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Document 32006D0144
European Union strategic guidelines for rural development
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European Union strategic guidelines for rural development
With these strategic guidelines the Council identifies the European Union's priorities under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). In particular, it ensures the consistency of rural development with other European policies, in particular in the field of cohesion and environment, and accompany the implementation of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the restructuring involved.
ACT
Council Decision 2006/144/EC of 20 February 2006 on Community strategic guidelines for rural development (programming period 2007 to 2013) [See amending act(s)].
SUMMARY
Rural regions account for 92 % of the territory of the European Union (EU). These regions generate 45 % of the EU's value added and provide 53 % of employment. Although the situation varies widely, in general income per inhabitant in these regions is around a third less than the European average, activity rates for women are low, and the service sector is less developed.
Rural areas therefore face particular challenges as regards growth, jobs and sustainability in the coming years. The new programming period provides an opportunity to refocus support from the new rural development fund on these objectives. Facing these challenges will require sectoral and territorial assistance measures.
Rural development and the Union’s overall aims
The rural development policy focuses on three key areas: the agri-food economy, the environment and the rural population. The future strategies and programmes will be built around four axes as follows:
The EU’s priorities for the rural development programming period 2007 - 2013
The Council sets out the EU's strategic priorities, with indicative key actions for each one. The European priorities will be incorporated into the Member States' national strategy plans and rural development programmes.
Priority 1: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors
The objective is to make the European agrifood sector more dynamic. In particular, the EU plans to promote knowledge transfer, and innovation, and strengthen investment in physical and human capital. The following could be key actions in this area:
Priority 2: Improving the environment and countryside
The resources allocated to priority 2 aim to protect the EU's natural resources and landscapes in rural areas, particularly in the fields of biodiversity, preserving high-nature value systems, water and climate change. In particular, the Union encourages:
Priority 3: Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of the rural economy
The EU plans to promote employment and improving the conditions for growth in rural areas. Key actions in this field could include:
Priority 4: Building local capacity for employment and diversification
The resources allocated to the Leader axis should contribute to improving governance and mobilising the endogenous development potential of rural areas. This involves a horizontal approach combining all three objectives - competitiveness, environment and quality of life/diversification. Key actions in this area could include:
Priority 5: Ensuring consistency in programming
When drawing up their national plans, the Member States are required to ensure that synergies between the axes are maximised and potential contradictions avoided.
Furthermore, the EU offers a framework for improving the governance and implementation of policies, in particular by creating national and European networks. These networks promote, for example, the exchange of good practice and experience regarding developing and managing rural policies.
Priority 6: Complementarity between European instruments
To ensure synergy between structural, employment and rural development policies, the Member States should ensure complementarity and coherence between actions to be financed by the ERDF, the Cohesion Fund, the ESF and the EFF on a given territory and in a given field of activity.
The demarcation line and the coordination mechanisms between actions supported by the various Funds are defined in the national strategy plan.
Meeting new challenges
This Decision was amended in 2009 in order to integrate into the strategic guidelines the new challenges facing the Union:
These objectives have a cross-cutting dimension and can therefore be integrated into the priorities of the Member States’ national strategy plans. For example, the EU encourages the Member States to:
References
Act |
Entry into force |
Deadline for transposition in the Member States |
Official Journal |
Council Decision 2006/144/EC |
20.2.2006 |
- |
OJ L 55, 25.2.2006 |
Amending act(s) |
Entry into force |
Deadline for transposition in the Member States |
Official Journal |
Council Decision 2009/61/CE |
19.1.2009 |
- |
OJ L 30, 31.1.2009 |
RELATED ACTS
Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)[Official Journal L 277 of 21.10.2005] This Regulation creates one single instrument for funding rural development policy: the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Last updated: 30.06.2011