Brussels, 20/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 September, the Rural Development Committee, made up of representatives from all 27 EU member states, gave a positive opinion to several new generation (for the period 2007-2013) rural development programmes. These programmes are designed to guarantee infrastructure, create new income opportunities for rural regions, promote growth and fight unemployment.
Austria. The total budget for Austria will be €7.8 billion in public funding (for the period 2007-2013), with €3.9 billion of this to be funded from the EU budget (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, EAFRD).
Germany. Programmes were presented by three Länder: Hamburg (€25.3 billion from the EAFRD), Lower Saxony-Bremen (€815.4 of Community funding) and Saarland (€28.3 million from the EAFRD)
Hungary. The programme's total budget is €5.159 billion, with €3.805 from the EU budget.
Italy. The committee approved the programmes submitted by the regions of Veneto (€914.7 million in total, with €402.5 from the EAFRD), Lombardia (€899.8 million, with €395.9 from the EAFRD) and Tuscany (€369.2 million from the EAFRD, out of a total of €839.1 million).
Lithuania. Total public funding will be €2.260 billion from 2007-2013, €1.743 of which will come from Community funding.
Luxembourg. Of a total budget of €368.5 million, the EAFRD will contribute €90 million.
Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said that this was the fourth set of rural development programmes to be approved by the committee. The remainder will be approved over the coming months. (lc)