March 12, 2021 7:41 am The Covid-19 pandemic has “presented a unique opportunity” to reinvent and reimagine rural communities, according to MEP Colm Markey. The Midlands North West MEP was speaking in the European Parliament during a debate yesterday (Thursday, March 11) with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski on the long-term vision for rural areas. Commenting afterwards, the Fine Gael MEP said: “Generations of skilled and talented people have left rural areas to pursue opportunities elsewhere. The pandemic has taught us that many can remain in their own communities by taking advantage of remote or blended working. We can reverse the ‘brain drain’ and turn it into the ‘brain gain’.