PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The central idea of EC4RURAL is to change the paradigm of local relations to boost Energy Communities in rural municipalities, which in Europe, despite their wealth of resources, are in a disadvantaged situation: rural shrinking, less access to basic services and employment, which, on numerous occasions, translates into energy poverty of its inhabitants derived from the current high energy prices. EC4RURAL will help to deepen and transform the relationships between local and regional authorities and Local Action Groups to contribute to the Clean Energy Transition (CET) in Europe, while ensuring the participation of all stakeholders, making sure they are not left behind. The project therefore aims to enable citizens and local actors to be part of or benefit from the CET processes led by Rural Energy Communities through renewable energy production and the sale of surplus energy. EC4RURAL action, therefore, is placed in the orbit of changes in consumer and business behaviours, to facilitate increased dialogue and joint investment by public and private actors (unattainable on an individual level), as established by the European Green Deal. EC4RURAL will also contribute to rural development within the new Common Agricultural Policy, as well as to the European Rural Pact and the Territorial Cohesion Policy. EC4RURAL will implement this new paradigm shift through 2 pilots in Estonia and Spain, with a total of 34 case studies in different rural municipalities, aiming to sow the seed of replicability, not only in the participating regions, but also at European level, through the communication, dissemination and exploitation activities of the network of external partners and collaborators.