What’s happening in my country
On the country pages you will find useful information about what is happening in EU Member States concerning the planning and implementation of smart villages.
The information aims to orient people on policy planning, key contacts and resources on smart villages. However, it neither aims to be fully comprehensive, nor necessarily reflects the official government or European Commission position.
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Estonian Village Movement (Kodukant)
Every second year the most active rural community leaders gather together for 3-day Rural Parliament. The programme includes site visits to local villages, sessions for exchange of experience, workshops on topics that are acute to rural population and formulation of Manifesto that addressed national and local government institutions. Last Rural Parliament in 2019 was already 13th time for villages to gather. Rural Parliament is also the place where the Village of the Year (see next) is publicly announced.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Event
Every second year the most active rural community leaders gather together for 3-day Rural Parliament. The programme includes site visits to local villages, sessions for exchange of experience, workshops on topics that are acute to rural population and formulation of Manifesto that addressed national and local government institutions. Last Rural Parliament in 2019 was already 13th time for villages to gather. Rural Parliament is also the place where the Village of the Year (see next) is publicly announced.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Event
Estonian Village Movement (Kodukant)
(
2017
)
The survey sought to explore what the role and responsibilities of village elders in rural communities have been and how their role was perceived by local authorities; to analyse how their role might change during forthcoming reform of local administration; to analyse the expectations and needs of village elders in representing their community and to provide the recommendations in creating functional structure for cooperation with local authorities and input for creating instruction material for the statute of village elders.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Report
The survey sought to explore what the role and responsibilities of village elders in rural communities have been and how their role was perceived by local authorities; to analyse how their role might change during forthcoming reform of local administration; to analyse the expectations and needs of village elders in representing their community and to provide the recommendations in creating functional structure for cooperation with local authorities and input for creating instruction material for the statute of village elders.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Report
Estonian National Rural Network
(
14/08/2019
–
15/08/2019
)
Estonian NRN organises yearly summer seminars for Estonian LEADER LAGs, each year the focus is on different topics. In 2019 it was ‘smart villages’. The event consisted of two parts: study tour for visiting smart LEADER projects and a ‘Smart Villages and LEADER’ seminar. The aim of the event was to introduce the Smart Villages topic to Estonian LAGs, encourage discussion and get input for Estonian NRN next activities of ‘smart villages’.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Event
Estonian NRN organises yearly summer seminars for Estonian LEADER LAGs, each year the focus is on different topics. In 2019 it was ‘smart villages’. The event consisted of two parts: study tour for visiting smart LEADER projects and a ‘Smart Villages and LEADER’ seminar. The aim of the event was to introduce the Smart Villages topic to Estonian LAGs, encourage discussion and get input for Estonian NRN next activities of ‘smart villages’.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Event
Estonian National Rural Network
(
14/03/2019
)
The roundtable was addressed to Estonian managing authorities, representatives of the LEADER Union, LAGs and the Village Movement. It was a small group discussion to find out the current state of development, share information and think about possible steps in the future of Estonian ‘smart villages’.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Event
The roundtable was addressed to Estonian managing authorities, representatives of the LEADER Union, LAGs and the Village Movement. It was a small group discussion to find out the current state of development, share information and think about possible steps in the future of Estonian ‘smart villages’.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Event
Estonian National Rural Network
(
2018
)
The Estonian NRN put together a Smart Villages sub-page to gather available information and to make it more accessible in Estonian to interested stakeholders. The sub-page is located on the network’s website.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Website
The Estonian NRN put together a Smart Villages sub-page to gather available information and to make it more accessible in Estonian to interested stakeholders. The sub-page is located on the network’s website.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Website
Estonian Ministry of Rural Affairs
Website providing updates on CAP planning process to interested stakeholders. The steering committee preparing the CAP Estonia Strategic Plan 2021–2027 started its work in June 2019. The CAP Strategic Plan has three general objectives: enhance a smart, resilient and diversified agricultural sector that ensures food security; promote environmental protection and climate action and contribute to the European Union’s environmental and climate objectives; improve the socio-economic situation of rural areas. These objectives are complemented by the cross-sectoral objective of modernising the sector in agriculture and rural areas through the promotion and sharing of knowledge, innovation and digital change, and encouraging their uptake. After the completion of SWOT analysis, 14 thematic working groups have been put together including experts, farmers, researchers and other stakeholders to be part in the consultation process of the CAP Strategic Plan interventions. Usage of the Smart Villages concept was pointed out in LEADER working group.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Website
Website providing updates on CAP planning process to interested stakeholders. The steering committee preparing the CAP Estonia Strategic Plan 2021–2027 started its work in June 2019. The CAP Strategic Plan has three general objectives: enhance a smart, resilient and diversified agricultural sector that ensures food security; promote environmental protection and climate action and contribute to the European Union’s environmental and climate objectives; improve the socio-economic situation of rural areas. These objectives are complemented by the cross-sectoral objective of modernising the sector in agriculture and rural areas through the promotion and sharing of knowledge, innovation and digital change, and encouraging their uptake. After the completion of SWOT analysis, 14 thematic working groups have been put together including experts, farmers, researchers and other stakeholders to be part in the consultation process of the CAP Strategic Plan interventions. Usage of the Smart Villages concept was pointed out in LEADER working group.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Website
Estonian Ministry of Rural Affairs
(
2018
)
Development plan until 2030 for agriculture and fisheries sector in Estonia. The aim of the development plan is to contribute to Estonian agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and the food industry development and competitiveness, food security, balanced rural and coastal areas development, as well as good plant and animal health, soil improvement, food safety and maintaining a clean environment and species diversity. The implementation of the development plan is financed from the state budget together with ESI funds, ensuring its compliance with the state budget strategy. The estimated total cost of the development plan in 2020–2030 is ~ 4.7 billion euros. There are 8 priority areas in the development document: 1) agricultural environment, 2) plant health, animal health and well-being, 3) food safety, 4) quality inputs in agriculture, 5) agricultural production, valuation and marketing, 6) rural and coastal area development, 7) science and innovation and knowledge transfer, 8) sustainable fisheries. Horizontal development areas are bio-economy, export, environment and integrated rural development. Smart Villages concept is expected to contribute to the priority area 6 – rural and coastal area development – addressing bottlenecks of territories and promoting different areas (e.g. digital services, transport, energy, health, education, welfare, lifestyle). Linking rural and urban development must be promoted to ensure the integrated development of regions, including the symbiosis of rural and urban areas.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Document
Development plan until 2030 for agriculture and fisheries sector in Estonia. The aim of the development plan is to contribute to Estonian agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and the food industry development and competitiveness, food security, balanced rural and coastal areas development, as well as good plant and animal health, soil improvement, food safety and maintaining a clean environment and species diversity. The implementation of the development plan is financed from the state budget together with ESI funds, ensuring its compliance with the state budget strategy. The estimated total cost of the development plan in 2020–2030 is ~ 4.7 billion euros. There are 8 priority areas in the development document: 1) agricultural environment, 2) plant health, animal health and well-being, 3) food safety, 4) quality inputs in agriculture, 5) agricultural production, valuation and marketing, 6) rural and coastal area development, 7) science and innovation and knowledge transfer, 8) sustainable fisheries. Horizontal development areas are bio-economy, export, environment and integrated rural development. Smart Villages concept is expected to contribute to the priority area 6 – rural and coastal area development – addressing bottlenecks of territories and promoting different areas (e.g. digital services, transport, energy, health, education, welfare, lifestyle). Linking rural and urban development must be promoted to ensure the integrated development of regions, including the symbiosis of rural and urban areas.
Language : Estonian
Type of resource : Document
National Rural Support Unit (DVS) in the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food / (Deutsche Vernetzungsstelle Ländliche Räume, DVS /Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, BLE)
(
27/10/2020
)
8th NRN network meeting on villages: ‘Smart Villages in rural development’ (‘Smart Villages in der ländlichen Entwicklung’) – online workshop.
Language : German
Type of resource : Event
8th NRN network meeting on villages: ‘Smart Villages in rural development’ (‘Smart Villages in der ländlichen Entwicklung’) – online workshop.
Language : German
Type of resource : Event
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
(
10/09/2019
)
Information on the ‘Land.Digital’ (‘Digital Countryside’) pilot and demonstration programme on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Funding innovative projects, the programme (2017-2022) addresses digital change in rural areas within the framework of the Federal Rural Development Scheme (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung, BULE).
Language : German
Information on the ‘Land.Digital’ (‘Digital Countryside’) pilot and demonstration programme on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Funding innovative projects, the programme (2017-2022) addresses digital change in rural areas within the framework of the Federal Rural Development Scheme (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung, BULE).
Language : German
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
(
23/09/2020
)
Information on the ‘Smarte LandRegionen’ (‘Smart Rural Regions’) model project on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The programme (based on a competition started in 2019) addresses regional digital services within the framework of the Federal Rural Development Scheme (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung, BULE). In total, 22 regions receive funding for projects (7 regions selected by a jury in 2020, and 15 additional regions).
Language : German
Information on the ‘Smarte LandRegionen’ (‘Smart Rural Regions’) model project on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The programme (based on a competition started in 2019) addresses regional digital services within the framework of the Federal Rural Development Scheme (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung, BULE). In total, 22 regions receive funding for projects (7 regions selected by a jury in 2020, and 15 additional regions).
Language : German
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
(
22/09/2019
)
Information on the ‘Land(auf) Schwung’ (‘Rural Upswing’) model project on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The programme (2015-2019) addressed regional value added, jobs and demographic change in rural areas within the framework of the Federal Rural Development Scheme (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung, BULE).
Language : German
Information on the ‘Land(auf) Schwung’ (‘Rural Upswing’) model project on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The programme (2015-2019) addressed regional value added, jobs and demographic change in rural areas within the framework of the Federal Rural Development Scheme (Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung, BULE).
Language : German
Germany
Revitalising rural services through social and digital innovation. Scoping Paper and Workplan
(
26/10/2017
)
Scoping paper and workplan of the Thematic Group on smart villages of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) (including some German example initiatives addressing social and digital innovations – see box ‘Examples of local initiatives and projects’ on p. 7).
Language : English
European Network for Rural Development Contact Point (ENRD CP)
(
2018
)
Brochure on EAFRD project examples from various thematic fields and EU Member States (including the example of the ‘Digital Villages’, Germany). The brochure includes the article ‘Getting the digital ecosystem in place in Germany’, providing information on the ‘Digital Villages’ project (p. 26 f.).
Language : English
Type of resource : Publication
Brochure on EAFRD project examples from various thematic fields and EU Member States (including the example of the ‘Digital Villages’, Germany). The brochure includes the article ‘Getting the digital ecosystem in place in Germany’, providing information on the ‘Digital Villages’ project (p. 26 f.).
Language : English
Type of resource : Publication
Fraunhofer-Institut für Experimentelles Software Engineering (Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering) (IESE)
Online platform providing digital solutions for rural communities and local enterprises, developed within the framework of the ‘Digital Villages’ project funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Sports of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Language : German
Type of resource : Website
Online platform providing digital solutions for rural communities and local enterprises, developed within the framework of the ‘Digital Villages’ project funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Sports of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Language : German
Type of resource : Website
Competence Centre for Rural Development / Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (Kompetenzzentrum Ländliche Entwicklung, KomLE / Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, BLE).
Information on the Kompetenzzentrum Ländliche Entwicklung (KomLE) (Competence Centre for Rural Development) on the website of the Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) (Federal Office for Agriculture and Food). KomLE is implementing the Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung (BULE) (Federal Rural Development Scheme). The programme addresses innovative approaches and comprises pilot and demonstration projects, pilot regions, competitions as well as knowledge transfer and research support.
Language : German
Information on the Kompetenzzentrum Ländliche Entwicklung (KomLE) (Competence Centre for Rural Development) on the website of the Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE) (Federal Office for Agriculture and Food). KomLE is implementing the Bundesprogramm Ländliche Entwicklung (BULE) (Federal Rural Development Scheme). The programme addresses innovative approaches and comprises pilot and demonstration projects, pilot regions, competitions as well as knowledge transfer and research support.
Language : German
Bill Slee
-
European Network for Rural Development Contact Point (ENRD CP)
(
19/05/2020
)
Document on smart rural communities addressing the challenges of the European Green Deal, containing local-level examples including the ‘bio-energy village’ of Oberrosphe, Hesse, Germany (see box on p. 4).
Language : English
Document on smart rural communities addressing the challenges of the European Green Deal, containing local-level examples including the ‘bio-energy village’ of Oberrosphe, Hesse, Germany (see box on p. 4).
Language : English
European Network for Rural Development Contact Point (ENRD CP)
(
05/2018
)
ENRD EU Rural Review No. 26, issue highlighting digital and social innovation in Member States and rural communities throughout Europe regarding the improvement of basic services in rural areas, taking into consideration the potential contribution of Rural Development Programmes. The document presents information on German ‘Bio-energy Villages’ (see box on p. 29), the German ‘Digital Villages’ project (p. 19, 22), examples of digital services in German municipalities (p. 36 f.) and information on EAFRD measures relevant in Germany with regard to the smart village context (p. 42 ff.).
Language : German
Type of resource : Article
ENRD EU Rural Review No. 26, issue highlighting digital and social innovation in Member States and rural communities throughout Europe regarding the improvement of basic services in rural areas, taking into consideration the potential contribution of Rural Development Programmes. The document presents information on German ‘Bio-energy Villages’ (see box on p. 29), the German ‘Digital Villages’ project (p. 19, 22), examples of digital services in German municipalities (p. 36 f.) and information on EAFRD measures relevant in Germany with regard to the smart village context (p. 42 ff.).
Language : German
Type of resource : Article
European Network for Rural Development Contact Point (ENRD CP)
Working document focusing on the German ‘Digital Villages’ project.
Language : English
Type of resource : Case study
Working document focusing on the German ‘Digital Villages’ project.
Language : English
Type of resource : Case study
European Network for Rural Development Contact Point (ENRD CP)
Document focusing on the German case study region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
Language : English
Type of resource : Case study
Document focusing on the German case study region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
Language : English
Type of resource : Case study
Barbara Fährmann
-
Thünen Institute
(
11/2018
)
Working Paper No. 107.
Language : German
Type of resource : Report
Working Paper No. 107.
Language : German
Type of resource : Report
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
(
07/04/2020
)
Article on the state of planning for the CAP funding period 2021-2027 in Germany.
Language : German
Type of resource : Article
Article on the state of planning for the CAP funding period 2021-2027 in Germany.
Language : German
Type of resource : Article
Simona Elmo
-
ANCI- Association of Italian Municipalities
(
07/2018
–
06/2022
)
Project supporting municipalities of Southern Italy in mapping and using abandoned land for innovative projects, to address depopulation and promote local development and new work opportunities for youth.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Presentation
Project supporting municipalities of Southern Italy in mapping and using abandoned land for innovative projects, to address depopulation and promote local development and new work opportunities for youth.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Presentation
Alessandro Simonato
, Aggiornamenti Sociali
Article on the European action plan on Smart Villages, with reference to European and national projects and strategies on the matter
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Article
Article on the European action plan on Smart Villages, with reference to European and national projects and strategies on the matter
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Article
Formez
, IFEL-ANCI
(
12/2019
)
A publication focusing on administrative capacity of towns and villages involved in the actions of the Inner Areas Strategy.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Document, Publication
A publication focusing on administrative capacity of towns and villages involved in the actions of the Inner Areas Strategy.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Document, Publication
European Network for Rural Development Contact Point (ENRD CP)
Case study on the Strategy for Inner Areas developed by the ENRD.
Language : English
Type of resource : Document, Publication
Case study on the Strategy for Inner Areas developed by the ENRD.
Language : English
Type of resource : Document, Publication
Agency for Territorial Cohesion
Main portal of the National Strategy for Inner Areas within the website of the Agency for Territorial Cohesion.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Website
Main portal of the National Strategy for Inner Areas within the website of the Agency for Territorial Cohesion.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Website
Fabio Pierangeli
-
Pianeta PSR (PSR Planet – The Journal of Rural Development)
(
02/2020
)
An analysis of the steps leading to the creation of the national strategy and of the reformed CAP, with elements on Smart Villages included.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Article
An analysis of the steps leading to the creation of the national strategy and of the reformed CAP, with elements on Smart Villages included.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Article
Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali (National Rural Network, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry)
(
2019
)
A summary on the national process towards the new CAP, with elements on Smart Villages and related challenges included in the Policy Briefs and in the technical SWOTs.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Document, Website
A summary on the national process towards the new CAP, with elements on Smart Villages and related challenges included in the Policy Briefs and in the technical SWOTs.
Language : Italian
Type of resource : Document, Website
Erik Grietens
-
Bond Beter Leefmilieu (Union Better Environment)
(
2016
)
A recipe book with examples and tools that cities and towns can use for climate-friendly spatial planning.
Language : Dutch
Type of resource : Document, Publication
A recipe book with examples and tools that cities and towns can use for climate-friendly spatial planning.
Language : Dutch
Type of resource : Document, Publication
Flemish Environment Department
(
2018
)
A special analysis of Flanders. An overview of available data and figures to describe the trends in the use of Flemish space. Useful background document to frame a village policy.
Language : Dutch
Type of resource : Report
A special analysis of Flanders. An overview of available data and figures to describe the trends in the use of Flemish space. Useful background document to frame a village policy.
Language : Dutch
Type of resource : Report
