Throughout the month of July, the Municipality of Lezhë hosted two key participatory events—Living Lab 1 and Living Lab 2—as part of the SMART LAND project, funded by the European Union through the Interreg IPA South Adriatic 2021–2027 Programme. These activities brought together local stakeholders to co-design strategies for greener, more inclusive, and digitally connected mobility in rural and suburban areas.

Living Lab 1 – Driving Sustainable Mobility in Rural Lezhë and Beyond

Held on July 14, 2025, the first Living Lab gathered 51 participants for an open discussion on the current mobility challenges in Lezhë and the broader rural context. Participants included representatives of urban transport services, civil society organizations, environmental experts, youth groups, public officials, and residents from the Administrative Units.

Topics addressed during the session included:

• Introduction to the SMART LAND project and the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme;
• Analysis of local mobility conditions;
• Review of best practices from Europe;
• Exploration of innovative solutions for both urban and rural transport.

The event served as a launchpad for collective reflection and knowledge sharing, ensuring that local voices were integrated into the design of future mobility policies.

Living Lab 2 – Aligning with EU Guidelines for Inclusive Suburban Transport

Building on the outcomes of the first session, Living Lab 2 took place on July 24, 2025, focusing on the alignment of local mobility strategies with EU guidelines on sustainable mobility, accessibility, and digitalization. The workshop brought together 45 representatives, particularly from the Administrative Units of Lezhë, who are directly involved in implementing these changes.

This session emphasized the importance of coordinated action among municipalities, public institutions, and the private sector in developing effective, inclusive, and eco-friendly suburban transport systems. The results will feed into a set of guidelines to be shared with local authorities, policymakers, and other SMART LAND pilot areas.

Together, the two Living Labs mark a significant step forward in co-creating mobility solutions tailored to the needs of rural communities in Lezhë. With active participation from diverse stakeholders, SMART LAND is setting the foundation for a more sustainable, accessible, and digitally enhanced transport future in the South Adriatic region.