​At the opening session of Open Days where guest speakers included Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn, the EA group President called on the Commission to give more priority to Rural areas.  He said that rural areas have faced special development challenges for a long time. Population decline in rural areas, and part-time residence are generating significant pressure on services in rural communities. He highlighted the EA group's Panevežys declaration, adopted in Lithuania on the 30th September which called on sustainable policies towards Rural areas.

 A copy of Dr Silberg's speech is attached here. ET