Dates (start-end): 03/2022 – 03/2026
Client (customer): DG AGRI for Agriculture and Regional Development; DG REGIO for Regional and Urban Policy
Project description: The Joint Research Centre, in collaboration with other EC Services and external partners, is entrusted to define and implement the Rural Observatory, addressing the following specific objectives:
- Collection, production and analysis of rural indicators on economic, social and environmental dimensions at different geographic scales. Data will be gathered, produced, visualised and analysed, when possible, taking into consideration also the temporal dimension: historical, present and future (spatial and statistical) information.
- Setting up a Rural Data Platform which provides access to a broad collection of rural indicators and combines attractive visualisations (graphs and maps among other features) into interactive tools. This web platform will bridge data sources and potential users (policy makers, specialized and broader audience).
- Elaboration of three analytical papers per year with focus on important rural topics.
- Integration of potential contributions from external stakeholders and
Roles & Responsibilities in the project: Coordinator; data Scientist and territorial analyst
- Development, implementation and perform quantitatively analysis of socio-economic and demographic indicators with focused on EU rural and remote areas. In particular, the assessment of rural population trends, time series analysis of GVA and employment, GDP and incomes, agricultural production systems and farmland abandonment.
- Statistical and policy analysis contributing to the European Communication for the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. In particular, access to services, tourism, economy, land use or internet connection indicators were developed, analysed and mapped, stressing the demographic, socioeconomic and environmental challenges and opportunities that some regions are facing, especially remote rural areas in the EU.
- In support of the Rural vision and under the framework of the Rural Observatory, a European assessment of renewable energies in the EU’s rural areas focused on solar energy, onshore wind energy and hydropower was performed. It highlights the current contribution of rural areas to the EU electricity production from these RES, while exploring the technical potential production that is still untapped. Beyond their energy contribution, the report also describes how rural areas can exploit their economic, social and environmental benefits from the production of renewables.
