• Rural policy responses do not mean only those of rural development policy only. Cohesion and Regional funds and their synergies should be made more explicit beyond their respective policy boundaries • Rural development policy does not mean supporting mainly the agricultural sector and farm incomes but should, equally focus on rural society more broadly, the rural economy and rural environment • A EU long-term vision for rural areas should be based upon the overarching objective of well-being in rural areas.
Gather relevant knowledge and opinions that contribute to the formulation of recommendations for future policies relevant to EU rural areas. It will create a science-society-policy interface which provides a hub for knowledge and policy.
• We provide a typology of communities based on their access to common-pool resources • The influence of capitals and climatic shocks on livelihoods is spatially variable • The type of community modifies livelihood opportunities and coping strategies • Climatic shocks drive precarious livelihoods, except in best-connected communities