References

Original Reference: Internet Access in Rural Areas: Brake or Stimulus as Post-Covid-19 Opportunity? Irune Ruiz-Martinez +1, Sustainability, 2020, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229619

Brief Summary: The article focuses on integrating environmental policies with circular economy strategies, particularly in rural areas, to foster sustainability. Implications: A circular economy approach can strengthen rural-urban linkages by enhancing resource use efficiency, waste management, and sustainable practices. Recommendations: RAPs should incorporate circular economy principles, focusing on waste management, recycling, and sustainable agriculture to improve rural-urban collaboration and promote sustainable development.

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229619

Original Reference: Community group on Mountain areas’

Brief Summary: This report examines the unique challenges faced by mountain areas in sustainable development, focusing on environmental management and connectivity. Implications: Mountainous rural areas often face isolation and limited connectivity, affecting rural-urban links. Recommendations: Include infrastructure development, digital connectivity, and sustainable tourism in regional action plans for mountainous regions, promoting economic opportunities while protecting fragile ecosystems. Foster cooperation between mountain communities and nearby urban centers to improve access to services and markets.

URL: Mountain Areas Sustainable Development

Original Reference: fefac.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/20_DOC_158.pdf

Brief Summary: Provides guidelines for sustainable soy sourcing, relevant for rural agricultural areas. Implications: Rural areas involved in agriculture must adopt sustainable practices to maintain their economic and environmental viability. Recommendations: RAPs should encourage sustainable agricultural practices, particularly for crops like soy, ensuring that rural farming is both profitable and environmentally responsible.

URL: FEFAC Soy Sourcing Guidelines

Original Reference: Urban-Rural Flows and the Meaning of Borders : Functional and Symbolic Integration in Norwegian City-Regions / Knut Hidle, Arild Aurvåg Farsund and Hans Kjetil Lysgård. In: European Urban and Regional Studies, vol.16, n°4, 2009, pp.409-421

Brief Summary: Discusses sustainable development in urban fringes, emphasizing collaboration between urban and rural areas. Recommendations include fostering cross-sector partnerships and integrated land-use planning to ensure balanced growth across urban-rural boundaries.

URL: http://www.sustainablefringes.eu/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=519&sID=16

Original Reference: Rural Network - Collaboration for development (landsbygdsnatverket.se)

Brief Summary: A platform promoting sustainable rural development in Sweden. Implications: Provides a model for integrated rural-urban initiatives. Recommendations: PoliRuralPlus pilots can adapt best practices from this network to improve coordination among rural actors and urban stakeholders【31†source】【32†source】.

URL: https://www.landsbygdsnatverket.se/

Original Reference: TRANS-Lighthouses

Brief Summary: This project focuses on empowering women in rural areas through innovative agricultural practices. Implication: PoliRuralPlus pilots should encourage gender-inclusive rural development strategies, leveraging local knowledge and innovation for sustainable growth.

URL: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101084561

Original Reference: System dynamics Working Group meeting - Smart Specialisation Platform (europa.eu)

Brief Summary: Explores how system dynamics can be used to understand the complexities of regional development policies, with a focus on rural and urban integration. Implications: System dynamics provide a holistic approach to policy-making by evaluating interconnected challenges. Recommendations: RAPs should incorporate system dynamics models to improve long-term regional planning and integration of rural-urban linkages​​.

URL: https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/system-dynamics

Original Reference: https://www.telefonica.com

Brief Summary: Telefonica focuses on improving digital connectivity in rural areas, which is critical for economic and social inclusion. Implications: Digital connectivity is vital for enhancing rural-urban linkages and supporting rural economic growth. Recommendations: RAPs should prioritize investments in broadband and digital infrastructure to ensure rural areas are well-connected, enabling rural businesses and communities to participate fully in regional and national economies.

URL: https://www.telefonica.com

Original Reference: tg_stakeholder-involvement_final-report.pdf (europa.eu)

Brief Summary: The Territorial Agenda 2030 focuses on balanced regional development through improved governance and cooperation between urban and rural areas. Implication: PoliRuralPlus can use this framework to develop policies ensuring territorial cohesion, emphasizing cooperation at local, regional, and national levels.

URL: https://territorialagenda.eu/ta2030/

Original Reference: Territorial Agenda 2030 | Territorial Agenda 2030 | A future for all places

Brief Summary: Outlines the EU’s framework for territorial cohesion and rural-urban cooperation by 2030. Recommendations: RAPs should align with the Territorial Agenda’s goals, promoting place-based development strategies that foster balanced regional growth and multi-level governance collaboration.

URL: https://territorialagenda.eu/#:~:text=The%20Territorial%20Agenda%202030%20provides,in%20cooperation%20with%20other%20countries.

Original Reference: Territorial Agenda 2030 (TA2030) - Pilot Action- Small Places Matter - Rural Vision Week 25th March 2021 (europa.eu)

Brief Summary: This document emphasizes the importance of small rural places in achieving territorial cohesion and sustainable development. Implication: RAPs should integrate policies that focus on small places and rural resilience, fostering cooperation between local governments and stakeholders for balanced rural-urban development.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/territorial-agenda-2030-ta2030-pilot-action-small-places-matter-rural-vision-week-25th-march-2021_en

Original Reference: Small places matter | Territorial Agenda 2030 | A future for all places

Brief Summary: Highlights the importance of small towns in regional development. Implications: Small towns serve as essential connectors between rural and urban areas. Recommendations: RAPs should support small-town development, strengthening their role in regional economies.

URL: https://territorialagenda.eu/pilot-actions/small-places-matter/#:~

Original Reference: Territorial approaches, rural-urban linkages and inclusive rural transformation (ifad.org)

Brief Summary: This document from IFAD discusses how territorial approaches integrate multiple sectors and stakeholders to address inequalities in both rural and urban areas. Implication: PoliRuralPlus RAPs should apply territorial approaches to enhance rural-urban cooperation, improving service provision, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.

URL: https://www.ifad.org/en/web/knowledge/-/territorial-approaches-rural-urban-linkages-and-inclusive-rural-transformation

Original Reference: Urban-rural relationships in metropolitan areas of influence: best practice examples of metropolitan-rural cooperation / METREX -The network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas, 2011, 68 p.

Brief Summary: The document highlights the role of metropolitan governance in achieving territorial cohesion and competitiveness through urban-rural cooperation. Implications: Effective governance structures can ensure competitiveness and sustainability across rural and urban regions. Recommendations: PoliRuralPlus pilots should adopt governance models that ensure efficient urban-rural collaboration, with a focus on regional competitiveness and sustainability.

URL: Territorial Cohesion and Competitiveness

Original Reference: Territorial typologies manual - Statistics Explained (europa.eu)

Brief Summary: Eurostat provides a framework for categorizing regions into rural, intermediate, and urban zones using data like population density and NUTS classifications. Implication: RAPs can utilize this manual to target specific interventions based on territorial typologies, ensuring tailored policies for different rural-urban gradients.

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Territorial_typologies_manual

Original Reference: valuating the impact of nature based solutions: appendix of methods

Brief Summary: Examines the economic benefits of investing in rural infrastructure to strengthen rural-urban connections. Implications: Enhanced infrastructure will improve rural areas' integration with urban centers. Recommendations: Prioritize infrastructure development in RAPs to facilitate connectivity and economic integration.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41022-7_4

Original Reference: D438E7EF-0810-7B5E-49F2-8DA65CD7F698.pdf (europa.eu)

Brief Summary: This document outlines EU funding priorities for competitiveness and cohesion. It highlights opportunities for integrated funding mechanisms to support rural-urban linkages, particularly in infrastructure, technology, and community-based initiatives. Recommendations include capitalizing on EU cohesion policy to foster integrated action plans.

URL: The EU Budget for the Future: Supporting Competitiveness and Economic Cohesion

Original Reference: Dijkstra, L. and Jacobs-Crisioni, C., Developing a definition of Functional Rural Areas in the EU, European Commission, 2023, JRC135599. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC135599/JRC135599_01.pdf

Brief Summary: This report discusses how the European Green Deal reshapes rural and urban environments through sustainability policies. RAPs should prioritize green infrastructure, decarbonization, and circular economy approaches in both rural and urban areas, aligned with PoliRuralPlus’s objectives for sustainable development and environmental resilience.

URL: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC135599/JRC135599_01.pdf

Original Reference: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/european-semester/framework/european-semester-explained_en

Brief Summary: This document explains the European Semester, an annual cycle of economic policy coordination within the EU. It addresses key areas like fiscal policies, macroeconomic stability, and the green and digital transitions. Recommendations: PoliRuralPlus should align regional action plans with the European Semester priorities, particularly focusing on climate action, productivity, and digital integration​.

URL: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-and-fiscal-policy-coordination/european-semester/framework/european-semester-explained_en

Original Reference: The future of rural manufacturing

Brief Summary: This report from the OECD examines the potential of rural manufacturing, emphasizing innovation and green transitions. Implication: PoliRuralPlus pilots can support manufacturing initiatives that promote sustainability and rural employment, linking them to urban markets through stronger supply chains.

URL: https://www.oecd.org/regional/rural-development/the-future-of-rural-manufacturing-highlights.pdf