Spain

The vice-president leads the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The Ministry addresses demographic and environmental challenges in rural areas, such as depopulation and balanced territorial development. MITECO oversees the ‘2030 National Strategy for the Demographic Challenge‘ and ‘Plan 130‘, in coordination with other relevant Ministries. 

The Ministry of Agriculture coordinates the implementation of the CAP, including LEADER and Smart Villages, supporting rural livelihoods, sustainable agricultural practices, and infrastructure. 

The Vice President of the regional government is driving the coordination of all regional ministries (e.g. finance, social affairs, agriculture) to implement the Regional Strategy to combat Rural Depopulation 2021-2031 (additional information here). The Strategy is overseen by a dedicated coordinating body under the responsibility of the Commissioner for the Demographic Challenge.

The regional Vice President, supported by a dedicated Commissioner for the demographic challenge, ensures the mobilisation and involvement of all regional government departments in the development of the law and strategy, as well as in the implementation of its actions.

The 2030 National Strategy for the Demographic Challenge and ‘Plan 130 to combat the demographic challenge‘ aim to tackle rural depopulation and foster sustainable growth. The 2030 National Strategy provides the overall framework for revitalising rural areas. 

‘Plan 130’ translates this vision into action with 130 specific measures across priority areas, targeting infrastructure investment, digitalisation, local business support, and ecological sustainability. It involves coordinated efforts across various ministries and aligns with the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan to ensure that small municipalities benefit from a green, digital, and inclusive recovery.

In Castilla-La Mancha, the Law to Combat Depopulation introduces fiscal incentives, enhanced social services, and infrastructure investment to create a favourable environment for businesses and families. The Law has a multisectoral and cross-cutting approach in its actions, ensuring guarantees for rural residents, with a special focus on combating depopulation and a commitment to addressing demographic challenges in derived planning and sectoral regulations. 

The Regional Strategy Against Depopulation 2021-2031 is the main planning instrument addressing the development of the 26 sparsely populated and at risk of depopulation rural areas in the region. This covers 721 municipalities (79% of the total), with a population of 438 024 inhabitants (21% of the total), occupying 73% of the regional territory. 

The Strategy covers four main areas of action (public services, economic, social, and territorial), with four strategic objectives: access to basic public services; economic; social; and territorial cohesion.

The Catalan Rural Agenda launched in 2022 lays down the rural vision of the region, identifying the needs, challenges and opportunities in rural areas to be addressed to ensure living and development conditions. More than 1 200 individuals and over 350 organisations participated in the drafting process. The document identifies 275 actions, organised around seven objectives. 

The implementation of Catalonia’s Rural Agenda is facilitated through an action plan outlining the measures to be taken or continued by the various departments of the regional government to coordinate the deployment of funds in rural areas, including EU funds. 

The Demographic and Territorial Sustainability Strategy represents a holistic approach to rural and demographic challenges. By addressing a broad spectrum of issues, from birth rates and migration to quality of life and economic activity, it integrates both sectoral and cross-cutting perspectives, emphasises multi-level governance and the creation of synergies between urban and rural areas. 

The Regional Government of Andalusia formally committed on 19 February 2024 to contribute to the Rural Pact by engaging to design its regional rural vision ‘Rural Development Strategy of Andalusia – Horizon 2030’. 

The Strategy will involve a thorough assessment of the medium- and long-term needs of rural municipalities, prioritising the development of new measures to be planned. This will primarily involve directing funding mechanisms and exploring other potential sources of funding for this purpose.

Coordination among ministries for the expected actions under ‘Plan 130 to combat the demographic challenge’ is managed through the multi-level governance model established by the General Secretariat for the Demographic Challenge. This model is supported by the Delegate Commission for the Demographic Challenge, which plays a central role in aligning efforts across various ministries, facilitating a cross-sectoral approach to rural issues. 

The Sectoral Conference on Demographic Challenge serves as a platform for dialogue and coordination between the national government and the regions. 

The General Secretariat for the Demographic Challenge manages the implementation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) resources devoted to tackling population decline. The ERDF invests EUR 29 million in four regions in Spain (Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla and León, and Aragon) to support integrated and participatory strategies in areas that are losing population. 

The resources are allocated via the pluri-regional programme of Spain and managed by the provinces under the coordination of the General Secretariat for the Demographic Challenge. 

In Castilla-La Mancha, the Regional Council for the Development of the Rural Environment and Combatting Depopulation brings together regional authorities, local governments, and relevant stakeholders to develop and monitor policies that target rural decline.

The Interministerial Commission of the Catalan Rural Agenda brings together all regional ministries to ensure coherent policy alignment and coordination. It ensures the monitoring and fulfilment of the objectives set out in the agenda, proposes government actions to promote territorial balance and economic and social development, and oversees that no government action runs counter to the objectives of rural development.

The Territorial Coordination Group facilitates the implementation of the Rural Agenda and boosts the participation of all relevant actors on the territory in its implementation. This coordination body, established by the regional LEADER network, ARCA, brings together public and private entities to work collaboratively towards common goals.

The Internal governance mechanisms are based on regular coordination meetings between the Commissioner for the demographic challenge and all regional ministries involved in the implementation of the law and strategy. The Commissioner supports capacity building among civil servants and contracted personnel to implement the actions needed in rural areas. 

The coordination of action and resources (including EU funds) to support the implementation of the regional Rural Agenda relies on two main governance bodies:

Spain has integrated rural proofing into its public policy evaluation through the 2022 Law on the Evaluation of Public Policies. This includes a ‘rural guarantee mechanism’ to ensure that rural challenges, such as depopulation and demographic shifts, are considered in policy design and assessment. 

The law mandates that rural impacts be evaluated alongside other criteria, such as employment, social justice, and sustainability, as part of the broader measures outlined in Spain's Recovery and Resilience Plan. This approach aims to systematically incorporate rural perspectives into policy formulation and implementation.

Rural Proofing is institutionalised through a comprehensive approach outlined in the regional law, which mandates that new regulations, plans, or programmes undergo a ‘demographic impact report’ to evaluate their effects on rural areas. The law recognises the importance of intervening early in the depopulation process to mitigate negative impacts and enhance positive outcomes in vulnerable territories.

The territorial impact assessment informs the overall policy planning process of the public administration. The demographic impact report is structured in several blocks including context, ex-ante situation, analysis of the measures, impact, and recommendations to improve the policy planning. The report should as a result indicate whether the proposed regulation/policy has a negative, positive or neutral impact.

The Territorial Cohesion Forum is a platform for dialogue and collaboration between the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) and various stakeholders, including social, economic, and civil society representatives. It facilitates engagement by consulting, informing, and involving stakeholders on issues related to territorial cohesion and demographic challenges. The forum's purpose is to shape an inclusive agenda that integrates small municipalities into a green, digital recovery, while promoting gender equality.

The Forum on Culture and Rural Areas was launched by the Ministry of Culture and Sport in 2017. It meets annually and serves as a platform to enhance cultural and social development in rural areas by fostering collaboration among urban and rural communities. Participants include government officials, regional and local authorities, cultural organisations, civil society representatives, academic experts and other stakeholders. 

The Territorial Coordination Group – a coordination body implementing the ‘Rural Pact’ of Catalonia – was established in 2023. It is formed by seven entities to support the coordination and animation of the stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Rural Agenda. This representation includes: the Association of Rural Women; Association of Municipalities of Catalonia; Association of Micro Towns of Catalonia; Network of Cooperative Athenaeums of Catalonia; Advisory Council for Sustainable Development; Association of Scouts and Guides of Catalonia; and ARCA.

In Castilla-La Mancha, the Regional Council for the Development of the Rural Environment and Combatting Depopulation brings together regional authorities, local governments, and relevant stakeholders to develop and monitor policies that target rural decline. 

The CAP Network in Spain integrates during the 2023-2027 CAP programming period both agricultural policies (Pillar 1) and rural development policies (Pillar 2) into a single, open platform. It includes a regional antenna programme that adapts CAP activities to local needs across various regions. These antennas facilitate local engagement by identifying regional needs, organising experience-sharing events, and collecting best practices.