Addressing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Wojciechowski, MEP Ms Carvalhais, and Vice-President of the Commission Ms Suica, during the debate on the long-term vision for rural areas at the 148th meeting of the CoR plenary, on 26th January, EA member and Mayor of Vulcana-Băi Commune, Mr Emil Drăghici called on the EU to establish a Rural Capitals Award. This award would mirror the existing and much-praised European Capital of Culture and would offer a chance to promote various rural areas across the Union, drawing the spotlight to crucial challenges they face such as depopulation.
Mr Drăghici called on the Commission to "find the political will and create a Rural Capitals Award" to inspire and reward innovation, creativity and initiatives which promote rural revival across the EU". He continued by drawing on values enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty "the countryside is one of the fundamental and defining values for Europe, which must be preserved, cared for and promoted, as defined by the Lisbon Agenda, 'not having to be seen only as a problem, but as an opportunity".
This award would build on the European Commission's commitments to rural areas in the Rural Pact and Rural Action Plan by converting sentiment into tangible action. The EA fully supports this initiative of Mr Drăghici, and the potential it has to reverse the trends of decline in rural areas.
