PREPARE at the GRANULAR General Assembly in Ourense, Spain

The General Assembly of the GRANULAR project – Giving Rural Actors Novel data and re-Useable tools – officially began on 27 May 2025 in Ourense, Spain, bringing together partners from across Europe to advance a shared mission: equipping rural areas with better data, indicators, and tools to support climate neutrality and socio-economic resilience. PREPARE AISBL is proud to be represented at this important gathering by Miodrag Matavulj, reaffirming our commitment to collaborative, evidence-based...
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PREPARE Contributes to Successful FUTURAL EU Policy Webinar on the Future of Rural Innovation

On May 21, 2025, PREPARE AISBL actively participated in the FUTURAL EU Policy Webinar titled “Smarter, Stronger and More Competitive Rural Areas: The Way Forward for EU Policies.” This event convened over 140 participants, including policymakers, researchers, and rural development practitioners, to discuss the role of community-led innovation in shaping the future of rural Europe. The webinar, organized by the European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL) and supported by the...
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FUTURAL Project – EU-RIF Event!

PREPARE is proud to be a key partner in the ongoing EU-Rural Innovation Forum (EU-RIF), held under the FUTURAL Project, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on fostering innovation, resilience, and sustainability in rural regions across the continent. This two-day event brings together a vibrant mix of stakeholders – from grassroots rural innovators to EU-level project leaders – for workshops, dialogue, and co-creation activities aimed at shaping the future of rural Europe. Day 2 Highlights – C...
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PREPARE and ERCA Co-Host FUTURAL Workshop on Smart Rural Solutions

On 6 May 2025, PREPARE AISBL and ERCA – European Rural Community Alliance – were proud to jointly host the online workshop “Applying Smart Solutions to Rural Communities.” This engaging and impactful session brought together stakeholders from across Europe to explore how smart and participatory approaches are advancing rural resilience through the FUTURAL project. The workshop featured a range of contributions and discussions that highlighted the transformative potential of collaborative innova...
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Empowering Communities to Shape the Future of Rural Europe

Published on the Rural Pact Platform, the new policy briefing titled “Empowering Communities to Take Action for the Rural Vision” offers a strategic roadmap to strengthen local engagement and enable rural areas to thrive. The EU’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas sets an ambitious path toward stronger, connected, resilient, and prosperous rural communities by 2040. Central to achieving this vision is empowering the people who live and work in these areas to take ownership of their future. The l...
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PREPARE Gathering 2025: Strategic Vision, Strong Partnerships, and New Leadership

Prague, March 26–27, 2025 The PREPARE Gathering 2025 began with two dynamic and productive days in Prague, bringing together members, partners, and rural development stakeholders from across Europe. The event marked a significant step forward for the network, combining strategic planning with key organizational developments and new partnerships. March 26: Strategic Planning and Communication Focus The first day of the Gathering was dedicated to the strategic direction of PREPARE, with a foc...
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New Declaration on the future of EU rural areas and rural development policy

The Declaration, adopted by the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) on 12 December 2024, sets out a strategic proposal for the post-2027 EU funds and policies to address the challenges faced by rural areas. The full text of the Declaration is available in all official EU languages and a short, one-page version is available in English.  The Declaration calls for a strong shift in future policies to ensure the sustainability and resilience of EU’s rural areas in the long run, suggesting: ...
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