At their Council meeting in Brussels on Monday 25 November, the EU ministers responsible for youth affairs approved conclusions entitled ‘Providing glocal opportunities for young people living in rural and remote areas’. This text aims to respond to the specific challenges faced by young people in rural areas, by combining a global vision with local action that integrates the local and global dimensions into initiatives. It is also part of a wider reflection on European demographic trends.
“All young people in Europe should have equal access to quality education, training and employment opportunities. Yet all too often, those who live in rural and isolated areas are left behind”, said Balázs Hankó, Hungary’s Minister of Culture and Innovation, who chaired the session, in a press release.
The conclusions adopted call on the Member States to step up their efforts to modernise digital infrastructure, diversify employment opportunities in growth sectors such as sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change, and promote greater participation by young people in local decision-making processes.
A demographic challenge. The conclusions are based on worrying findings.
The European Union is facing an ageing population and a demographic decline that is particularly acute in rural areas.
Young people in particular face challenges related to reduced employment opportunities, limited access to quality education and limited availability of health and social services, according to the adopted document.
The debate detailed the consequences of these developments, in particular the exodus of young people to the cities and the socio-economic imbalances that this generates.
As Austrian Secretary of State Claudia Plakolm explained: “Without young people, the countryside becomes unlivable and dies a natural death. We have to create the conditions to prevent this from happening”.
According to her, these conditions are based on three pillars: “roots, housing and opportunities”.
The European Commission’s Director-General for Education and Culture, Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, has called for greater attention to be paid to the demands of young people: “We have to tailor our actions to their needs, their concerns and their interests”.
She also referred to existing tools at European level, citing in particular the European dialogue on youth and programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, which provide “opportunities for young people in remote rural areas”.
National best practice. The ministers shared initiatives developed in their countries to tackle demographic decline and encourage young people to stay in or return to rural areas.
The Spanish Secretary of State, Rubén Pérez Correa, called for a combination of social and economic solutions: “Reduced working hours, new forms of employment and effective policies for access to rural housing can help to balance the flows between urban and rural areas”.
He also highlighted the role of transport infrastructure: “Linking less populated areas to economic centres is essential to ensure viable opportunities”.
Germany has invested in building affordable housing for young people in rural areas and the development of leisure and cultural facilities.
“Making rural areas places where young people can flourish [...] is essential to counter the rural exodus”, said Germany’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, Helen Winter, who also called for young people to be involved in local planning processes.
France talked about its education systems, in particular the ‘Campus Connecté’ (Connected Campus) programme, a remote learning system within a local university.
“One in three young people in France lives in a rural area. We have a responsibility to provide them with favourable environments”, said French Minister Gil Avérous.
The Italian minister, Andrea Abodi, has presented measures to support young farmers through funding and training programmes.
For enhanced action. The ministers also agreed on the need for coordination at European level.
They welcomed the Commission’s initiatives, in particular the announcement of a stakeholder group dedicated to rural youth.
The aim of this group is to improve the sharing of best practice and strengthen the policies targeted at these areas.
In addition, the Council invited the Commission to improve access to relevant EU initiatives and funds while working to increase the visibility of rural youth in European programmes, including the EU’s post-2027 youth strategy.
All these measures should help to better connect rural areas to European opportunities, both in terms of education and employment.
Link to the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/egy (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)