References

Original Reference: Eurofound (2022h), Telework in the EU: Regulatory frameworks and recent updates, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Brief Summary: This survey highlights disparities in quality of life between regions. RAPs should focus on reducing inequalities in access to services, healthcare, and infrastructure in rural areas. PoliRuralPlus pilots can use these insights to promote balanced development, ensuring rural communities have equitable access to essential services.

URL: eurofound.europa.eu/system/files/2022-09/ef22032en.pdf

Original Reference: European Commission. (2020a). European Coordinated Response on Coronavirus: Questions and Answers, 13 March 2020. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_458 (accessed on: 15 June 2020).

Brief Summary: This document presents research findings on sustainable rural development, focusing on policies promoting social cohesion and economic resilience in rural areas. Implications: It emphasizes the need for integrated rural-urban strategies to bridge gaps in service delivery and economic opportunities. Recommendations: Strengthen multi-actor approaches in PoliRuralPlus pilots to foster local partnerships and engage diverse stakeholders.

URL: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/616617

Original Reference: European Commission. (2020d). European Semester 2020 - Overview of Investment Guidance on the Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 per Member State (Annex D).

Brief Summary: Focuses on investment strategies for just transitions in regions most affected by climate change and economic disparity. Implications: PoliRuralPlus can integrate these guidelines into RAPs, especially for regions transitioning to greener economies. Recommendations: Encourage pilots to target funding for renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

URL: https://commission.europa.eu/publications/2020-european-semester-overview-investment-guidance-just-transition-f

Original Reference: ESPON. (2019). European Territorial Reference Framework. Final Report. Luxembourg: ESPON EGTC. https://www.espon.eu/etrf (accessed on: 11 February 2020).

Brief Summary: The ETRF provides a framework for coordinated territorial development across Europe. RAPs should integrate this framework to ensure cohesive development between rural and urban regions. PoliRuralPlus pilots can adopt ETRF strategies to promote regional cohesion, balance development, and reduce spatial disparities.

URL: https://www.espon.eu/etrf

Original Reference: Eurofound (undated), European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021, web page.

Brief Summary: This survey provides comprehensive data on working conditions across Europe, highlighting key trends such as job quality and worker well-being. RAPs should aim to improve working conditions in rural areas, focusing on health, safety, and fair labor practices. PoliRuralPlus pilots can adopt these findings to promote balanced job quality between rural and urban regions.

URL: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/surveys/european-working-conditions-surveys/european-working-conditions-t

Original Reference: Eurofound (2017b), Working conditions of workers of different ages: European Working Conditions Survey 2015, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Brief Summary: This survey provides insights into working conditions across Europe, including job quality, health, and safety. RAPs should focus on improving rural work environments and job quality, particularly in agriculture and manual labor sectors. PoliRuralPlus pilots can use these findings to promote healthier, safer, and more equitable working conditions in rural-urban areas.

URL: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/european-working-conditions-survey-2015

Original Reference: Eurofound (2021f), EWCTS 2021 – Questionnaire development, web page.

Brief Summary: This survey provides insights into working conditions during the pandemic, with a focus on remote work and mental health. RAPs should address mental health challenges faced by rural workers during and after the pandemic. PoliRuralPlus pilots can incorporate health and well-being initiatives into rural work environments to improve job satisfaction.

URL: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/data-catalogue/european-working-conditions-telephone-survey-2021-0

Original Reference: Eurostat (2023a), Estimated average age of young people leaving the parental household by sex [yth_demo_030].

Brief Summary: Highlights population growth trends across rural and urban Europe. Implications: Rural depopulation remains a key challenge. Recommendations: Focus RAPs on reversing rural depopulation by improving economic opportunities and quality of life in rural areas.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20230904-1

Original Reference: Eurostat (2021), Eurostat regional yearbook – 2021 edition, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.¶

Brief Summary: Presents detailed statistics on regional development, including urban-rural disparities. Implications: Highlights key challenges in rural development. Recommendations: Incorporate data into RAPs to address specific regional challenges such as employment, infrastructure, and social services.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/13389103/KS-HA-21-001-EN-N.pdf

Original Reference: Eurostat (2022), Eurostat regional yearbook – 2022 edition, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.¶

Brief Summary: Highlights key economic and social statistics for EU regions, focusing on rural-urban dynamics. Implications: Provides a comprehensive data source to support regional development planning. Recommendations: Use these statistics to tailor RAPs that address rural economic gaps and service disparities.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-flagship-publications/-/ks-ha-22-001

Original Reference: ARTS (2016). The Natural Nexus: How Nature-Based Solutions Can Help Restore the Planet and Civil Society. Transition Read N°2

Brief Summary: Highlights how cities and regions can accelerate sustainability transitions. Suggests applying the sustainability transition frameworks to PoliRuralPlus for fostering sustainable practices across rural-urban regions.

URL: Accelerating Transitions

Original Reference: Progress on ‘GDP and beyond’ actions. Eurostat. (2018). Eurostat regional yearbook, 2018 edition. Luxembourg: Eurostat. EUROSTAT. (2018). Urban-rural typology. 104

Brief Summary: Provides key statistics on population, employment, and development in EU regions. Recommendations: RAPs should be data-driven, using insights from Eurostat to address disparities and optimize socio-economic and environmental development between rural and urban regions.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-flagship-publications/-/KS-HA-18-001

Original Reference: Eurostat (2023c), Young people neither in employment nor in education and training [edat_lfse_20]

Brief Summary: Provides data on young people neither in employment nor in education (NEETs), highlighting trends across regions and the impact of education level. Implications: Rural areas have higher NEET rates compared to urban ones, particularly for young women. Recommendations: RAPs should focus on youth employment and education programs, targeting rural NEET populations through training, digital skills, and inclusive policies.

URL: Statistics on young people neither in employment nor in education or training

Original Reference: Corman, V. M., Eckerle, I., Bleicker, T., Zaki, A., Landt, O., Eschbach-Bludau, M., ... & Drosten, C. (2012). Detection of a novel human coronavirus by real-time reverse[1]transcription polymerase chain reaction. Eurosurveillance, 17(39), 20285.

Brief Summary: This report focuses on the surveillance and management of public health challenges, especially in the context of infectious diseases. Implications: Public health infrastructure in rural areas often lags behind urban regions, impacting resilience to pandemics. Recommendations: Strengthen rural health systems in regional action plans by improving healthcare access, surveillance, and communication channels. Promote collaboration between rural and urban healthcare providers to ensure timely responses to public health threats and equitable healthcare access.

URL: Eurosurveillance Report

Original Reference: Cartwright, S. and Holmes, N. (2006), ‘The meaning of work: The challenge of regaining employee engagement and reducing cynicism’, Human Resource Management Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 199–208.

Brief Summary: This paper explores the social and economic aspects of rural development, including income inequality, rural poverty, and access to services. Implications: Addressing social and economic inequalities is key to strengthening rural-urban linkages. Recommendations: Develop policies in regional action plans that target poverty alleviation, improve rural access to services, and support rural enterprises to reduce disparities between rural and urban regions.

URL: Social and Economic Dimensions of Rural Development

Original Reference: European Commission. (2020e). Falling into the Middle-Income Trap? A Study on the Risks for EU Regions to be Caught in a Middle-Income Trap. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Brief Summary: Discusses economic stagnation in rural areas and how regions can avoid the “middle-income trap.” Implications: Emphasizes the need for diversification of rural economies and innovation. Recommendations: Promote entrepreneurship and innovation within RAPs for economic diversification in PoliRuralPlus regions such as Apulia and Vidzeme.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/studies/2020/falling-into-the-middle-income-trap

Original Reference: Ryu, S. and Fan, L. (2022), ‘The relationship between financial worries and psychological distress among U.S. adults’, Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 16–33.

Brief Summary: This paper discusses financial stress in U.S. households and its implications on economic stability. Recommendations: Use insights into economic vulnerabilities to design financial resilience programs for rural communities, improving their integration with urban centers. Lessons on financial planning can inform the economic resilience aspect of RAPs​​.

URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Relationship-Between-Financial-Worries-and-U.S.-Ryu-Fan/7ac83410a8c

Original Reference: OECD. (2020a, April). Coronavirus (COVID-19)From pandemic to recovery: Local employment and economic development. OECD.

Brief Summary: This report covers how local employment and economic development have evolved post-COVID. Implications: Regional disparities were exacerbated by the pandemic. Recommendations: Develop RAPs that include post-pandemic recovery strategies, especially targeting rural areas hit hardest by economic disruptions​.

URL: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/from-pandemic-to-recovery-local-employment-and-economic-development_8

Original Reference: Eurofound (2022d), The rise in telework: Impact on working conditions and regulations, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Brief Summary: This report explores how digitalization is transforming the future of work, especially in rural areas. RAPs should focus on digital infrastructure development to ensure that rural regions can benefit from digital jobs and services. PoliRuralPlus pilots can leverage digital tools to enhance rural-urban connectivity and create new economic opportunities.

URL: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/ef22005en.pdf

Original Reference: EIGE (European Institute for Gender Equality) (2021), Gender equality and the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Brief Summary: This report evaluates gender equality progress across EU countries. RAPs should incorporate gender-sensitive policies to ensure equal opportunities for women in both rural and urban areas. PoliRuralPlus pilots can align their strategies with gender equality goals to promote inclusive development across rural-urban regions.

URL: https://eige.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/gender_equality_index_2022_corr.pdf