Rural development and talent retention have become key priorities in European policies. These policies seek to mitigate the depopulation of rural areas and promote their  economic and social sustainability, recognising the importance of rural areas for territorial cohesion, balanced economic development and the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage.

The EU Long Term Vision for Rural Areas (2021-2040) reinforces this trend, committing to making rural areas more attractive to young and skilled people by creating infrastructure, access to digital services and employment opportunities.

However, talent retention, especially among young people with higher education, remains one of the biggest challenges in the EU’s rural areas, affected by problems such as depopulation and ageing populations, particularly in peripheral areas of countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Eastern European countries.