Smart Villages and Rural Sustainability: An Integrated Governance Model Within the European Framework and Its Application to the Spanish Case

In the context of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, smart villages are increasingly recognized as a promising strategy to address challenges associated with excessive urban concentration. However, the key factor driving demographic shifts toward rural areas is the strengthening of social capacities linked to governance and inter-territorial collaboration between municipalities and cities. Promoting robust urban-rural socio-cultural relationships and participatory frameworks is therefore essential, yet these elements remain underemphasized in the institutional design of smart regions, despite their critical role in fostering territorial cohesion. This research examines the dimensions of the Smart Village concept within the European policy framework, using the specific challenges and strategic responses of the Spanish case as a primary reference point. It aims to assess how smart rural development can help reduce disparities between rural and urban areas by considering core rural challenges, including demographic imbalances, intensified climate impacts, deteriorating infrastructure, and a lack of digital skills, that currently limit the sustainability of rural communities, particularly in countries with widely dispersed populations like Spain.