On 23–26 June 2026, Dr. Monika Belhaj participated in the joint final conference of the GRANULAR and RUSTIK projects, followed by the GRANULAR Consortium Meeting, both held in Brussels, Belgium.
The joint conference brought together around 100 participants from various European countries, including researchers, policy makers, project partners, and representatives of European and international institutions. The participation of representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the OECD, and other organisations added significant depth to the discussions. It strengthened the exchange between scientific research, policy development, and practical implementation.
As a joint event of the GRANULAR and RUSTIK projects, the conference provided an important platform for discussing the future of rural and regional development in Europe. Participants addressed key challenges related to rural transformation, territorial attractiveness, food systems, sustainability, data use, and evidence-based policy making. The presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions created valuable opportunities to exchange project results, share experiences from different countries, and reflect on how research-based knowledge can better support local communities and decision-makers.
Following the conference, Dr. Monika Belhaj participated in the GRANULAR Consortium Meeting. The meeting focused on the final stages of the project, including progress updates, practice abstracts, story maps, policy recommendations, and the further use of the project’s digital platform. Particular attention was given to the project’s legacy, the dissemination and exploitation of results at local and EU levels, and the sustainability of networks developed during the project.
During the consortium meeting, partners also reflected on the usefulness of GRANULAR data from the perspective of researchers and Living Labs, as well as on ways to present results, data and recommendations to local stakeholders clearly and practically. Discussions also covered future cooperation among consortium partners, including possible next steps for maintaining partnerships and preparing new joint project initiatives.
More about the GRANULAR project: https://www.ruralgranular.eu/