The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can contribute to balanced territorial development and improved socio-economic and social inclusion, according to a ‘Evaluation support study on the impact of the CAP on territorial development of rural areas: socioeconomic aspects’ published on Thursday 18 February by the European Commission.
According to the study, the CAP provides added value to the EU when it comes to supporting balanced territorial development.
However, as the CAP mainly targets the agricultural sector without directly considering investments in infrastructure and services, this funding alone is insufficient to address the long-term decline of these marginal areas.
In rural areas close to urban centres, CAP funding provides European added value by helping farms to resist land pressures linked to the proximity of urban areas, while offering environmental benefits at the same time, the study says.
This study contributes to the debate on the long-term vision for rural areas. The Commission will publish a report on the subject in autumn 2021.
Link to the study: http://bit.ly/3udfWCc (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)