1. A quick word on water and rural development policy after 2013
Mike Mackenzie
Unit G1: Consistency of rural development policy
DG for Agriculture and Rural Development
European Commission, 8 November 2011

2. Essential general points
Improved co-ordination with other EU policies
ERDF, ESF, CF, EMFF
New co-ordination structures at EU and national level
Improved programming process built around “priorities”
Simplified and improved measure menu
Building on what’s good in current period
Improving conditions, adding new elements

3. The “priorities” of rural development policy
Fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas
Enhancing competitiveness of all types of agriculture and enhancing farm viability
Promoting food chain organisation and risk management in agriculture
Restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry
Promoting resource-efficiency and supporting the shift towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors
Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas

4. Two priorities in detail….
Restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry, with a focus on:
(a)…
(b) improving water management
(c)…
Promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors, with a focus on:
(a) increasing efficiency in water use by agriculture

5. Regarding measures….
Most of current water-related possibilities will still be there
Change of baseline for many area-based measures
Environmental element of direct payments included
Easier to use measures in combination
E.g. environmental payments + related training

6. Some relevant measures (1)
Investment in physical assets
investments in on-farm water efficiency
infrastructure related to development of agriculture
“non-productive” (environmental investments)
Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters; introduction of appropriate prevention actions
Investments in forest area development and improvement of the viability of forests
afforestation

7. Some relevant measures (2)
Agri-environment-climate
Organic farming
Natura 2000, Water Framework Directive Payments
Forest-environmental and climate services and forest conservation

8. WFD (and Natura) payments
Compensation per hectare for specific requirements:
introduced by WFD;
in accordance with river basin management plans;
going beyond level of legal protection existing when WFD was adopted;
going beyond measures required to implement other EU water protection legislation;
going beyond cross-compliance;
going beyond “green operations” of direct payments;
imposing major changes in land use and / or major restrictions in farming practice, leading to significant loss of income

9. For further information
The CAP after 2013
Commission Communication ‘The CAP towards 2020’
index_en.htm
Impact assessment
Legal proposals