Author: Andrew Copus

Rural depopulation is not a new phenomenon. EU policies have responded in various ways, and with different degrees of effectiveness, since the early years of the Union. However, in the past five years, there has been a strong renewal of interest in this issue, across several EU institutions.

The European Parliament has produced a report on the role of Cohesion policy in tackling rural depopulation and two fact sheets summarising the evidence. The Committee of the Regions also commissioned a report, and subsequently issued an opinion document. The European Network for Rural Development organised a workshop on the subject in 2018. The Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas (RUMRA) Intergroup has been established, and the Commission has appointed Dubravka Šuicaas as Vice-President for Democracy and Demography.

Rural shrinking has become a very visible phenomenon – associated with powerful manifestations of popular discontent. But there is, at the same time, rising optimism about the potential offered by subtle, incremental changes in technological, market and social contexts, which may facilitate the ‘repopulation’ of depleted rural areas, or adjustment to the demographic status quo. The COVID-19 crisis will no doubt accelerate technological change and stimulate further debate.