The success of revitalizing villages in the Republic of Moldova depends on the direct involvement of residents in shaping their own future, moving from imposed policies to bottom-up solutions. In an interview for IPN, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Séamus Boland, stressed that, so that no region is left behind, communities must be trained to attract European funds for the modernization of infrastructure and the diversification of the rural economy through tourism, renewable energy and social entrepreneurship.
Séamus Boland emphasized that rural residents must be active partners in making decisions that influence everyday life. According to him, development policies really only work when they are built from the bottom up, involving communities, farmers and small entrepreneurs, and local action groups must devise solutions tailored to the real needs of each region.
An essential component of the strategy is the diversification of the rural economy beyond traditional agriculture, in order to create sustainable jobs and maintain economic value in communities. Investments in agri-food processing, rural tourism, and renewable energy are considered engines of local prosperity.
In addition, the use of pre-accession funds should aim at modernizing road and digital infrastructure, as well as ensuring universal access to essential health and education services, transforming villages into attractive places for living and working.
The EESC President believes that enhanced connectivity and quality services are the pillars that will keep rural communities alive and allow them to thrive in the context of European integration.
