83% of the EU’s territory is rural areas, with 137 million inhabitants living there or about 30% of the EU population. While unemployment rate is on average lower in rural areas than in cities, young people have a higher unemployment rate in rural areas compared to the general working age population ( against ). The gap between female and male employment is also stronger in rural than in urban areas in over half of EU Member States.

While very diverse, rural areas in Europe do face some specific challenges, with a population on average older than in urban areas and shrinking. Often facing market failure issues, some rural areas in Europe struggle to maintain accessible public services for the inhabitants (health and care services, schools, public transportation). Rural areas also face specific challenges in terms of secure and sustainable access to digital infrastructure and skills. Without an innovative vision to develop "smart villages", and the necessary skills in rural areas, the EU will hardly achieve its digital decade's targets.

But no territory in Europe is isolated, several local initiatives help connecting people living in rural areas through social and cultural activities and encouraging local entrepreneurship. Inhabitants often commute to the nearest town or city, and rural areas are essential to provide food and energy also to the urban areas. They are key to Europe’s social and economic landscape, as well as to the management and preservation of natural resources. So how to ensure rural areas remain vibrant, and economically diverse, and ensure inhabitants enjoy good quality of life with access to services, economic, social and cultural opportunities?

In June 2021 the European Commission unveiled its Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas towards 2040. It translates into a set of actions and commitments for stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas. This vision aligns with CEMR's key messages on the future of rural areas (2020), and clearly identifies municipalities and regions as key stakeholders in the implementation of the Commission’s Action Plan for rural areas. The diversity of European territories calls for place. based solutions and local and regional governments can be the driver of economic diversification of their territory and create an enabling framework for life-long learning and particularly the development of digital skills in the population.

This event takes place in the context of the European Year of Skills, highlighting the challenges and potential for harnessing skills in rural areas, and is part of CEMR’s participation in the Rural Pact Community.