Brussels, 20/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 20 February, the Rural development Committee, which comprises representatives of all 27 member states, approved a further raft of rural development programmes for 2007-2013. A long process is nearing its end. Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said that out of a total of 93 (national and regional) programmes, 85 have now been accepted.
The latest to be approved are: - the Italian region of Molise (€195 million total public spending between 2007 and 2013, with €86 million from EU coffers); - Romania (€9.97 in total, with €8.02 from the European Rural Development Fund); - Spain (€1.88 billion in Community funding for Andalucia, €402 million for Aragon, €295 million for Asturias, €51 million for La Rioja and €162 million for the Comunidad Valenciana); - United Kingdom (€377 million for Wales). The purpose of these programmes is to guarantee infrastructure and create new sources of income in rural areas. The Commission has still to formally adopt the programmes. This should come over the next few months. (L.C.)