Author: Serafin Pazos-Vidal (AEIDL) The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework will shape rural development for the next decade. The European Commission tabled ambitious proposals last...
New GRANULAR report shows what matters for rural wellbeing
Author: Gundi Knies, Thünen-Institute of Rural Studies Wellbeing, fairness, and resilience are central goals of the European Commission’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas (LTVRA), yet the drivers of wellbeing remain complex and...
Housing prices and rural attractiveness: case study from Czechia
Authors: Ing. Jan Pavlík, PhD. (CZU), Ing. Tereza Burešová (CZU) Rural areas can be attractive places to live, but how much do housing prices influence their attractiveness? Research emerging from GRANULAR project, led by the Czech University of Life Sciences...
GRANULAR co-hosts Rural Proofing workshop at EU Regions Week 2025
Authors: Merveille Ntabuhashe & Maite Iglesias Last week was a busy week in Brussels, with the annual European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) taking place from 13-15 October. The city saw coming from all across Europe thousands of stakeholders in a series...
The next EU budget: what’s at stake for rural areas
Last July the European Commission presented its proposal for the next €2 trillion Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) covering 2028–2034. President Ursula von der Leyen described it as a budget designed to meet Europe’s strategic ambitions in a time defined by...
Testing the GRANULAR Rural Proofing: What Living Labs Taught Us
Author: Giulia Martino (Ecorys) Can rural proofing really help policymakers design better, fairer policies for rural areas? That’s what eight Multi-Actor Labs across Europe set out to explore as part of the GRANULAR project. From Finland to Greece, and...
Rural resilience through a gender lens: What labour data and Regional Economic Dynamics in the EU reveals
Authors: Debora Pricila Birgier & Carlos Tapia (Nordregio) In many EU Member States, rural women face persistent structural disadvantages in labour markets. This has significant implications – not just for gender equality, but for the long-term resilience of...
Measuring Climate Neutrality in Rural Areas: A New Framework from GRANULAR
Author: Yuval Damari (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier) As Europe advances towards its climate neutrality goals, rural areas play a crucial role in this transformation. However, most existing tools for monitoring climate neutrality are primarily...
Empowering Rural Communities: Strategies for Inclusive and Competitive Economies
Brussels, 16 May 2025 – Experts, policymakers, and researchers gathered virtually for a dynamic session under the GRANULAR project, discussing how innovative tools, data, and policy frameworks can boost economic resilience and competitiveness in Europe’s rural...
Living Labs Driving Change in Rural Areas: Insights from the GRANULAR Webinar
Author: Maite Iglesias (AEIDL) March 18, 2025 – A total of 98 participants joined the latest GRANULAR webinar to explore the transformative role of Living Labs in shaping rural development across Europe. Organised by the European Association for Innovation in...