Rural Movements and Parliaments in Europe as Agents of Socio-Political Landscapes: Social Innovation, Identity Re-Creation, Democratic Renewal and Professionalisation in Times of Rural Transformation This paper has been co-authored by three members of LDnet, Alistair Adam Hernández, Neslihan Önder Özen and Joanna Tamar Storie, together with Tobias Federwisch and Karl Martin Born. European rural communities […]
The Right to Stay: Young Women in the EU’s Remote and Rural Areas
This study was carried out for the REGI Committee of the European Parliament. It was authored by Austėja ŠVEDKAUSKIENĖ, Justas ŠIMANSKAS, Simonas GAUŠAS, Beatričė LEIPUTĖ, Manuela MEJIA, Sally SHORTALL and Sonia DE GREGORIO HURTADO. In the EU’s rural and remote areas, population decline and a shortage of young women relative to young men interact with […]
MFF negotiations update: Territorial targeting returns through the Irish Negotiating Box
The negotiations on the MFF 2028-2034 have moved beyond the first battle over headline figures. The updated Irish Presidency Negotiating Box, the emerging European Parliament position (with votes on the key reports ongoing and due to end in December) and the latest European Council conclusions are beginning to reveal how the future budget could actually […]
Linking local innovation and community action to policy: a reflection on EWRC 2026
The 2026 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities once again provided an opportunity to showcase, among other things, examples of local innovation and community action with potential relevance across Europe. Four projects caught my attention as particularly relevant to addressing the challenges facing many rural communities and peripheral territories throughout Europe. The […]
RUR_DYNAMIX 2026: International Conference on Rural Dynamics, Resilience and Innovation, 27-28 November 2026
This conference will take place on 27–28 November 2026 in Mosteiro de Ancede, Baião, Portugal. It is organised through a collaboration between academic institutions, research centres and local authorities committed to the sustainable development of rural territories. RUR_DYNAMIX 2026 brings together researchers, policymakers and territorial actors to discuss the transformations shaping rural territories in times of global […]
Multi-level Governance Architecture Matters for Leader’s Added Value
Finland – Evaluation of the regional and local rural development operating model Multi-level Governance Architecture Matters for Leader’s Added Value In recent years, there has been a strong focus on proving the added value of Leader in the rural development system. Significant steps have been taken to define the theoretical model for Leader added value, […]
Strong villages and towns: understanding the determinants of population change in EU settlements
This JRC Working Paper, Strong villages and towns: understanding the determinants of population change in EU settlements, is authored by Mert Kompil, Paola Proietti, Chiara Dorati, Chris Jacobs-Crisoni, and Lewis Dijkstra. The study examines the drivers of population change in EU settlements, focusing on villages and towns, and analyses the influence of local characteristics and […]
Making the Right to Stay work for local communities
A webinar on ‘Right to Stay – Understanding the drivers of territorial cohesion’ took place on 4 June 2026 with some 160 participants – see HERE and below. . Following this event AEIDL published a discussion paper on ‘Making the Right to Stay work for local communities’ authored by Serafín Pazos-Vidal and Janne Sinerma as a […]
Rural development: a call for a broader territorial cohesion agenda
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted an opinion on the Future of Rural Development after 2027 during a plenary session of on 6 May 2026. Led by rapporteur Radim Sršeň (CZ/EPP), mayor of Dolní Studénky, the opinion calls for rural development to be fully recognised as a core objective of Cohesion Policy, supported by dedicated funding […]
Proposals for improving the draft regulations accompanying the next MMF
As discussed in the recent LDnet webinar on the way that the MFF proposals are likely to evolve in 2026, there several proposals that are currently being discussed focussed on specific amendments to the draft Regulations. . Some of the proposals are substantial. For instance, the recently published draft CoR Opinion on the NRPP Fund […]
OECD workshops on Rural Communication and Rural Proofing
In the context of the discussions on the “OECD Principles of Rural Policy”, the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE) is launching two new workshop series focused on two issues that are central to effective rural policy: rural communication and rural proofing. The discussions will feature perspectives from policymakers, journalists, community voices, and […]
LDnet Webinar (4.12.2025): “A new architecture of EU policies and funds post-2027 – what place for local development? (part 3)” – In what direction can the next MFF evolve in 2026? – Presentations and recording
This webinar was held successfully on 4 December 2025 with 50 participants. A follow-up event is planned for 22 January 2026 (see HERE). For the full recording of the webinar click HERE For the presentations of the speakers click below. The Commission’s proposal for the MFF: Perspectives regarding the final framework and implications for Local Development? […]