France is a poor performer when it comes to cohesion in Europe and is marked by growing regional inequalities, despite being allocated a whopping €18 billion in EU cohesion funding for 2021-2027. Numerous regions risk falling into a "development trap": after a period of growth, they stagnate or even decline, having invested in sectors with little long-term potential. In this second part of the show examing EU cohesion policy, we're in the central French department of the Creuse.

Repopulating the Creuse through European projects 

With 115,000 inhabitants, the Creuse is one of the least populated and poorest departments in France. The EU provides significant support to this rural area through the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as €12 million in cohesion funding (2021-2027). Yet that's only a tiny fraction of the overall cohesion money that goes to the broader region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. What's more, there's a lack of project leaders locally, and the "development trap" is being felt – perhaps with the exception of the more dynamic cultural sector.

We meet British artist Helen Burgoyne, who finds it challenging sell her art in one the least well connected areas of France. We take a walk through the Valley of the Painters with Pierre Veysseix, the local head of tourism and heritage sites. From 1850 to 1920, this area attracted many artists and cultural figures, including Claude Monet, George Sand and Frédéric Chopin. At the Monet-Rollinat centre, we join Laurence Rouède, vice-president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. We ask her if the Creuse department is the great forgotten territory of France's largest region.

Finally, we visit the International Tapestry Centre of Aubusson. A cultural jewel of the region, it has benefited from European funding to help weave large tapestries inspired by the works of JRR Tolkien and Hayao Miyazaki. Valérie Simonet, president of the Creuse department and of the International Tapestry Centre, describes European support as a very positive force.

In our reports:

• Renaud Lefort focuses on very small and medium-sized enterprises trying to grow thanks to European funds. In rural areas, some projects exist only because of the EU.

   

• Luke Brown explores the EU-funded timber industry. The establishment of a new wood pellet factory has sparked strong opposition: environmental groups are outraged, but some mayors are highly supportive.

Editor-in-Chief: Caroline de Camaret

Presented by Armen Georgian

Visual direction and camera: Stéphane Bodenne et Renaud Lefort

Reports : Luke Brown et Renaud Lefort

Special thanks to Creuse Tourist Office, Héloïse Gorse Fénelon (Aubusson International Tapestry Centre), Rachid Belhadj (Media relations, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region).

“Europe Rendezvous” is a magazine programme broadcast on FRANCE 24 in French and English, on YouTube and on france24.com.

Watch moreWarning: French regions at risk! Part 1: Corsica