About thirty organizations, mainly economic players active in rural areas, called on presidential candidates on Tuesday to resume their proposals aimed at developing the dynamism and attractiveness of these territories.
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These 36 entrepreneurial organizations (Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, National Association of Food Industries, Ski Areas of France, National Confederation of Tobacconists ...), elected officials (Association of French Departments, Association of Small Towns in France ) as well as the association Rural Families have signed a
"manifesto for living ruralities"
which asks
"to put, at the heart of the priorities, the economic activity of rural areas"
.
“In the run-up to the presidential election, the candidates have big ears. We hope that they will listen to our aspirations ”
, declared at a press conference Christiane Lambert, president of the FNSEA, agricultural union majority in thedocument initiative.
The signatories wish in particular to see
"100,000 companies taken over or newly established in very sparsely populated municipalities by 2030"
. They ask for a
"reduction of all production taxes that impact the competitiveness of companies"
or an exemption from employer contributions
"for three years (for) all jobs created in CDI for companies established or which are established in municipalities with less than 3,000 inhabitants up to five employees ”
.
"Rurality is becoming trend again"
whereas it was considered
"in the past with a certain condescension or nostalgia",
underlined Christiane Lambert, evoking a
"real desire to show a feeling of pride in being rural"
.
"Rurality is also synonymous with modernity, we are not an old museum conservatory, we are a sector of innovations"
, she defended.
Problems of attractiveness and retention in employment
But despite the growing desire expressed by the French to leave the metropolises, organizations say they have difficulty recruiting employees, in particular because of
"the current constraints of rural areas (public services and the public lower compared to the city, digital , mobile network and internet, mobility, education, etc.) ”. "We have huge problems of attractiveness and job retention
,
"
summarized Manuella Pinto, from the Union of Social and Solidarity Economy Employers.
The signatories suggest the creation of an
“annual flat-rate aid dedicated to maintaining essential food stores in municipalities with fewer than 700 inhabitants” as
well as the development of
“third places”
which combine coworking spaces, shops and cultural activities. .. In view of the presidential election, the FNSEA must also shortly present its specific demands for the agricultural sector.
