2022 is a record year in Europe, according to the European State of the Climate report published today by the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service. The summer of 2022 has been the warmest on record in Europe, and the effects of drought and wildfires are already being felt this spring.
The recent IPCC report once more demonstrates the urgency of climate action to avoid severe impacts on mountain ecosystems and populations
Tailor-made policies are needed to tackle brain drain and depopulation, stressed the European Committee of the Regions in a recent opinion adopted on 16 March.
Rural and mountain areas can find solutions to demographic change and ageing. This was the main message of the final conference of the SILVER SMEs project, held in Brussels on 21 February.
Rural Europe is more affected by demographic change. This is the message shared by the European Commission in its “Report on the impact of demographic change – in a changing environment”.
The European Commission presented its Communication on “Harnessing talent in Europe’s regions”. Released on 17 January, the text proposes measures to address the lack of workforce and skilled employees, a trend that is affecting many mountainous regions that are ageing and depopulating.
The European Parliament welcomes the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas developed by the European Commission since 2021 but suggests going further. This is the message sent by MEPs in the report adopted in plenary session in December 2022 on “a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas – Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040”.
Announced in 2021 as one of the components of the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, the European Rural Observatory was launched on 8 December.
Mountain areas do not receive sufficient specific consideration, concludes the European Committee of the Regions in its recently adopted opinion.