Brussels, 14/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - In a letter addressed to the Czech Minister for Agriculture, Commissioner Franz Fischler confirmed the political agreement reached on the Czech operational programme for rural development and multi-functional agriculture. The agreement will be formally approved on 1 May 2004, when the Czech Republic joins the EEU. The programme covers the whole territory of the Czech Republic, except the capital of Prague, and includes a broad range of ambitious rural development measures which give special emphasis to the replacement of outdated technologies, increased competitiveness, consolidation of land ownership, environmental protection and the stabilisation of existing work places in the Czech rural areas.
Public spending in favour of the programme will be EUR 250.6 million for the period 2004-2006, including EUR 173.9 million from the EU budget (EUR 166.6 million from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guidance section, and 7.3 million from the Financial Instruments for Fisheries Guidance). The programme provides for the following priorities: - aid to agriculture, to the processing of farm produce and to forestry (Community contribution EUR 97.5 million); - rural development, fisheries and vocational training (EUR 73.4 million from Community funds); - and technical assistance (EUR 3 million from the EU budget) for implementation of the programme.