"The Erasmus+ programme as a tool for European rural development" is a project of the type of training course designed by young people and rural youth workers from 4 countries of the program and 1 third country associated with the program that has the purpose of contributing positively to the # EuropeanYearOfYouth offering a theoretical and practical approach to the issue of European rural development through the potential of the Erasmus+ programme for a total number of 20 youth workers from rural areas in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus and Turkey. Being rural areas a main sub-theme within the priority "A new impetus for European democracy" of the European Commission for the period from 2019 to 2014, our project wishes to support youth workers in rural areas, unaware of the innumerable changes positive that the Erasmus+ program can bring to their respective communities. In some way, "The Erasmus+ programme as a tool for European rural development" is connected to the Rural Pact as a cooperation framework (https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push- european-democracy/long-term-vision-rural-areas_es#theruralpact) and the Rural Action Plan of the European Union (https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push -european-democracy/long-term-vision-rural-areas_en#eururalactionplan). As recommended by rural youth and youth workers involved in the preparation phase of this project, 5 national investigations were carried out to correctly understand the problems and needs of rural communities (always from a youth perspective) from each participating country. It was agreed that the main problem was an even more acute lack of youth opportunities in these environments and that the main need was the introduction of an innovative methodology that could make these areas more visible and not only at the provincial, regional or national level, but also in European and even international terms: something that the Erasmus+ programme can perfectly offer. Some of the results of those investigations are as follows: - In terms of lack of opportunities, the existence of such a vacuum was demonstrated through official statements made by entities such as the Council of the European Union, which on May 26, 2020 announced a series of conclusions for the Member States in favor of the European rural youth for whom he requested greater visibility of programs promoting active citizenship such as Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (https://www.consilium.europa.eu/it/press/press-releases/2020/05/26/ raising-opportunities-for-young-people-in-rural-and-remote-areas-the-council-adopts-conclusions/); - On the other hand, the need to empower or re-empower much more was evident, for example, a youth from Extremadura who is frequently forced to leave the region in search of a decent present and future job and who, in Compared to its national equals, it also presents lower internationalization rates (https://www.hoy.es/extremadura/region-condiciones-atraer-20211124072324-nt.html). Bearing in mind a SMART approach (Specific - Measurable - Achievable - Realistic - Time-related), the objectives of the project are: 1) Attract 20 rural youth workers from 4 European Union countries and 1 non-EU country to meaningful civic, economic, social, cultural and political participation in Badajoz (Spain) and Pafos (Cyprus); 2) Connect people and institutions that face similar problems in order to create new networking opportunities that benefit their work in relation to youth work for 24 months; 3) Empower 20 rural youth workers from 4 program countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Cyprus and 1 third country associated with the program such as Turkey, encouraging them to be active members of the Erasmus+ community for the benefit of the rural populations to which they belong .