How can we improve the quality of life in the EU’s rural areas, stimulate economic growth, and “create new opportunities” for the people who live there?
The European Commission has been looking into these issues and will present its response in a communication to be adopted on Wednesday 30 June by the College of Commissioners.
According to a draft of the document obtained by EUROPE, the communication will mainly detail actions to be considered to make Europe’s rural areas “stronger, more connected, resilient and prosperous” by 2040.
This is a “first step”, as the document will be complemented by a Rural Pact and a dedicated European Action Plan. The situation in Europe’s rural areas - which account for almost 30% of the EU’s population and more than 80% of its territory - is a cause for concern.
Many “challenges”, some “opportunities”
“Many Europeans are concerned about the erosion of rural infrastructure and the provision of services, including access to healthcare, social services and education, as well as postal and banking services. Others are concerned about reduced employment opportunities and possible lower incomes in rural areas”, summarises the European Commission in its Communication.
Nearly 40% of respondents to the public consultation on the subject “said they felt left out by society and policy makers”, it adds.
The institution refers to the ageing and shrinking rural population, the high rate of youth unemployment and the still low rate of access to higher education. On this point, the gap between rural and urban areas has increased from 17% in 2012 to 19% in 2019, it says.
It also recalls that the gross domestic product per capita of rural areas was still considerably below the EU average in 2018.
Without even taking into account the specific emerging challenges related to climate change, the European Commission emphasises that agriculture and forestry are more vulnerable than urban economic activities to adverse weather events.
The emphasis, however, is also on some more positive findings, presented as “opportunities”. The European Commission mentions in particular the “increased attention” paid to climate change mitigation, the renewed focus on rural areas as “places of well-being”, and the opportunities for “social and economic renewal” made possible by digital advances and the green economy.
Based on this assessment, it identifies four main objectives and a series of tools that are expected to be specified in its forthcoming action plan.
Improving attractiveness, connectivity, resilience
The first objective is to ensure that rural areas are attractive places to live and work. The European Commission advocates the establishment of a minimum level of public services in this respect.
Furthermore, it is expected to commit itself to promoting research activities focused on the rural environment and to creating an information platform on funding opportunities for projects to improve service delivery in these territories.
The second objective identified is to ensure good connections between rural areas and with peri-urban and urban areas, mainly by improving transport infrastructure and public transport services, but also by enabling widespread access to 5G.
The third and fourth objectives towards which the European Commission believes it will be necessary to work are “the environmental, climatic and social resilience of rural areas” on the one hand, and their “economic diversification” on the other.
On this last point, it is expected to propose a series of actions, including research funding activities, again with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas, it says.
Finally, the creation of a “rural observatory” is expected to be announced as part of this communication. EUROPE will continue to follow this story. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki with Pascal Hansens)