The European Commission launched on Thursday 26 January a new rural observatory that provides users with a wealth of information at the click of a button on a given “rural” area, as well as on areas classified as “urban” or “intermediate” in EU countries.
For example, data are available on population density, average distance to health facilities and broadband speed in rural areas (see EUROPE 13084/13).
The observatory allows for comparisons between different territories to reflect the multiple dimensions and diversity of rural areas. It will be used to inform policy making on rural areas, to assess the impact of EU initiatives in various policy areas and to monitor progress on indicators relevant to the EU Rural Action Plan and the Rural Pact.
This living platform, managed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), will be regularly updated with new indicators and data visualisation. New collaborative tools will also be added to the EU rural vision website to better serve the needs of the rural pact community and all those interested in taking action for rural areas. More info: https://aeur.eu/f/535 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)