Brain drain and negative effects of demographic change have been key
concerns for the SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the
Regions during the current mandate period, which is nearing its end. At
its last meeting of the year on 27 November, SEDEC members adopted an
opinion drafted by Emil Boc (RO/EPP), mayor of Cluj-Napoca, which urges
to address the challenge of brain drain in coordination with all levels
of government.
Otherwise, "the phenomenon will have long-term and permanent effects on
the future of the European Union", the draft opinion warns.
Rapporteur Emil Boc
– Prime Minister of Romania between 2008 and 2012 – pointed out in his
presentation
that nearly 3 million Romanians are currently living in another Member
State. The emigration particularly concerns high-skilled workers, of which
more than one out of four has left the country (27% in 2017).
As brain drain is directly triggered by existing social and economic
imbalances between the EU regions,
Mr Boc's opinion
calls for a strong association between EU's cohesion policy, which is meant
to address these imbalances and to promote a more even development across
the EU, and measures envisaged to deal with brain drain. These include
investing in education, employment, innovation and social inclusion in EU
regions.
"No one should be forced to leave their country, region, city or village
due to poverty or other economic reasons", the rapporteur said, stressing
that the solution is to improve the quality of life for our citizens
through job opportunities and higher wages, higher per capita wealth,
economic growth, social security, easier access to labour market, higher
employment rates, affordable and available housing, quality education
system, better infrastructure and healthcare.
Mr Boc's opinion will be adopted at the plenary session in February. It
stresses that European and national policies should support local and
regional authorities, which are best placed to assess local needs, assets
and policies that can increase the attractiveness of sending regions and
help them to retain and regain talented people. Cities and regions should
set local alliances with all stakeholders, including businesses,
universities and NGOs, to draft and implement local policies that help to
mitigate brain drain. SEDEC commission published last year a
study
that presents successful best practises from across the EU to tackle the
problem.
In many regions, brain drain is part of a larger and more complex issue of
demographic change. SEDEC commission is currently preparing an opinion on
measuring and tackling the negative effects of demographic change in EU
regions. Members exchanged views on the topic with rapporteur János Ádám Karacsony (HU/EPP) at this week's meeting, in
which they also adopted a draft opinion on
"Culture in a Union that strives for more: the role of regions and
cities"
(rapporteur Vincenzo Bianco, IT/PES).
The CoR has also emphasised the role of digital connectivity in building a
competitive and knowledge-based economy, which is key to boosting the
attractiveness of a region and retaining people. SEDEC commission organised
a
conference on EU digital policies
on Thursday 28 November with members of the Broadband Platform, which is a
joint effort of the CoR and the European Commission to boost broadband
connectivity across EU, particularly in rural and remote areas. Speakers
highlighted the need to bridge the investment gap – estimated to be EUR 254
billion – to reach EU's 2025 targets for connectivity everywhere in the EU.
SEDEC is the CoR's Commission for Social Policy, Employment, Education,
Research and Culture. It is currently chaired by Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP), Mayor of Gabrovo.