Across Europe, local leaders, citizens, researchers and policymakers have come together to answer a crucial question: how can we make rural regions more attractive, inclusive, and resilient in the face of ongoing demographic and economic shifts?
As part of the PREMIUM_EU project, ten Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs)—open forums for co-learning and policy development—continued their work from the SHERPA project to share what's working, what’s not, and how mobility can become a force for positive regional transformation.
Key Findings from Rural Europe
The MAPs worked across 10 regions and countries, from the Bieszczady Mountains of Poland to the Southwest Alentejo in Portugal. Despite regional differences, some shared lessons emerged:
- Basic services matter. A lack of schools, childcare, healthcare, and digital infrastructure continues to drive depopulation.
- Focus on young families, not just youth. Several MAPs emphasized that it’s more effective to target young families with children than students who are about to leave.
- Remote work is a game changer—but only with broadband. High-speed internet is now critical infrastructure for attracting newcomers and enabling remote workers.
- Rural does not mean farming. Many regions are embracing diverse rural economies—from tourism to tech to social enterprises.
- Inclusion is key. From elderly residents to new migrants, the MAPs urged tailored approaches to make sure everyone feels part of the local future.
5 Inspiring Examples of Innovative Local Action
- Mobile Offices in Bieszczady, Poland: Bringing Public Services to the People
In the remote Bieszczady region of southeastern Poland—bordering Ukraine and Slovakia—residents often face long and difficult journeys just to complete basic administrative tasks. Many villages lack paved roads, reliable public transport, or even internet connectivity. Recognising this challenge, local actors introduced mobile offices: vans equipped with official staff and documentation tools that travel directly to residents’ neighbourhoods. This initiative reduces the burden on elderly residents and busy families who would otherwise need to dedicate an entire day to visit a government office many kilometres away. It’s a low-cost, high-impact solution that enhances inclusion and trust in local governance—especially in a region with high unemployment and risk of marginalisation. - Intercultural Inclusion in Southwest Alentejo, Portugal: Turning Migration into an Asset
The municipality of Odemira in Portugal's Southwest Alentejo region is an exception to the trend of rural depopulation. Its population has stabilised in large part due to an influx of migrant workers—particularly from Bulgaria, Thailand, and Germany—who support the booming agricultural sector. In fact, foreign residents now make up over 30% of the local population. But this rapid demographic change also brought challenges: housing shortages, labour exploitation concerns, and social integration gaps. In response, local stakeholders formed a MAP to address inclusion head-on. Their actions include support centres for migrant integration, intercultural events celebrating music, gastronomy and dance, and partnerships between employers, municipalities and NGOs. Their goal? To foster peaceful coexistence while recognising migrants as contributors to rural vitality. - “Birds” as Change Agents in Bieszczady: Newcomers Driving Rural Revival
In Bieszczady, a local typology categorises residents as “pnioki” (deep-rooted locals), “krzoki” (long-time migrants), and “ptoki” (“birds”—newcomers who arrived more recently, often during or after the Covid-19 pandemic). Interestingly, many of these “birds” have become the driving force behind community revitalisation. Often drawn by the region’s natural beauty and remote work possibilities, they bring new ideas, networks, and motivation. From launching cultural initiatives and small businesses to spearheading civic projects, these residents play a crucial role in addressing social isolation, strengthening local identity, and creating inclusive spaces. The MAP emphasised that empowering these new actors—while building bridges with long-standing residents—is essential for unlocking the region’s potential. - Green Economy Leadership in Zachodniopomorskie, Poland: Rural Climate Action in Practice
Located along Poland’s Baltic coast, Zachodniopomorskie is not just a rural region—it’s also a leader in renewable energy, especially wind power. Recognising the urgent need for rural climate adaptation, the MAP here focused on how to equip farmers, local officials, and businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate climate change. Their approach is threefold: providing better access to data and forecasts, building trust between stakeholders, and offering practical support for land use transitions. This includes new crop varieties, agroforestry techniques, and climate-smart advisory services. The region’s experience shows how rural areas can be at the forefront of environmental innovation when policy, science, and local knowledge align. - Digital Potential and Urban-Rural Ties in Lithuania: A Smart Countryside Vision
Lithuania’s rural areas face many challenges: shrinking populations, ageing communities, and service delivery difficulties due to low density. Yet the country also boasts exceptional broadband coverage—reaching 98% of rural households—and a strong tradition of rural-urban connections. The Lithuanian MAP identified this as a major opportunity: many city dwellers still have family roots in rural villages and are increasingly drawn to return, especially post-pandemic. The MAP’s vision includes strengthening this trend by making rural areas more attractive for remote work, encouraging digital entrepreneurship, and supporting the use of smart technologies in farming and food production. Equally important is revitalising unused housing and public spaces to welcome returnees and newcomers. It’s a long-term strategy to turn digital connectivity into demographic resilience.
What Comes Next?
The insights and recommendations from the MAPs will feed into the Premium_EU Regional Policy Dashboard, our flagship policy tool designed to help decision-makers better harness human mobility for regional development. The MAPs continue to play a role in testing and shaping this dashboard, ensuring it reflects real-world challenges and opportunities.
But perhaps most importantly, the MAPs have shown the power of collaboration and co-creation. When researchers, citizens, businesses, and policymakers come together, new possibilities emerge—even in the most remote corners of Europe.
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