Brussels, 25/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission adopted a communication from Commissioner Poul Nielsen on the fight against rural poverty in developing countries. The Commissioner has identified six areas for action to integrate the objectives of poverty reduction, food safety and sustainable management of natural resources, within the framework of rural development policy.
The six objectives of Community support in the rural zones of these countries are as follows: encouraging growth in the rural economy largely from support for appropriate economic sectoral policies; ensuring equitable access to the means of production, markets and services by emphasising land, rural funding and rural infrastructures; support for human and social development by investing in human resources (health, education, nutrition, water and hygiene); guarantee of sustainable management of natural resources (institutional reforms and necessary technological changes); reducing vulnerability to risk; tackling political and social exclusion of the poor in rural areas.
This communication subsequently intends to break with the practices of the past and suggests an "integrated approach" with a view to rural development. At a national level, several kinds of action aiming to support rural poverty reduction will be integrated into Community support strategies in different countries. These actions will be determined on the basis of a detailed analysis of rural poverty. The Community will begin a dialogue on the framework strategies of the fight against poverty, particularly in rural areas, and intensify its collaboration with non-State actors, such as the private sector, civil society and NGOs. At a regional level, it will make a determined effort to essentially encourage regional integration processes and to meet cross-border challenges.