Smart development of rural areas is key to the future of Europe.

Digitisation and the opportunity to explore the potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are essential factors enabling rural communities to become smarter — i.e., more attractive for locals, visitors, and newcomers. This helps counter the cycle of depopulation and economic decline through the improvement of Policy Instruments (PIs), fostering a more focused and integrated approach to territorial planning. This approach may go beyond the sectorial aspects of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and European Social Fund (ESF), benefiting local people and businesses.

Through the Interreg Europe (   / @interregeuropeprogramme  ) INSPIRE project, partners are working on various policies, including the LEADER programme, the Regional Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme (ROP), the European Social Fund (ESF), and local and national Policy Instruments (PIs), to inspire a smart transition in forward-looking rural communities enabled by digitisation. These efforts align with the six dimensions of the smart village rationale: Economy, Environment, Governance, Living, Mobility, and People, with the aim of improving PIs to future-proof communities and inspire others.

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To find out more, visit the INSPIRE Project website below:

INSPIRE Project Website

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