EP resolution on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy

On June 17, 2025. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy – 2024/2105(INI). The resolution, forwarded to the Council and the European Commission, included demands for, among other things, greater support for rural development from the Cohesion Policy, water issues, strengthening measures for access to basic services, combating depopulation, developing RES in rural areas, and support for areas most affected by disasters and crises.

General background

Rural areas account for about 83 percent of the territory of the European Union (EU) and are inhabited by 1/4 of its population. Due to demographic, economic and social challenges, increasingly frequent disasters and crises, they are currently in a difficult situation, as evidenced by GDP per capita figures.

Rural areas are not only a source of agricultural production and food, but also represent natural, cultural and scenic heritage. Therefore, their sustainable development is very important.

The EU’s cohesion policy is designed to help reduce regional disparities and promote sustainable development. It plays an important role in the security of rural areas. Without the commitment of EU support funds, further emigration of young people, depopulation due to an aging population, or lack of access to certain services may threaten.

It is therefore essential to define long-term strategies to enable support for rural areas in order to guarantee their key role in Europe’s future.

EP resolution identifies problems and needs

Among other aspects, the resolution highlights the following:

• Lack of or inadequate access to water services, health care, affordable housing, transportation and digital infrastructure, education, financial services, recreational and cultural activities make rural areas seen as an unattractive place to live and work;
• Lack of regional connectivity in transportation and digital infrastructure exacerbates depopulation;
• Lack of employment opportunities forces young people, especially women, to migrate;
• rural areas are home to most of the EU’s biodiversity – its quality is declining due to climate change, with economic consequences for the agricultural sector and a negative impact on the attractiveness of rural tourism;
• The decline in soil and water quality has a negative impact on natural resources and biodiversity;
• Water availability and quality play a key role in ensuring equitable, sustainable and productive livelihoods in rural areas.

Recommendations relating to “water”

The resolution points out the need to focus on preventive measures to increase the resilience of Europe’s rural areas in the face of natural disasters.

The resolution emphasizes the strategic importance of water resources for rural areas. At the same time, it draws attention to the need to allocate resources (within the framework of cohesion policy and rural development programs) for the maintenance and modernization of the water network. In particular, it recommends preventing losses, improving the efficiency of supply systems and promoting sustainable use of water resources in rural areas.

Since rural areas, especially in eastern, southern and Mediterranean Europe, are the most affected by energy poverty, desertification, forest fires, climate change and related risks, such as water scarcity, they require a targeted approach under cohesion policy.

The resolution points out that an integrated approach to water resources management is essential for both preventing floods and dealing with droughts, particularly through consistent use of EU funds. In addition, it was recommended to focus on preventive measures to increase the resilience of Europe’s rural areas to natural disasters. This is why an integrated approach to water management is so important in order to simultaneously prevent floods and droughts – two growing threats, both in agriculture and the food sector.

Recital 31 of the resolution is to prioritize the construction of dams and reservoirs or the modernization of existing facilities. This infrastructure can also be a source of clean energy. It is pointed out that while cohesion policy already supports initiatives in this area, additional projects and larger investments are needed, aligned with national and regional risk management strategies. This approach will ensure that rural areas are better prepared and more resilient to extreme climate events.

The resolution calls on the European Commission to promote forward-looking adaptation strategies at national, regional and local levels, including water management, resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness, and calls for investment in innovative water infrastructure, enabling the reuse of treated wastewater and smart irrigation systems, and the construction of rainwater harvesting reservoirs.

Importance of well-functioning rural areas

Recital 32 of the resolution highlights the growing threat of climate-related risks such as natural disasters, desertification and water scarcity in many rural areas in Europe.

The resolution recalls that rural areas must provide quality basic services to the population in order to improve living conditions. In addition, they should use their assets to achieve sustainable economic and social development.

Pointing out that rural areas should receive adequate financial support, the European Parliament calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate access to financing and other support measures for social economy initiatives that meet local needs and contribute to regional development, while also increasing the financial support offered to SMEs in rural areas, particularly by facilitating access to financial resources, cooperatives and local value chains that foster economic diversification.