Brussels, 23/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 23 May, the rural development committee gave a positive opinion to the 2007-2013 rural development programmes of the Czech Republic and Sweden. These are the first member states to have received the green light for the next generation of rural development measures.
Over the forthcoming financial period, the Czech Republic will receive €3.615 billion of public funding, €2.815 billion of which will be EU financed, to the various axes: 22% to Axis 1 “improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry” (vocational training, setting up young farmers, early retirement, modernisation of farms, semi-subsistence farming), 55% to Axis 2 “supporting land management and improving the environment” (aid in mountainous areas, Natura 2000, agri-environmental payment, aforestation, etc.), 17% for Axis 3 “improving the quality of rural life and encouraging diversification of economic activities” (diversification towards non-agricultural activities, aid to set up small-scale companies, promotion of tourism, renovation of villages, etc.) and 5% to the LEADER scheme (local development strategies in rural areas, local action groups, innovative approaches, etc.).
The Swedish programme has been allocated €3.917 billion in total, with €1.826 billion coming from the European rural development fund. 15.5% will go to Axis 1, Axis 2 will receive 71% and 12% will go to Axis 3. (lc)