According to Ag-Press.eu, the European Commission has launched a new interactive guide that presents all the funding opportunities available at EU level for rural areas.

EU funds and programs that can boost sustainable growth and well-being in rural areas abound. However, identifying the most suitable option is not always straightforward for potential beneficiaries.

The rural toolkit brings together funding opportunities from 26 different EU funds, from the Common Agricultural Policy to the Cohesion Funds, Horizon Europe and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. In just a few clicks, rural entrepreneurs and local authorities can find out the best funding available to help them develop their project.

This recently launched comprehensive gateway to EU funding and support initiatives available for EU rural areas aims to equip applicants with the knowledge and tools to respond to local needs. Beneficiaries can be local authorities, institutions, businesses, associations and individuals.

FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR RURAL AREAS IN ALL EU LANGUAGES

The new tool offers automatic translations in all EU languages. An interactive funding search tool allows users to filter existing schemes based on several criteria:

their role or organization;

the activity they want to implement (eg improving infrastructure, addressing societal challenges, strengthening the local economy, increasing climate resilience and sustainability);

the type of support they seek: grants, financial instruments (such as loans and guarantees) or technical assistance such as consulting services, training, mentoring programs, support networks, etc.

After narrowing down the choices to the most relevant options, key information about current programs and initiatives is readily available in printable fact sheets. They explain how each option is relevant to rural areas and include practical details, links to relevant calls and contact points.

TIPS, GUIDANCE AND PATTERNS

The Rural Toolkit also provides extensive guidance on how to make the most of the opportunities available. Users can get inspired and explore a wide range of examples and case studies, discovering how EU funds and support mechanisms have already been successfully implemented in rural areas across the EU.

Many inspiring stories are displayed on a clickable map – for example, the Biovilla cooperative in Portugal has become a major player in sustainability and environmental protection by promoting nature tourism, educational programs and landscape restoration activities thanks to a combination of private and EU funds.

Following a similar approach, the Meridaunia organization in Italy promoted rural, environmental and cultural tourism experiences alongside local agricultural products, thus enhancing the competitiveness and reputation of the Monti Dauni area. In Romania, EU funds co-financed the establishment of a wooden toy factory that now exports worldwide and created more jobs.

The resources section provides guidance documents, reports and manuals on EU funding opportunities for specific sectors, including broadband, culture, education, energy, environment and tourism. Additional background material can be found on the FAQ and About pages.

The Rural Toolkit is part of the Commission's long-term vision for stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas in the EU.

The EU's rural areas cover 83% of the EU's territory and are home to 30% of the EU's population. In 2021, the European Commission presented its long-term vision for the EU's rural areas, identifying the challenges and concerns they face, as well as the many opportunities available.

In addition to all EU funds that contribute to supporting prosperous rural areas, the vision is based on two complementary pillars for its implementation:

The Rural Action Plan and the Rural Pact. The action plan proposes four areas of action for the European Commission to boost stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous EU rural areas. The Rural Pact is a cooperation framework between authorities and interested parties who want to act for rural development at European, national, regional and local level.

Detailed statistics and analysis on EU rural areas, covering economic, social and environmental aspects, are available on the Rural Observatory. (Photo: Freepik)