Women in rural areas

SESSION OF THURSDAY, 3 JULY 2003

Women in rural areas

Karamanou(PSE). – Mr. President, I would also like to warmly congratulate and thank Mrs. Kratsa, who took the initiative for this report. Her contribution is very significant in raising awareness and highlighting the issues faced by a particular professional group of women, rural women.

The Women’s Committee, understanding and appreciating the special contribution that rural women can make to the improvement of rural areas, organized a public debate on this issue on March 18, 2003.

Following the recent reform of the CAP, we expect, Commissioner, that the additional funds allocated for rural development will also target the improvement of the lives of rural women, who are marginalized and undervalued in all areas of the European Union. We particularly hope that the necessary infrastructures will be created to enable rural women to balance their professional and family lives, as well as improve their quality of life.

Of course, we acknowledge that the Third Community Support Framework has contributed significantly to the creation of an institutional and financial framework for rural development, which also included women. In Greece, thousands of women benefit from the Community initiative Leader. However, legal and advisory support for rural women is still needed, with actions aimed at raising awareness and informing the local community, training programs, and measures that will support the specific needs of women and local development goals, with the aim of supporting and securing employment, as well as ensuring that rural women remain in their areas.

Finally, I would like to mention a very successful area of action in Greece, women’s cooperatives, and particularly agrotourism cooperatives.