The purpose of the 'Support for Smart Villages in the CAP Strategic Plans' report carried out in the framework of the 2nd Preparatory Action - Smart areas in the 21th century - is to provide an overview on how Smart Villages concept has been programmed in the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plans (CAP...

Distribution grids are critical for the energy transition: with the majority of future assets to be connected at the distribution-grid level, the decentralization and decarbonization of the energy system depend on strong and future-ready electricity distribution networks. This study gathers and...

The introduction of the new delivery model in the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy increased the decision-making and management autonomy of Member States and their regions when implementing Rural Development policies. Thus, understanding the drivers behind allocation choices for rural...

A key recommendation of the prior SMARTA project was to develop a forum for rural stakeholders at the local level - local government, rural development agencies, social service providers, communities, and mobility providers - both to exchange experience and to develop a collective voice. The...

Policies tackling rural depopulation are growing over the recent years and pose a significant challenge to policymakers and communities worldwide. This paper presents a systematic review of policy assessments aimed at mitigating rural depopulation. It encompasses 66 studies published since 2000....