Local leaders have put forward concrete proposals to boost the modernisation of European rural areas and tackle the growing urban-rural development gap during the Committee of the Regions plenary session today in Brussels. Rural population decline is a serious problem in Europe, with more funds now needed for rural development programmes that stimulate growth and create employment, local authorities recall. The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) supports a White Paper on a post-2020 development policy for rural areas as preparations for the forthcoming allocation of EU funds open shortly.
 
Difficult accessibility, inadequate infrastructures, lack of market and job opportunities, low wages and demographic exodus are some of the problems many rural areas in Europe are facing today. Through the unanimously approved opinion 'Innovation and modernisation of the rural economy', local leaders propose concrete measures to reverse current trends. Amongst them is to stimulate small businesses' product development and collaborative marketing to boost local markets, to promote vocational training and to develop high-speed internet and ICT knowledge in rural areas.
 
Money is also at stake. Randel Länts (EE/PES), Member of Viljandi City Council and rapporteur of the opinion declared; "Rural areas are currently under increased pressure due to cuts in funding. The time has come to address the growing urban-rural divide, which seriously threatens the principle of territorial cohesion in the EU".
 
Cuts in funding are threating the viability of rural areas, alerts the CoR. Less than 25% of European Regional Development Funds are set to be allocated to rural areas, according to the European Commission. Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) funds have also dropped down by 11% in comparison with the 2007-2013 period. Local leaders are also concerned that Member States are increasingly relocating CAP funds from rural development to agriculture investments and direct farming revenues, thus neglecting long-term sustainable growth.
 
Available funds for rural development in the current funding period need to be increased, pledge local leaders. Innovation and modernisation must become the cornerstones of rural development. Rural areas must reverse decline trends and benefit from the principle of territorial cohesion in order to contribute to EU's 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Local and regional leaders share the call for a White Paper for a post-2020 development policy for rural areas, an initiative of the European Parliament Intergroup on Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas and the European Countryside Movement (ECM).
 
Rural and intermediate regions together constitute 91% of the EU's area, are home to 60% of the EU's population, produce 43% of gross value added and host 56% of the EU's jobs.