SHARE Expert Group meeting– 20/05/2021Dr. Mátyás Szabó–Unit E4

DG Agriculture and Rural Development

“Our rural areas are the fabric of our society and the heartbeat of our economy. The diversity of landscape, culture and heritage is one of Europe’s most defining and remarkable features. They are a core part of our identity and our economic potential.

We will cherish and preserve our rural areas and invest in

their future.”

President Von der Leyen – July 2019

Policy guidelines for 2019-2024

#RuralVisionEU 

Communication from the Commission

• Scheduled for end of June 2021

• AGRI and REGIO Commissioners work together under the coordination of VP Suica.

• Belongs to the Democracy and Demography work strand but embraces all relevant economic, social and environmental aspects of rural areas.

#RuralVisionEU 

Why now?

Signalling that Europe should leave no place behind, and be close to all citizens (137 million people in rural areas in the EU (30%))

Addressing pressing challenges now for rural areas from demographic change to connectivity, limited access to services.

Highlighting emerging opportunities of the Green and Digital transition

Encouraging specific needs of rural areas to be duly taken into account both under the Cohesion policy programmes and under the CAP Strategic Plans for the period 2021-2027

22nd July 2020

Publication of Roadmap

09th September

2020

07th September

2020

30th November 2020

Publication of Open

Public Consultation

Closure of OPC2326 responses

2021

Publication of the Communication

“A Long Term Vision for Rural Areas”

June 2021

Deadline for feedback to Roadmap198 responses

PUBLIC CONSULTATION -

Timeline

#RuralVisionEU 

Rural Vision Week

22-26 March 2021Special Eurobarometer

Workshoppackage

#RuralVisionEU 

How ?Public

consultation& engagement

Analysis Foresight

Our vision for rural areas in 2040

How do we get there? What should be the first steps?

#RuralVisionEU 

Analysis

• Facts & figures (stats)• Reports (evaluations,

studies..)• Various policies and targets• Horizon 2020 and other EU

projects (i.e. ESPON)

• Litterature

#RuralVisionEU 

• Demographic : older population, negative natural population change, migration

• Economic: GDP per capita in rural regions considerably lower than EU average

• Delivery and access to services more difficult in rural areas

• Low connectivity: 60% of rural households with NGA (86% EU average)

• Women more likely to leave, higher unemployment of young people…

Challenges in rural areas

RO BG PL SK HU CZ FI LT EL PT NL SI EE UK FR MT LV HR AT BE ES DK IT DE IE SE CY LU0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

EU TC

Share of migrants in rural areas by origin and member states (2017)

Note: Figures for Bulgaria, Malta, Romania and Slovakia should be considered with caution due to the limited (<50) number of observations in the EU-LFS.Source: Authors’ elaboration of EU-LFS microdata.

Kalantaryan et al. (2021) Immigration and integration in rural areas and the agricultural sector: An EU perspective, Journal of Rural Studies, 2021

Population by education level, origin and employment sector, (2011-2017)

Kalantaryan et al. (2021) Immigration and integration in rural areas and the agricultural sector: An EU perspective, Journal of Rural Studies, 2021

Source: Authors’ elaboration of EU-LFS microdata.

Population with disposable income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, by origin and degree of urbanisation, EU (2011-2016)

Natale et al. (2019). Migration in EU rural areas. Publications Office of the European Union.

Source: Authors’ elaboration of EU-SILC microdata.

Total population employed in agriculture, by origin, EU (2011, 2017)

Natale et al. (2019). Migration in EU rural areas. Publications Office of the European Union.

Source: Authors’ elaboration of EU-LFS microdata.

• Key for ecosystem services: rural landscapes, natural resources, forests, home to agriculture…

• Bio- and circular economy, new consumer demands

• Ecological and digital transitions, boosted under the Green Deal and for the recovery from COVID 19 crisis

• Innovation, knowledge sharing, cooperation

• Quality of life, sense of belonging…

#RuralVisionEU 

Opportunities

in rural areas

#RuralVisionEU 

Foresight

• Provide elements for a vision

• JRC-led work with a thematic working group of the European Network for Rural Development #Rural2040

• Horizon 2020 projects

NOT A FORECAST!

NOT A VISION!

Highlight possible

futures and their

opportunities and

challenges

Explore the future

through stories

(creative combination

of data, facts

and hypotheses)

Scenarios for 2040

Rural week – ENRD - Presentation of scenarios - European Commission – Joint Research Centrehttps://enrd.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2_maciej-krzysztofowicz-ppt2-pl2-day1_0.pdf

#RuralVisionEU 

A vision built on the views of rural citizens: Online public consultation Eurobarometer Stakeholders engagement workshop

toolkit Debates in Civil Dialog Group, Rural

Development Committee and other committees and groups

A number of events

Public consultation& engagement

+ RURAL VISION WEEKRural Vision Week: Imagining the future of Europe’s rural areas | The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) (europa.eu)

Vision forrural areas

#RuralVisionEU 

The ideal rural area

Infrastructure, access to

services and facilities,

economic needs and digital

connectivity mentioned most

frequently

52%

45%

42%

36%

#RuralVisionEU 

The most urgent needs in rural areas

…provision of (e-)services, especially for health and education

…fast and stable internet connectivity

…social innovation in rural areas

…sustainable farming practices that reduce environmental footprint

94%

93%

92%

92%

II. Rural areas tomorrow

Q8: Attractiveness of EU rural areas in 20 years will increase if…

…new sustainable and health lifestyle choices of people 90%

#RuralVisionEU 

92%

III. Governance in rural areas

Q13 Do you feel left behind by society?

Three out of five respondents do not feel left behind by society

• 29 % yes • 61 % no

A city(n=337) An area not far from a city(n=238)

A rural area(n=746)

A remote rural area(n=127)

Total0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Yes No

• Reasons seen as most important by those who do:

• Deteriorated infrastructure and services

• Lack of economic opportunities

• No consideration of specific needs in political decision-making

Deteriorated infrastructure and ser...

Declining income/lack of economic opportun...

Specific needs of rural people not sufficiently consi...

Loss of rural traditions and her...

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

#RuralVisionEU 

Q18. How do you think the EU level policies could support this rural area in meeting challenges and making the most of opportunities? (open question) To support rural development, EU policy could:

- Provide economic and financial support, including support to local projects and access to financing, either EU funding or private investment (242 responses);

- Empower local communities by strengthening existing initiatives (such as LEADER) and stimulate their active contribution to EU policy-making (162 responses).

- Further improve the targeting of policies to local needs (i.e. rural proofing) (121 responses);

Other suggested actions concerned various social, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects.

Expected EU policy responses

The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) addresses generational renewal and depopulation via different measures and instruments, e.g.: business start-up for young farmers, co-operation, investments, knowledge transfer, advisory services or basic services and village renewal.

Community-led local development ("LEADER") which can be supported through the rural development can be also a useful tool to fight depopulation. It promotes the design and implementation of local strategies by local public-private-civil society partnerships to overcome the difficulties identified in the programming area.

MEASURES TO FIGHT DEPOPULATION NOW AND

NEXT

Vision forrural areas

#RuralVisionEU 

Thank you for your attention

23