The Smart Rural 27 project, launched by the European Commission in December 2020, aimed to prepare Member States and rural communities for the implementation of Smart Villages under the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other EU initiatives.
The final report (January 2025) highlights the crucial role of LEADER as the main tool to implement Smart Villages across many Member States.
The project’s main recommendations focus on four areas:
- Capacity-building and awareness-raising for rural communities and LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs);
- Improving the policy framework by closely monitoring CAP interventions and promoting knowledge sharing;
- Encouraging multi-funding approaches;
- Continuing the Smart Villages Observatory.
For more information. https://eu-cap-network.ec.europa.eu/news/smart-rural-27-outcomes-and-recommendations_en
