"It seems that a major update of the DEGURBA classification (which is used for the common indicator ‘Participants from rural areas’) is planned based on the 2020 census results, and that the LAU classification (Local Administrative Units) is updated every year. Should we simply use the version of DEGURBA that will be in place at the outset of the programming period, and this, throughout the entire 2021-2027 period, or should we always report data based on the latest published classification?
Member States may indeed use the DEGURBA classification in place at the beginning of the round for the entire programming period. DEGURBA is based both on the population grid and the LAU list. Since 2018, DEGURBA is updated annually in April year x with the LAU lists with reference date 31st December year x-2. The population grid will be updated following the 2020 Census population grid. Under the assumption that it will be available early 2024, it will be used for the DEGURBA calculation of the LAU list 2023 (reference date 31st December 2022, to be published in its final version in April 2024). The latest LAU list available is available on: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/nuts/local-administrative-units (until 2016, two levels of LAU existed (upper level formerly NUTS level 4, and lower level formerly NUTS level 5), but since 2017, only one LAU level has been kept).