"European rural territories are dynamic territories and drivers of development. They should no longer be seen as a problem for the European Union and national governments but, on the contrary, as part of the solution to many challenges: demography, food security, energy transition and quality of life." Thibaut Guignard, Mayor of Plœuc-l’Hermitage made these remarks during a CoR plenary debate on 'Cohesion Policy in Rural Areas'.
During the debate, chaired by EPP-CoR Vice President Michael Murphy, Guignard said that rural areas are experiencing a resurgence in population. "Following the health crisis, citizens are showing a strong desire to build their professional and personal lives in such areas if certain obstacles such as physical but also digital accessibility are overcome. Plœuc-L'Hermitage, welcomed nearly 430 new inhabitants in one year." In this regard, he said that the European Union must support this new dynamic of rural territories.
During his maiden speech at the CoR, Guignard pointed out that the European Leader rural development program is one of the successes of the European Union. However, he said that rural development cannot be limited to 5% of the EAFRD and explained that regional authorities in France want to dedicate 10% of the ERDF envelope to the territorial approach.
He also stressed the importance of 'rural proofing' of all European policies. "This analysis from a rural perspective should make it possible to ensure that all mechanisms are aligned with the needs and realities of rural areas, from the start of the co-construction of EU policies."
He also referred the 8th report on cohesion which outlined that while rural areas are home to 30% of the population and cover 80% of EU territory, only 25% of the 2014-2020 Cohesion Funds have reached them. In this regard he recalled that those convened for the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) Seminar for Effective Development of Rural Areas held on October 27 in Lednice, requested the possibility of multi-fund participation in CLLD in all regions of the EU, ensuring that a CLLD approach is used for all types of territories.
He concluded with an appeal to already look beyond 2027 and ask the question of the articulation between the different territorial tools and think about a single tool financed by the EAFRD and the European structural and investment funds. This would make it possible to decompartmentalize territorial dynamics because rural development can only be done thanks to a real cohesion of the territories.