging in platform work, ensuring job security and fair wages.

URL: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/system/files/2019-05/ef18024en.pdf

Original Reference: The Diplomat Bucharest (2022), ‘Ciugud – Case study used by the Romanian Government for the development of the smart village concept’, blog post, 22 August.

Brief Summary: This case study discusses how the Romanian village of Ciugud became a model for the Smart Village concept, using digital tools and local governance to improve services. Implication: PoliRuralPlus pilots can adopt smart village concepts, integrating technology and local governance to enhance rural living conditions and connectivity with urban areas.

URL: https://www.thediplomat.ro/2022/08/22/ciugud-case-study-used-by-the-romanian-government-for-the-development-of-the-smart-village-concept/

Original Reference: Euractiv (2021), ‘“Ciugud to be true”: The story of Romania’s best digital village’, blog post, 29 September.

Brief Summary: This article highlights how Ciugud in Romania became a leading digital village through 5G technology and smart solutions. RAPs should focus on digital infrastructure in rural areas to enhance connectivity and economic opportunities. PoliRuralPlus pilots can replicate Ciugud’s digitalization strategies to support rural-urban economic integration.

URL: https://www.euractiv.com/section/5g/news/ciugud-to-be-true-the-story-of-romanias-best-digital-village/

Original Reference: Schmitt, J. and Wadsworth, J. (2006), ‘Is there an impact of household computer ownership on children’s educational attainment in Britain?’ Economics of Education Review, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 659–673.

Brief Summary: Discusses sustainable management practices for coastal zones. Implications: Integrated coastal zone management can protect both urban and rural coastal areas. Recommendations: Apply integrated management principles in coastal regions to balance urban-rural development​​.

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272775705000841

Original Reference: Jenson, J. (2010), Defining and measuring social cohesion, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and Commonwealth Secretariat, London

Brief Summary: This publication discusses strategies for enhancing climate resilience across Commonwealth nations. Implications: Rural areas must be included in global climate strategies. Recommendations: Develop integrated action plans for climate-resilient rural economies.

URL: https://www.thecommonwealth-ilibrary.org/index.php/comsec/catalog/book/322

Original Reference: Warren, M. E. (1999), Democracy and trust, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Brief Summary: Discusses how rural and urban communities can exchange knowledge to foster development. Recommendations: RAPs should promote the creation of learning networks that connect rural and urban professionals to share expertise and best practices, particularly in agriculture and education.

URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/beyond-communities-of-practice/introduction/C6913BC98F072936B4EAFE311A3B20F2

Original Reference: European Commission (undated-d), Wellbeing and health virtual coach, web page, available at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/769765, accessed 18 July 2023.

Brief Summary: The COREALIS project focuses on innovation in logistics and supply chain management, with potential applications for rural-urban connectivity. RAPs should integrate supply chain innovations to enhance rural-urban logistics and connectivity. PoliRuralPlus pilots can adopt similar innovations to improve access to markets and supply chain efficiency in rural regions.

URL: CORDIS Project ID 769765

Original Reference: Reddick, C. G., Enriquez, R., Harris, R. J. and Sharma, B. (2020), ‘Determinants of broadband access and affordability: An analysis of a community survey on the digital divide’, Cities, Vol. 106, Article 102904.

Brief Summary: Examines the shift towards remote work due to COVID-19 and its impact on rural areas. Recommendations: RAPs should promote digital infrastructure to support remote work opportunities in rural areas, helping to decentralize economic activities and reduce urban congestion.

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7480260/

Original Reference: OECD and European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (2021c), State of health in the EU: Cyprus – Country health profile 2021, OECD Publishing, Paris, and European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Brussels.

Brief Summary: This report provides an overview of health systems in Cyprus, focusing on healthcare accessibility and equity. Implications: Highlights the importance of rural healthcare. Recommendations: Improve healthcare access in rural Cyprus through integrated health services in RAPs. Consider digital health initiatives to bridge gaps between rural and urban healthcare.

URL: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2021/12/cyprus-country-health-profile-2021_e05ba341.html

Original Reference: Dijkstra, L., Poelman, H. and Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2020), ‘The geography of EU discontent’, Regional Studies, Vol. 54, No. 6, pp. 737–753.

Brief Summary: This report analyzes the regions in Europe stuck in a development trap. RAPs should prioritize breaking these traps by fostering investment in rural areas, improving governance, and supporting innovation. PoliRuralPlus can use these insights to target regions with high levels of dissatisfaction, ensuring more balanced development.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/reports/Geography_of_Discontent_and_development_trap_forlay-out.pdf

Original Reference: Robinson, L., Cotten, S. R., Ono, H., Quan-Haase, A., Mesch, G., Chen, W. et al (2015), ‘Digital inequalities and why they matter’, Information, Communication & Society, Vol. 18, No. 5, pp. 569–582.

Brief Summary: Highlights the digital divide in rural-urban areas. Implications: Critical for PoliRuralPlus pilots to address in promoting digital inclusion. Recommendations: RAPs should ensure access to digital infrastructure and skills training for rural populations​​.

URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276880312_Digital_inequalities_and_why_they_matter

Original Reference: de Olde, C. and Oosterlynck, S. (2021), ‘Taking implementation seriously in the evaluation of urban growth management strategies: “Safeguarding the future” of the Antwerp city-region’, Land, Vol. 10, No. 2, Article 159.

Brief Summary: This report analyzes the economic effects of climate change on rural and urban economies. RAPs should incorporate climate adaptation strategies that mitigate these impacts, fostering economic resilience in both rural and urban areas. PoliRuralPlus pilots can integrate these insights to strengthen climate adaptation in regional plans.

URL: https://repository.uantwerpen.be/docman/irua/0d6ff1/188231.pdf

Original Reference: Gyarmati, A. (2019), Ageing and care for the elderly in Hungary: General survey and problems, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Budapest.

Brief Summary: Analyzes the growing economic disparities between rural and urban areas in Europe. PoliRuralPlus should include policies in RAPs to reduce inequalities and foster balanced economic development between rural and urban regions.

URL: https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/budapest/15482.pdf

Original Reference: European Commission (2022), Cohesion in Europe towards 2050: Eighth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Brief Summary: This report provides an analysis of cohesion policy outcomes, including regional disparities. RAPs should prioritize balanced territorial development to bridge rural-urban gaps. PoliRuralPlus pilots can use these findings to enhance rural infrastructure and services, ensuring that rural areas benefit from EU cohesion policies.

URL: Eighth Report on Economic, Social, and Territorial Cohesion

Original Reference: Safe Communities Portugal (undated), Elderly people in isolation situations referenced by GNR rises to over 42 thousand, web page, accessed 18 July 2023.

Brief Summary: A report on elderly isolation issues in Portugal. Implications for PoliRuralPlus: tackle social isolation in rural areas by integrating social services into RAPs. Recommendations include improving healthcare access and promoting community activities that bridge the urban-rural divide​​.

URL: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/elderly-people-in-isolation-situations-referenced-by-gnr-rises-to-over-42-thousand/