Rural areas in the EU face greater levels of energy poverty and higher spending on energy. On the plus side, rural households are leading in renovations for efficiency. To meet energy needs, rural areas would be best served by place-based energy solutions.

The European Commission’s Energy Poverty Advisory Hub has launched a call to support local governments in designing and implementing local actions addressing energy poverty. Apply between 16 February and 31 March 2026.

A new publication by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) examines differences in innovation between urban and rural areas. It reveals significant urban-rural disparities, with some rural areas standing out as innovation hubs.

A new study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU highlights the problems facing rural housing. To make housing policy more inclusive and resilient, the report calls for coordinated action in three areas – stronger legislation and standards, increased finance and investment, and enhanced capacity, data and public support.

The Rural Pact Support Office (RPSO) enters a new chapter as the European Commission launches the next phase of facilitation support from January 2026 to December 2027, building on three years of experience in advancing the implementation of the EU’s rural vision. What began as a new framework for dialogue and cooperation has matured into a stable and recognised community, bringing together public authorities, civil society, businesses, researchers and citizens committed to the future of rural Europe.