1. Life in rural areas

2. Why high-speed Internet in rural areas?
Rural, remote and mountainous areas are home to 300 million people in the EU: 59% of its population (24% in rural and 35% intermediate areas).
2013 only 25.1% of rural areas were covered by the Next Generation Access (NGA = at least 30 Mbps) compared to 68.1% in urban areas.
People living in rural areas are at the greater risk of social exclusion.

3. Overbridging the digital divide and social exclusion
ICT could address problems of social exclusion ensuring quality of life, business prosperity, public services and education.
ICT is an important tool for stimulating economic development and improving the functioning of economic activity and labour market.

4. SOLUTION: High-speed broadband is the most effective way to close the development gap between urban and rural areas.

5. Written Declaration on high-speed Internet in rural and mountainous areas
Commission and Council should conduct the effective implementation of high-speed Internet in rural and mountainous areas
(including strenghtening EAFRD measures and developing strategy to enhance digital skills)

6. Questions?