On March 25–29, 2025, researchers Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė and Dr. Monika Belhaj from the Institute of Economics and Rural Development (EKVI) participated in a scientific study visit in the Pays Pyrénées Méditerranée region, France. The internship aimed to deepen the understanding of mobility challenges and solutions in rural areas by analyzing the experiences and best practices of French partners.
In addition to the Lithuanian representatives, researchers and experts from Italy, Spain, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium attended the event. During the meeting, the French partners introduced the living lab operating in the Pays Pyrénées Méditerranée region – an innovative experimental environment where new solutions are tested and implemented through collaboration with local governments, communities, and businesses.
The meeting covered various aspects of rural mobility. On the first day, the focus was on civic engagement and local sustainable mobility initiatives, including community involvement in decision-making and the analysis of intermodality options. On the second day, the primary focus was on mobility in remote areas, particularly challenges related to service accessibility in mountainous regions, which primarily affect elderly residents. Issues regarding access to healthcare, culture, and public services were discussed. On the third day, the challenges posed by seasonal tourism on mobility were analysed, data collection methods for mobility monitoring were presented, and the best European practices for improving tourist mobility were explored.
The visit not only provided valuable insights from international partners but also facilitated new collaborations that will contribute to the implementation of innovative mobility solutions in rural areas of Lithuania.
This study visit was organised as part of implementing the Horizon Europe GRANULAR project. More information about the project: https://www.ruralgranular.eu/.