Brussels, 05/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - Further to political agreement between the EU member States on the new European Rural Development Fund for the period 2007-2013 (EUROPE 8974), the European Commission adopted strategic guidelines for this policy on Tuesday. The document will serve as a catalogue of priorities for Member States that are to finalise their national rural development strategy plans by early 2006 at the latest. We recall that, in March, the Member States had criticised the first draft of the Commission text on strategic guidelines (EUROPE 8909). The Commission has taken some of the remarks into account, referring in its document to the “European agricultural model” defined in 1997 and aimed at competitive, sustainable and multi-functional agriculture.
The strategic guidelines aim to identify the regions in which the use of Community support in favour of rural development creates the most added value, establishes the link with the main EU priorities (Gothenburg, Lisbon), or ensures consistency with the other Community policies (cohesion and environment).
The document identifies key actions in accordance with the following four areas of intervention:
Competitiveness of agricultural and forestry sectors: To strengthen and revive the European agri-food sector, it would be necessary to take measures to: - facilitate innovation and access to research and development; - improve integration in the agri-food chain (use of advisory and assistance services); - encourage adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) (funding must complete the Commission's initiatives such as i2010 in the fields of electronic trade, digital skills and on-line learning); - stimulate a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit; - develop new outlets (support for investment and training in the field of non-food production to create new outlets and develop renewable energy material and biofuels); - improve environmental performance; - and restructure the farming sector (especially in the new Member States).
Environment and landscape: priority action maintained are: promoting environmental services and farming practices that respect animal welfare; preserving cultivated landscapes; fighting against climate change; strengthening organic farming; encouraging economic and environmental initiatives where all are winners; encouraging territorial balance.
Quality of life in rural areas: measures cold contribute to job creation: develop economic activity and job rates in rural economy in broadest sense; encourage women's access to labour market (develop structures for caring for children in rural areas to facilitate women's access to labour market); develop micro-companies and crafts; train youth in traditional rural skills (to take advantage of tourism, recreation, environmental services and quality products; encourage tourism; modernist local infrastructure, particularly in new Member States (telecommunications, transport, energy and water).
Local employment capacity: support for '”Leader” initiative provides the possibility as part of the local development strategy based on local needs and advantages to combine the three previous objectives (competitiveness, environment and quality of life/diversification). Key action is: setting up local partnership capacity, leading and promoting skills; encouraging public private partnerships; promoting cooperation and innovation; improving local governance.