On 10 March 2026, the city of Brașov, Romania, hosted the international workshop “Strengthen the Voices of Remote Places and Rural Areas”, organised by the National Union of County Councils of Romania within the framework of the ProVote project, funded under the European Union programme Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV), with the contribution of ALDA.
The event brought together representatives of local administrations, civil society organisations, journalists, researchers and European networks to explore practical ways of strengthening democratic participation in rural and remote communities across Europe.
Held at the Transilvania University of Brașov, the workshop combined thematic presentations with interactive discussions and participatory exercises aimed at identifying the barriers that limit citizens’ participation in European democratic processes, particularly elections to the European Parliament. Participants reflected on structural challenges affecting rural areas, including limited access to information about European institutions, geographical distance from major urban centres, infrastructure gaps and persistent levels of institutional mistrust.
A central element of ALDA’s contribution was the presentation of the project Our Digital Village by Alexandre Météreau, Policy Officer at ALDA. Implemented in collaboration with ALDA and several partners, the initiative seek to address the persistent digital divide between rural and urban areas by improving access to digital infrastructure and strengthening digital literacy.
ALDA’s participation in the workshop was further strengthened by the presence of members from the Republic of Moldova, whose local experience provided valuable insights into the realities faced by smaller municipalities. Among them was Leonid Boaghe, Mayor of the commune of Sireți, who shared reflections on the importance of connecting local communities with European democratic processes. Also participating were Sergiu Andronachi, Mayor of Cimișlia, and Alexandru Iorga, Deputy Mayor of the same municipality. Their contributions illustrated how local administrations can play a decisive role in encouraging civic participation and strengthening citizens’ understanding of European policies and programmes, even from outside of the EU.
ALDA’s participation in the workshop was further strengthened by the presence of members from the Republic of Moldova, whose local experience provided valuable insights into the realities faced by smaller municipalities.
The event explored the role of media and strategic communication in improving democratic participation. Discussions highlighted the importance of clear, accessible and locally relevant information in helping citizens understand how European decisions influence their everyday lives.
Interactive sessions further enabled participants to examine the structural causes of low electoral participation in rural areas and to develop creative responses. Ideas emerging from these exchanges included improving the visibility of projects funded by European programmes and reinforcing the link between European policies and local development. Such initiatives could help citizens better recognise the tangible impact of the European Union on their communities and thereby encourage stronger civic engagement.
Through the ProVote initiative, European partners aim to promote the exchange of good practices and strengthen cooperation between local authorities, civil society organisations and researchers working to make democracy more accessible and responsive to citizens living in rural and peripheral regions.
As part of its continued commitment to strengthening democratic participation and local governance, ALDA also invites stakeholders and practitioners to contribute to a questionnaire on Strengthening Local Democratic Resilience, which will inform discussions at an upcoming event taking place in Skopje on 28 April. The consultation aims to gather insights from local authorities, civil society organisations and community actors across Europe on the challenges facing local democracy and the strategies needed to reinforce its resilience in the coming years.