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European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 — support for rural development

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS REGULATION?

This regulation:

• sets out how the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) aims to develop the agricultural sector over the 2014-2020 period to be
  • more geographically and environmentally balanced and climate-friendly
  • resilient, competitive and innovative;
• lays down the rules governing the EU’s support for rural development, funded by the EAFRD;
• explains the EAFRD’s objectives and how it works.

KEY POINTS

Objectives

The EAFRD aims to:

• improve competitiveness in agriculture;
• ensure that natural resources are managed sustainably and that measures to tackle climate change are implemented effectively;
• ensure that rural areas across the EU receive support for development, which includes creating new jobs and protecting existing ones.

Priorities

The EU supports action to meet 6 priority objectives:

• 1.

  increased knowledge transfer and innovation;

• 2.

  a more competitive agricultural sector and sustainably managed forests;

• 3.

  better food chain organisation, including processing, marketing and risk management;

• 4.

  restored, preserved and improved ecosystems;

• 5.

  improved resource efficiency and a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy; and

• 6.

  increased social inclusion, reduced poverty and better economic development in rural areas.

EU countries and regions may also focus on 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
• short supply chains (i.e. the sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of farm products).

Budget

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

Implementation

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

WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2014.

BACKGROUND

The EAFRD is one of two funds providing money to implement the EU’s common agricultural policy. It supports the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy by encouraging rural development throughout the EU, working alongside other initiatives in this area to ensure effective use of EU money.

For more information, see:

• ‘Rural development 2014–2020’ on the European Commission's website.

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

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

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

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/791 of 27 April 2015 amending Annex I to 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 (OJ L 127, 22.5.2015, pp. 1–4)

last update 31.08.2016