Resilient European rural outlooks: opportunities for transformation, empowerment and development

In REROOTED six frontrunner local communities cooperate with researchers from the social sciences and humanities (SSH) and land use planning, together with a leading EU association of local action groups. The project integrates results from previous EU and Japanese research on demographic change, its drivers, and its impacts into a socio-spatial typology for the European Union. Foresight adds insight in possible future demographic scenarios. A Geographic Information System (GIS) tool provides information and ex-ante policy assessment on potential demographic impacts. This improved understanding is translated into actionable strategies at two levels, aligned with the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas (Rural Vision).On the local level local frontrunner communities from six partner countries cooperate with scientists who - based on the gathered evidence - co-create local innovations to mitigate and adapt to a variety of demographic changes. They develop guidance for their upscaling, targeting different partners: local authorities, enterprises and civic organizations. These solutions and guidance are tested and validated in follower communities under other territorial contexts in e.g. governing and planning, economy, physical geography (including climate challenges). These followers are selected via a Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) open call. For the above-local level, national and regional economic and spatial policies and investments in the six partners countries are studied on their (demographic) impacts in frontrunner rural areas. Enhancements are suggested in a series of workshops between national, regional policy makers and local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), civil society organisations (CSOs), and authorities from the frontrunner communities. Suggested strategies support governance and local initiative and innovations. The strategies include national and regional economic and spatial planning and investments, and promote rural-urban synergies. Upscaling is supported by an interactive Knowledge and Community Learning Hub, hosted by an EU-wide LEADER association and its over 2500 member Local Action Groups.