A report called for a 'rural cohesion policy' that was more attuned to contemporary realities in Europe. It called for tailored and locally managed approaches to stimulate more effective exploitation of rural potential.
Source: Andrew Copus and Lisa Hornstrom (eds.), The New Rural Europe: Towards rural cohesion policy, Nordregio (Nordic Centre for Spatial Development, Stockholm)
Links: Report | Summary | Newcastle University press release
Date: 2011-Dec
A new book examined the experiences of regional communities in Europe that had experienced de-industrialization. It considered the effects on collective cohesion and on the built environment.
Source: John Kirk, Sylvie Contrepois, and Steve Jefferys (eds.), Changing Work and Community Identities in European Regions: Perspectives on the past and present, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
A report said that rural local councils in England received 50 per cent less government grant per head of population than councils in urban areas..
Source: Jude Ranasinghe, Costs of Providing Services in Rural Areas, Sparsity Partnership for Authorities Delivering Rural Services
Links: Report | RSN press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined the impact of low aspirations on young people in rural areas. Significant influences on young people's aspirations included: the cost and availability of transport to access post-16 education, training, and employment; parents and positive role models; the availability of employment opportunities; school-business links; and young people's own attitudes towards risk.
Source: Thomas Spielhofer, Sarah Golden, and Kelly Evans, Young People's Aspirations in Rural Areas, National Foundation for Educational Research
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Aug
The European Commission published a briefing on the emerging findings and policy recommendations from a project examining the challenges for regional development in rural Europe posed by globalization.
Source: Developing Europe s Rural Regions in the Era of Globalization, European Commission
Links: Briefing
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined rural poverty in Europe. In many countries poverty rates were higher in rural areas. The main contributory factors were demographic issues (out-migration and an ageing population), remoteness and the accompanying limited access to infrastructure and services, lower levels and quality of education, lower employment rates, and less effective social protection.
Source: Theadora Koller, Rural Poverty and Health Systems in the WHO European Region, World Health Organisation (Regional Office for Europe)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A report said that rural communities could and should be a 'test bed' for the further development of the government's 'Big Society' approach – for example, through community asset ownership and management schemes, and peer-to-peer learning networks.
Source: The Rural Big Society, ResPublica/Commission for Rural Communities
Links: Report | ResPublica press release
Date: 2011-Feb