{"id":236010,"date":"2025-10-19T10:11:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T10:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/nrp-federalismo\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T10:31:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T10:31:41","slug":"nrp-federalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swissfederalism.ch\/en\/nrp-federalism\/","title":{"rendered":"NRP and federalism: strengthening cohesion between cities and the countryside"},"content":{"rendered":"

NRP and federalism: strengthening cohesion between cities and the countryside<\/span><\/h1>\n

by Andrea Schenone \u2013 Founder and President of the Swiss Federalism Association<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Published in Montagna<\/em> magazine, October 2025 issue<\/mark><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Titelbild.10.2025<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Regional Policy (NRP) of Switzerland<\/strong> promotes balanced and sustainable development across urban, rural, and mountainous areas, reducing regional disparities and improving economic and social competitiveness. Thanks to Swiss federalism, which grants broad autonomy to Cantons and Municipalities, the NRP adapts to local specificities, fostering dialogue between the Confederation, local authorities, and civil society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Projects such as Smart Villages<\/strong> and collaboration with the Swiss Alpine Club for Mountain Regions (SAB)<\/strong> improve mobility, digitalization, and sustainability, creating synergies between cities and the countryside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Objectives of the NRP<\/span><\/h2>\n

The NRP aims to strengthen the competitiveness of less-developed regions by promoting innovation and interregional cooperation. It encourages collaboration between cities and rural areas through projects that integrate resources and skills\u2014such as digital infrastructure or sustainable tourism\u2014responding to local needs and reducing territorial disparities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Implementation tools<\/span><\/h2>\n

The NRP supports regional and interregional development projects, public-private partnerships, and cross-border cooperation, with special attention to mountainous and rural regions. Concrete examples include enhancing digital connectivity in remote villages and sustainable mobility solutions. Thanks to federalism, Cantons and Municipalities can adapt these initiatives to their specificities, strengthening cohesion between territories.<\/span><\/p>\n

The role of federalism<\/span><\/h2>\n

Swiss federalism allows Cantons and Municipalities to have broad decision-making powers, enabling flexible adaptation of the NRP to local needs. This approach fosters continuous dialogue between the Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities, with shared projects that promote mutual development and reduce inequalities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Focus on Smart Villages<\/span><\/h2>\n

Smart Villages<\/strong>, a cornerstone of the NRP strategy, transform rural and mountainous communities through digital technologies and cross-sector collaboration. The NRP funds pilot projects for smart services and sustainable mobility.<\/span><\/p>\n