2nd Regional Stakeholder Meeting - Cantabria Region (ES)

On January 17, 2025, the second Regional Stakeholder Meeting for the INSPIRE project took place in Cantabria, hosted by the Regional Ministry of Economy and Finance and European Funds of the Government of Cantabria. The meeting gathered key stakeholders and representatives from the Cantabrian Network for Rural Development, European information points, Local Development Agents (ADL), local administrations, and the General Directorate of Economy and Finance of the Government of Cantabria, to discuss progress and upcoming activities within the framework of the project. 

The discussion focused on the project's current status, sharing insights from a recent study visit to Germany in December, and planning the upcoming visit of project partners to Cantabria in May. Stakeholders were encouraged to identify and propose best practices currently in development that align with the project's objectives. However, challenges emerged, including the difficulty in aligning different levels of governance, the need for a clearer understanding of the smart village concept, and skepticism towards digitalization.

Despite these challenges, the meeting highlighted the shared concerns of European rural territories and reinforced the need for collaboration. Participants agreed on the importance of identifying digitalization-driven good practices, particularly innovative and EU-funded initiatives, to showcase during the upcoming partner visit. They also committed to facilitating the exchange of information to ensure well-organized visits and meaningful discussions.

With concrete next steps outlined, the meeting reaffirmed Cantabria’s role in driving smart policy development for rural communities, reinforcing its commitment to the objectives of the INSPIRE project.