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This issue of the EU Rural Review showcases rural communities across Europe taking the initiative to find practical solutions to challenges they face and seize new opportunities.

It explores how digital and social innovation can be used in new, creative ways to improve basic services in rural areas. It further looks at national and regional approaches to creating an enabling environment, as well as how the Rural Development Programmes can catalyse rural service innovation.

The content of this edition has been informed by the broader ENRD thematic work on ‘Smart Villages’.

This issue is dedicated to the theme of ‘improving RDP implementation’ and aims to help RDP authorities and other rural development stakeholders understand and focus on important RDP requirements and implementation tools. It addresses issues such as keeping RDPs focused on their agreed outcomes, simplifying their implementation, boosting financial performance, and launching Operational Groups.

This issue examines the importance of stakeholder involvement in rural development and the methods that can be used to support it. It provides information and guidance on the main types of stakeholder groups in rural development, the EU legal basis of stakeholder involvement and ways in which it can contribute to rural development policy. The issue provides examples of good stakeholder involvement.