At the request of the RUMRA (Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas) intergroup, the European Parliament adopted on 3rd October 2018 a resolution on addressing the specific needs of rural, mountainous and remote areas.

The motion calls for coordination of EU policies to ensure the development of rural territories in order to tackle the economic, environmental and social challenges facing every part of Europe and rural areas in particular. To foster cohesion and prevent the risk of territorial fragmentation in the future, the motion suggests the establishment of a Smart Villages Pact, with a view to ensuring a more effective, integrated and coordinated approach to EU policies with an impact on rural areas.