You're listening to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcast on the EU's rural policy and the integration of migrants.

Never before has the EU been confronted with such a massive influx of migrants as in the past two years.

Most of them settled around cities where they believe it is easier to find work and support

structures, but what of a better life was waiting for them in Europe's rural areas?

Stay with us and we'll show you how the EU's rural development policy can support the

integration of migrants and how in turn they can breathe new life into Europe's rural communities.

Since 2015, nearly 1,400,000 migrants have crossed into Europe, sparking a major crisis

as countries struggle to cope with the influx and settle those who were entitled to stay.

Although the majority come from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, migrants are not a homogenous group, so there

is no one-size-fits-all solution to help them integrate into their new surroundings.

This is why in 2016, the European Commission came up with an action plan to support the integration

of third country nationals and their economic and social contribution to the EU, highlighting

the resources available from the European structural investment funds to help ensure they can find a house, a job or a school for their

children. But opportunities are also available within the framework of the EU's rural development

policy to help local communities integrate migrants arriving in rural areas. So what are the

challenges? Well, the first challenge is to attract them to

rural areas in the first place. The perception that it will be easier to find a job and a place

to live in the city, as well as support structures such as language courses and social networks,

acts as a magnet for migrants. But with adequate support, migration could give Europe's

declining rural regions and new boost.

Creating new opportunities for growth and jobs in agriculture, services and other activities,

reversing the depopulation trend and ensuring the sustainability of public and private services.

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