Testing together: Co-creating a regional policy dashboard
2025 October 30
How can regions turn population decline into a driver of renewal? On 21 October, members of the Resilient Regions Expert Group met online for the second testing workshop of the PREMIUM_EU Regional Policy Dashboard, an interactive tool that integrates regional policies, migrant stories, development and mobility data in one place.
Developed under the Horizon Europe project PREMIUM_EU, the Dashboard helps regions compare, explore migration trends, and identify practical policy options for tackling demographic and economic challenges. It is designed for those working in regional development, planning, and governance who need data and policy inspiration from efforts implemented elsewhere.
A tool to support policy action
Across Europe, many regions are facing shrinking populations, ageing workforces, and uneven access to opportunities. At the same time, migration flows are reshaping local labour markets and community dynamics. While some regions attract new talent and investment, others risk losing key skills and vitality.
The tool emerging from the PREMIUM_EU project was designed to transform complex data into actionable insights, enabling regions to address these challenges. In the development process, the Resilient Regions Expert Group was initiated. This project network gathers policymakers and practical experts from across Europe to test the dashboard before its launch, contribute their relevant expertise, and provide key user feedback.
Representatives from countries such as Finland, Spain, Iceland, Scotland, Romania, Ukraine, Sweden, and the Netherlands participated in the second workshop on 21 October. They were invited to test a fully functional version of the dashboard without a walkthrough, navigating the tool to find solutions for different realistic regional policy scenarios. In the following group discussion, members shared their initial impressions, and many also offered insights and experiences from their own regions.
Participants appreciated the dashboard’s mix of quantitative indicators and qualitative migrant perspectives, describing these as essential for understanding both the statistical and human sides of migration. A participant from Iceland stressed the tool's comparative value and the benefit of being able to compare strengths and weaknesses. Others from Spain and the Netherlands emphasised that identifying regions facing similar challenges can make policy learning and cooperation more effective, highlighting the usefulness of finding ‘sister regions’ for tailored inspiration.
Feedback focused on practical improvements to match policy needs. Some members also encouraged making positive language around “living with decline” more visible — reflecting a shift from crisis thinking to resilience building.
Join the network and contribute to research!
The Resilient Regions Expert Group is open to regional policymakers, planners, and development experts across Europe who want to take part in the co-creation process. Members can:
Test new versions of the Dashboard and contribute to its design.
Access exclusive European data and policy exchange before the public launch in 2026
Join a growing international network of regional experts.
Share your region’s experience and learn from others facing similar demographic trends.
The third workshop is already scheduled for 18 November, focusing this time on the migration and integration function of the dashboard.
If your work involves demographic policy, regional development, or mobility, this is your opportunity to help shape how Europe understands and responds to population change.
