Mountain services (infrastructure, ITC, social/health services, cultural services): common criteria for drawing up inventories, definition of quality and quantity markers, situation in the 13 test areas, identification of transferable successes and innovative solutions; proposed political recommendations at local and European levels. • Role of territorial groups in promoting the quality of agrifood and artisan products and of natural mountain resources: transferable successes and proposed political recommendations at local and European levels. • Regular maintenance of natural resources: identification of innovative models based on existing examples (land management contracts); identification of successes and proposed political recommendations on a European level (rural development plans). Overall objective / Objectif général Cooperation between mountain areas and solutions to natural handicaps. The project will be based on partners’ experience and will aim to identify methods for resolving economic handicaps and for managing land in mountain areas as well as transferable factors for success linked to collaboration between different sectors (especially the public and private sectors). Identification and dissemination of such methods should provide additional tools for use by local groups to achieve sustainable development in mountain areas and/or to hold back the drift away from the land. Expected results / Résultats attendus The expected results are the identification of new strategies and tools for achieving sustainable development in mountain areas, especially regarding the three above-mentioned strategic topics, and the strengthening of exchanges between different mountain areas in Europe. The long-term impact will be a marked contribution to sustainable development of mountain regions and active participation by them in European development.