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id="ecl-menu-item-ecl-menu-240447128-5-link" >News & Events</a></li></ul></section></div></nav> </div> </header> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl" id="block-ewcms-theme-page-header"> <div class="ecl-page-header" ><div class="ecl-container"><nav class="ecl-breadcrumb ecl-page-header__breadcrumb" aria-label="You are here:" aria-label="" data-ecl-breadcrumb="true" ><ol class="ecl-breadcrumb__container"><li class="ecl-breadcrumb__segment" data-ecl-breadcrumb-item="static"><a href="/index_en?prefLang=mt" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--no-visited ecl-breadcrumb__link" >Home</a><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--fluid ecl-breadcrumb__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" role="presentation"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></li><li class="ecl-breadcrumb__segment" data-ecl-breadcrumb-item="static"><a href="/action-plan_en?prefLang=mt" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--no-visited 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through investments in infrastructure, technology development and skills enhancement activities. </p></div></div></div> </div> <main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-container"> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12 ewcms-top-sidebar"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-main-page-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading" class="ecl-u-mb-l"> <article dir="ltr"> <div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_48"></a> <figure class="ecl-blockquote" ><div class="ecl-blockquote__body"><blockquote class="ecl-blockquote__quote"><p class="ecl-blockquote__citation" lang="en">No matter how much effort is spent on education, promotion of tourism, development of new economic initiatives, accessibility remains a key to success for any development initiative. The absence of good accessibility and connectivity affects any development strategy implemented in rural territories.</p><footer class="ecl-blockquote__attribution"><cite class="ecl-blockquote__author">Consultation activities on the long-term vision</cite></footer></blockquote></div></figure> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_49"></a> <div class="ecl"> <div class="ecl-media-container ecl-media-container--custom-ratio ecl-u-mb-s ewcms-embed-large" data-ecl-media-container="true" data-ecl-auto-init="MediaContainer"><figure class="ecl-media-container__figure"><div class="ecl-media-container__media"><img loading="eager" class="ecl-u-width-100 ecl-u-height-auto ecl-media-container__media--ratio-custom" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/embed_large/public/2022-12/Connected%20graphics.jpg?itok=ebNMJVX6 1x, /sites/default/files/styles/embed_large_2x/public/2022-12/Connected%20graphics.jpg?itok=M9xyRR1Y 2x" width="400" height="282" src="/sites/default/files/styles/embed_large/public/2022-12/Connected%20graphics.jpg?itok=ebNMJVX6" alt="Couple reading a newspaper with digital icons around"></div></figure></div> <p> </p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_169"></a> <div class="ecl-row inpage-navigation-container"> <div class="ecl-col-l-3"> <nav class="ecl-inpage-navigation oe-theme-ecl-inpage-navigation ecl-u-z-dropdown" data-ecl-auto-init="InpageNavigation" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true" data-ecl-inpage-navigation="true" aria-labelledby="ecl-inpage-navigation-1918845731" ><div class="ecl-inpage-navigation__title" id="ecl-inpage-navigation-1918845731">Page contents</div><div class="ecl-inpage-navigation__body"><div class="ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger-wrapper"><button type="button" class="ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger" id="ecl-inpage-navigation-1918845731-trigger" data-ecl-inpage-navigation-trigger="true" aria-controls="ecl-inpage-navigation-list" aria-expanded="false"><span class="ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger-current" data-ecl-inpage-navigation-trigger-current="true">Page contents</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-icon--rotate-180 ecl-inpage-navigation__trigger-icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="false" ><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/eu/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#corner-arrow"></use></svg></button></div><ul class="ecl-inpage-navigation__list" data-ecl-inpage-navigation-list="true" id="ecl-inpage-navigation-1918845731-list"></ul></div></nav> </div> <div class="ecl-col-l-9" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_50"></a> <h2 class='ecl-u-type-heading-2'>Flagship: Develop sustainable multimodal mobility and digital mobility services </h2> <article class="ecl-featured-item ecl-featured-item--highlight" ><div class="ecl-featured-item__container ecl-featured-item__container--right"><div class="ecl-featured-item__item"><div class="ecl-featured-item__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Improving existing transport connections is a key priority for rural areas. To this end, sustainable multimodal mobility solutions and connections should be optimised, making use of digitalisation. The <a href="https://spanish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/barcelona-declaration-informal-meeting-transport-21-21-september/">Barcelona Declaration</a> on “Mobility for people: advancing social and territorial cohesion” adopted in September 2023 recognises the importance of sustainable rural mobility needs as well as the need to increase investments in road infrastructure and public transport systems.</p><p>Building on its experience with urban mobility networks, the Commission is supporting the <a href="https://www.smarta-net.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after ecl-link"><span class="ecl-link__label">SMARTA-NET</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a> project aiming to create a network of rural municipalities discussing and identifying mobility solutions they can replicate and follows the two successful preceding projects. The project will organise its <a href="https://www.smarta-net.eu/final-conference/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after ecl-link"><span class="ecl-link__label">final conference</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a> in Autumn 2024.</p><p>Discover the actions from previous SMARTA 1&2 projects on <a href="https://ruralsharedmobility.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">rural shared mobility</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a>. </p><p>The Commission tabled the revision of Delegated Regulation on EU-wide multimodal travel information service, as part of the <a href="https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/passenger-mobility-package-2023-11-29_en">Passenger Mobility Package</a> on 29 November 2023. The initiative aims to support the development of <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13133-Multimodal-digital-mobility-services_en">digital multimodal mobility services</a> which will facilitate access to information, payment and booking of all mobility offers available on a territory. </p><p>In addition, on 30 November 2023 the Commission adopted a <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023L2661">Directive</a> to set up a framework for the sharing of data that will help digitalising data on all bus stops.</p></div></div></div></div></article> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_51"></a> <h2 class='ecl-u-type-heading-2'>Flagship: Rural Digital Futures </h2> <article class="ecl-featured-item ecl-featured-item--highlight" ><div class="ecl-featured-item__container ecl-featured-item__container--right"><div class="ecl-featured-item__item"><div class="ecl-featured-item__description"><div class="ecl"><p>This flagship fosters the digital transformation of rural areas by: </p><p>1. Seeking to improve digital connectivity: closing the gaps between rural and urban areas and enabling universal and affordable access to high-speed connectivity using private-sector investments through complementary funding from national and EU funds including the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the, Connecting Europe Facility (see results of the former <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/5g-smart-communities">call on 5G communities</a><u>)</u>. Overall EUR 23.5 billion have been made available to improve connectivity in areas that are underserved by the market.</p><p>2. Supporting the development of digital technology: digital innovation and new technologies contribute to the development of rural areas, through in particular Horizon Europe and <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme">Digital Europe Programme</a> funding. </p><p>See the calls for proposals still <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-search?closed=true&programmePeriod=2021%20-%202027&frameworkProgramme=43152860">open for submission</a> in 2024.</p><p>3. Promoting the improvement of digital skills and entrepreneurship to benefit from digital transition, through the European social fund, the European agricultural fund for rural development and other European programmes. </p><p>Watch the June 2023 <a href="https://rural-vision.europa.eu/events/strengthening-digital-skills-rural-people-benefit-digital-era-2023-06-08_en">Rural Pact good practice webinar</a> “Strengthening digital skills of rural people to benefit from the digital era” highlighting the various funding opportunities in the <a href="https://education.ec.europa.eu/focus-topics/digital-education/action-plan" class="ecl-link">European Digital Education action plan 2021-2027</a>.</p><p>Discover the findings of the <a href="https://learningfromtheextremes.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">project “Learning from the extremes”</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a> (LfE) addressing inequalities of access to digital education and the pilot schools which benefited from it.</p><p>4. Providing <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/broadband-coverage-europe-2022" class="ecl-link">indicators</a> to measure progress towards the targets of the digital decade and the closing of the digital gap between urban and rural areas. </p></div></div></div></div></article> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_52"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Bridging urban and rural through the EU Urban Mobility Framework </h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The new <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0811&qid=1644666550402" class="ecl-link">EU Urban Mobility Framework</a> was adopted on 14 December 2021. </p> <p>The Framework includes specific actions to better integrate the urban, peri-urban and rural linkages in <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023H0550">upgraded Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans</a> (SUMPs), adopted in March 2023 as part of the Commission Recommendation on national SUMP support programme. </p></div> </div> <div class="ewcms-page-section ecl-u-mb-2xl ecl-u-bg-primary-5"> <div class="ecl-u-pa-m"> <a id="paragraph_53"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Rolling out of broadband in rural areas </h2> <div class="ecl"><p>A new and strengthened support facility has been launched on 26 September 2022 to support the network of broadband competency offices setup at national and regional level (BCO network).  </p> <p>More about the <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/bco-network">Broadband competency office network</a>.  </p></div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_54"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Further promoting the digitalisation of the agricultural sector </h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The CAP, Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme are key instruments supporting the digitalisation of agriculture through trainings, advice, innovation, investment among other actions.</p> <p>Main lines of action are: </p> <ul> <li>Digitalisation strategies as part of the <a href="https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap-overview/cap-glance_en">common agricultural policy</a> strategic plans,</li> <li>Actions under the European innovation partnership for agriculture on <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/digitising-agriculture.html" class="ecl-link">digital agriculture</a>,</li> <li>Large-scale pilot projects under Horizon 2020 (<a href="https://www.iof2020.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">IOF2020</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a> – Internet and food farming 2020, <a href="https://h2020-demeter.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">DEMETER</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a>, <a href="https://www.atlas-h2020.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">ATLAS</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a><u> and <a href="https://www.smartagrihubs.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--icon ecl-link--icon-after"><span class="ecl-link__label">SmartAgriHubs</span><svg class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--xs ecl-link__icon" focusable="false" aria-hidden="true" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><use xlink:href="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/icons/sprites/icons.svg#external" /></svg></a></u>),</li> <li><a href="https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/agriculture-forestry-and-rural-areas/digital-transformation-agriculture-and-rural-areas_en">Research and Innovation on digitalisation of agriculture under Horizon Europe</a>, including dedicated calls related to the use of data technologies and drones in agriculture in Cluster 4 (Digital, industry, space) and Cluster 6 (Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and the environment), or the Horizon Europe partnership on “Agriculture of Data”,</li> <li>Digital innovation hubs, <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/digital-2022-cloud-ai-02-tef-agrifood">testing and experimentation facilities for artificial intelligence in agri-food</a> and the <a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/common-european-data-spaces-agriculture-and-mobility">common European agriculture data space</a> under the Digital Europe Programme.  </li> </ul> <p>The Commission will take into account R&I priorities concerning digitalisation for agriculture and rural areas identified in <a href="https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/events/2023-eu-agriresearch-conference-2023-05-31_en">EU AgriResearch Conference</a> 2023 when drafting the future calls for projects for 2025-2027.</p></div> </div> <div class="ewcms-page-section ecl-u-mb-2xl ecl-u-bg-primary-5"> <div class="ecl-u-pa-m"> <a id="paragraph_55"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Enhancing rural areas accessibility through the use of drones </h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The Drone Strategy 2.0 adopted on 29 November 2022 involves all parties concerned at local, regional and national levels to make sure that safe and secure drone operations are deployed, both in urban and rural areas in a fair and sustainable manner. </p> <p>In addition to utility services (field inspections and measurements), drones can improve accessibility in remote rural areas, e.g. with the delivery of small goods.</p> <p>More about the <a href="https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news/drone-strategy-creating-large-scale-european-drone-market-2022-11-29_en">Drone Strategy: Creating a large-scale European drone market</a> </p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-socialshare"> <div class="ecl-social-media-share"> <p class="ecl-social-media-share__description"> Share this page </p> <script type="application/json">{"service":"share","version":"2.0","networks":["twitter","facebook","linkedin","email","more"],"display":"icons","stats":true,"selection":true}</script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="ecl-site-footer" data-logo-area-label-en="Home - European Union" ><div class="ecl-container ecl-site-footer__container"><div class="ecl-site-footer__row"><div class="ecl-site-footer__column"><div class="ecl-site-footer__section ecl-site-footer__section--site-info"><div 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