How to make our rural areas more attractive, vibrant and dynamic? Rural areas provide us with our food, homes, jobs, and essential ecosystem services. But we need to further boost the development of rural areas by implementing the Smart Villages concept, which responds to the challenges of abandonment and the aging population of rural areas, as well as the growing digital divide between rural and urban areas.

The conference will provide answers on how the Long Term Vision for Rural Areas, recently proposed by the European Commission, will mobilise public authorities and stakeholders to act on the needs and aspirations of rural residents.

The International conference: SMART VILLAGES FOR A DIGITAL, GREEN AND RESILIENT EUROPE is also one of the official high level events of Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.