The SUSRUR consortium successfully held its final project meeting on 27 November 2025 in Kaunas, Lithuania, hosted by the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). The full-day meeting brought together project partners both onsite and online to review progress, discuss remaining tasks, and outline final steps before project closure.
The meeting began with a welcoming introduction and an overview of the project's achievements, followed by updates on the project’s budget and administrative milestones. Partners reflected on their experiences throughout the project, acknowledging both challenges and the strong collaboration that developed over time. The project surpassed expectations by supporting 110 SMEs, exceeding the original target of 100.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the financial reporting process, third-party payments, and the upcoming audit requirements.
The meeting continued with an update on the three SUSRUR Open Calls, where partners reviewed results, completion rates, and lessons learned. The team also discussed solutions for issues such as language barriers and document verification challenges faced by SMEs in certain regions.
Project outputs were another key focus of the meeting. Partners reviewed the progress of the Sustainability Toolkit, Best Practices Booklet, and Roadmap. Updates were also provided on the SUSRUR E-Learning Platform and the series of training webinars, which have been made available for SMEs completing at least 80% of the sessions.
The day concluded with discussions on follow-up actions, final reporting timelines, and next steps for ensuring a smooth close-out of all project activities. Partners also had the opportunity to join an interactive VR experience at the National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, followed by a project dinner.
The SUSRUR consortium now moves into the final phase of reporting and dissemination, completing a project that has significantly contributed to strengthening sustainable rural tourism across Europe.
