Chapter X. Policy of Support of Rural Development and Rural Tourism in Slovakia Ing. Barbora Milotová, PhD. Department of Regional Development International Visegrad Fund project “EU public administration and implementation of EU regional policy and rural development in V-4 countries” 19th - 21st November 2009

Content of the chapter Strategic documents of Rural Development in Slovakia Brief history of programmes Strategic documents of Rural Development in Slovakia 2007 – 2013 overall socio-economical background of rural areas – State of the countryside in Slovakia Strategy – strategic goal, axis, priorities and objectives, measures Implementation framework Territorial determination Institutional responsibilities Financial allocation according to measures Time schedule Orientation on measures supporting Rural Tourism (axis 3) and integrated Rural Development (axis 4)

Brief history of programmes 1998 – “ Conceptual Policy for Rural Development in the Slovak Republic by the year 2005 ” (the basis framework for the elaboration of strategy in the SAPARD Programme) Pre-accession period Agriculture and Rural Development Plan of the SR – SAPARD Programme 2004 – 2006 National Development Plan of the Slovak Republic Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development Rural Development Plan of the SR

State of the countryside in Slovakia 86% of the overall area of Slovakia is considered as rural with 43% people living in rural municipalities out of 2881 Main characteristics of rural areas (research results from Fáziková, 2005) - Heterogeneity of the use of its natural, human and economical potential - Urbanization and depopulation of small municipalities up to 500 inhabitants, specially from remote areas to urban areas or accessible rural areas versus „counter-urbanization“ flow from urban areas to accessible rural areas, - Employment: - 78,2% of employment – rural areas; 33,6% predominantly rural (PR) and 44,6% significantly rural (SR) - employed in agriculture –- 3,1% PR and 2,5% SR - different job opportunities in PR and SR - Production of 5,01% added value - Lower level of the accessibility considering the weaker equipment with the technical and social infrastructure, - Tendencies to revive traditions and cultural heritage, specially in middle and larger municipalities Strenghts and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of rural areas

Rural Development Programme of the Slovak Republic 2007 – 2013 (RDP) Strategy Global objective, priorities, objectives Chosen measures within each axis Implementation framework Territorial determination Competent authorities and their responsibilities Financial allocation according to measures Time plan of implementation Eligible activities, beneficiaries within measures

Axis 3 Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy Focus on measures devoted to rural tourism support Measure: Diversification into non-agricultural activities Measure: Encouragement of rural tourism activities Objectives, supported activities Financial and implementation plan Beneficiaries Eligible costs Current state of the implementation of measures dedicated to rural tourism Best practise

Axis 4 Leader – Integrated Rural Development Characteristics of Leader approach Preparation on the Leader implementation Supported activities Eligible costs Beneficiaries Current state of its implementation Results of the first Call for Integrated Rural Strategies of LAGs