1. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 1 EU rural development policy 2007-2013 Nikiforos SIVENAS European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture October 2004

2. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 2 – Rural areas and communities spread across the whole EU – A multiplicity of landscapes, activities and functions – Economic, social and community structures (the rural fabric) – Relationships with urban areas, amenity functions, food production. – Cultural and natural (environmental) heritage. What makes rural areas special in Europe Rural communities

3. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 3 Rural Population and Area (EUR-25)

4. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 4 GDP per capita (EUR-25)

5. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 5 Today: 2Funds (Guidance, Guarantee) 3Financial Management and Control Frameworks 5Types of Programming In Future: 1Fund (FEADER) 1 Financial Management and Control Framework 1Type of Programming For All Rural Areas of EU Rural Development Policy 2007-2013: Simplification

6. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 6 Policy focus on 3 main objectives: n Strengthening of the competitiveness of the agricultural sector through support for restructuring, modernisation and quality production n Environmental protection and preservation of the countryside through support for a sustainable land management n Improvement of the quality of life in rural areas and promotion of the diversification of economic activities Rural Development Policy 2007-2013: Main Political Objectives

7. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 7 Rural Development Policy 2007-2013: Foundations Rural Development 2007-2013 « LEADER » Axis Axis 1 Competi- tiveness Axis 2 Environment + Land Management Axis 3 Economic Divers. + Quality of Life Single set of programming, financing, monitoring, auditing rules Single Rural Development Fund

8. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 8 Rural Development Policy 2007-2013: Competitiveness Axis 1: Improving Competitiveness 1. Human potential: vocational training; setting up of young farmers; early retirement; management, relief and advisory services, … 2. Physical potential: investments to improve production, processing and marketing structures (and infrastructures), … 3. Quality of agricultural production and products: adaptation to new EU standards; participation in food quality schemes; promotion for quality products. 4. Transitional measures for the new Member States (until 2008

9. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 9 Rural Development Policy 2007-2013: Land Management Axis 2: Land Management 1. Sustainable use of agricultural land: mountain areas; other areas with handicaps; Natura 2000 areas; agri- environment and animal welfare; … 2. Sustainable use of forestry land: first afforestation; first establishment of agro-forestry systems, Natura 2000 areas; forest-environment; restoring forestry production potential and introducing prevention actions; … N.B.: n Agri-environment measures are compulsory for each programme.

10. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 10 Rural Development Policy 2007-2013: Quality of Life Axis 3: Diversification of the rural economy and quality of life in rural areas 1. Diversification of the rural economy: on farm diversification; off farm diversification (micro- enterprises); tourism; protection and management of natural heritage; … 2. Improvement of the quality of life: Basic services; village renewal; training and capacity building; … N.B.: n Implementation preferably through local development strategies. n Overlapping with Structural Funds (ex ante choice).

11. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 11 Rural Development Policy post 2007-2013:LEADER “LEADER” Axis n Implementation of local development strategies through a LEADER approach to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of one or several of the three thematic axes. n Inter-territorial and trans-national cooperation. n Capacity building and working of local action groups.

12. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 12 Programme balance n Axis 1: Competitiveness at least 15% of EU programme funding n Axis 2: Land management at least 25% n Axis 3: Wider rural development at least 15% n Axis 4: LEADER approach at least 7% (but counts for the thematic axes)

13. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 13 Programming steps 1) EU strategy document setting out the EU priorities for the three policy axes 2) National strategy plans translating the EU priorities to the member state situation and ensuring complementarity with Cohesion policy 3) National or regional rural development programmes articulating the four axes

14. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 14 To support the implementation of strategies and programmes will be available: n Technical assistance at programme level for preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, information and control activities (up to 4% of programme funding) n A national rural network supporting and bringing together the organisations and administrations active in rural development (financed from the technical assistance at programme level) n A European rural development network to interface with the national networks and administrations (financed from the technical assistance at Commission initiative, 0.3% of RD funding)

15. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 15 Rural Development 2007-2013 : Programming steps

16. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 16 Financial resources: 3% or 2.66 bio EUR LEADER axis reserve 0.3% or 0.27 bio EUR Commission technical assistance

17. European Commission - Directorate General for Agriculture 17 Indexation at 2%: