sets out how the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) contributes to the development of rural areas and the agricultural sector over the 2014–2020 period towards being:
- resilient, competitive and innovative,
- climate friendly and environmentally balanced,
- socially inclusive;
lays down the rules governing European Union (EU) support for rural development, funded by the EAFRD;
explains the EAFRD’s objectives and how it works.

It was amended by Regulation (EU) 2017/2393, which introduced a series of technical modifications to the five regulations relating to the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP):

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013;
Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 on financing, management and monitoring of the CAP;
Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 on rules for direct payments to farmers;
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 on the common organisation of markets in agricultural products;
Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 on management of expenditure.

It was further amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/2220, which, among other things, lays down transitional provisions for implementing the EAFRD, including specific resources to help the recovery of the EU’s agricultural sector and rural areas following the COVID-19 pandemic.

KEY POINTS

Objectives

The EAFRD aims to:

foster competitiveness in agriculture;
ensure that natural resources are managed sustainably and that measures to tackle climate change are implemented effectively;
achieve a balanced territorial development of rural areas across the EU, including creating and maintaining employment.

Priorities

The EU supports action to meet six priority objectives:

fostering knowledge transfer and innovation;
enhancing viability and competitiveness of all types of agriculture and the sustainable management of forests;
promoting food chain organisation, including processing and marketing of agricultural products, animal welfare and risk management;
restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry;
promoting resource efficiency and the transition to a low-carbon economy;
promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.

EU Member States and regions may also address issues of particular importance in their area such as:

young farmers;
small farms;
mountain areas;
women in rural areas;
climate change mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity.

Budget

The EAFRD’s budget was set at €99.3 billion in 2015. At least 30% of this must be used for measures to take care of the environment and combat climate change and 5% is reserved for local development strategies.
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/791 revises the budget breakdown of EU support for rural development programmes (Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013).

2017 amendment of the regulation

Regulation (EU) 2017/2393, which has applied since 1 January 2018, aims to simplify and improve farmers’ access to finance under the CAP. Among other things, it introduces:

a new sector-specific income stabilisation tool providing compensation to farmers affected by a severe drop in their income;
support for insurance contracts in cases where more than 20% of a farmer’s average annual production is destroyed, for example due to adverse weather conditions.

Implementation

The regulation requires rural development policy to be consistent with other policies in this area. EU-level rules and agreements are in place to ensure that EU funding is used effectively, minimising overlaps and inconsistencies.

COVID-19 pandemic

Amending Regulation (EU) 2020/872 provides exceptional temporary emergency assistance to farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in the processing, marketing or development of agricultural products and cotton under the EAFRD.
Member States must target the support at beneficiaries who are most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, based on available evidence and objective and non-discriminatory selection criteria.
The support must take the form of a lump sum payment to be paid by 30 June 2021, based on applications for support approved by the national competent authority by 31 December 2020.
The maximum amount of support must not exceed €7,000 per farmer and €50,000 per SME.

Exceptional temporary support

Amending Regulation (EU) 2022/1033 introduces the possibility for Member States to provide for exceptional temporary liquidity support under the EAFRD for farmers and SMEs in response to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The support seeks to address the problems that put the continuity of farming activities and of small businesses that process agricultural products at risk – substantial rises in input costs, in particular for feed and fertiliser undertakings, and increased energy costs.
Farmers and SMEs will be able to receive support of up to €15,000 and €100,000 respectively. This would be paid by 15 October 2023. Member States will therefore need to submit an amendment to their rural development programme(s) introducing this new measure.

Transitional rules for the years 2021 and 2022

Amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 allows for the continued application of the rules under the 2014–2020 CAP framework, and ensures the continuity of payments to farmers and other beneficiaries of support from the EAFRD in 2021 and 2022, until the new framework applies from 1 January 2023.
In addition, exceptional temporary support to farmers and SMEs particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis will tackle ongoing liquidity problems that threaten the continuity of farming and of small businesses active in the processing, marketing or development of agricultural products.
The total amount of EU support for rural development from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022 will be a maximum of €26,896,831,880 in current prices, in accordance with the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.
A further amount of €8,070,486,840 in current prices is to be made available as additional resources under the EAFRD for the recovery of the EU agricultural sector and rural areas for the years 2021 and 2022. The regulation lays down detailed rules on how these funds should be allocated to priorities such as economic and social development, climate action, animal welfare, etc.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2014.

BACKGROUND

The EAFRD is one of two EU funds providing money to implement the CAP (the other being the European Agriculture Guarantee Fund). It seeks to encourage rural development throughout the EU, working alongside other initiatives in this area to ensure the effective use of EU funding.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 487–548).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 807/2014 of 11 March 2014 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and introducing transitional provisions (OJ L 227, 31.7.2014, pp. 1–17).

See consolidated version.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014 of 17 July 2014 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ L 227, 31.7.2014, pp. 18–68).

See consolidated version.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 of 17 July 2014 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the integrated administration and control system, rural development measures and cross compliance (OJ L 227, 31.7.2014, pp. 69–124).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 320–469).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 352/78, (EC) No 165/94, (EC) No 2799/98, (EC) No 814/2000, (EC) No 1290/2005 and (EC) No 485/2008 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 549–607).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 and Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 608–670).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 671–854).

See consolidated version.

last update 01.01.2023

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