14.6.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC161/39
OpiniononExtra-urbanand/orruralareas
(93/C161/11
On24March1992,theEconomicandSocialCommittee,actingunderthefourthparagraph
ofArticle20oftheRulesofProcedure,decidedtodrawupanOpiniononExtra-urban
and/orruralareas.
TheSectionforRegionalDevelopmentandTownandCountryPlanning,whichwasrespon­
sibleforpreparingtheCommittee'sworkonthematter,adopteditsOpinionon20April
1993.TheRapporteurwasMrSalmon.
Atits305thPlenarySession(meetingof28April),theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionby78votesto8,with26abstentions .
1.Introduction withanageingpopulation,theneedforappropriate
socialandmedicalservices,continuingadulttraining
andland-useplanning.TheCommitteenotesthatthe
CommonAgriculturalPolicy(CAP),andparticularly
itsstructuralcomponent,isnotdevelopment-neutral
providedotherpolicies(regional,socialetc.)alsoplay
theirpart.Thewholequestionofchangesinfarming
andCAPreformcannotbeoverlookedinthiscontext,
sincethecountrysidewouldnotbewhatitiswithout
thefarmingcommunity .1.1.TheCommitteeemphasizestheneedtoreverse
thetrendtowardsanevenhigherconcentration of
populationinmajorurbancentres(between70and
80%)—asituationalreadycriticizedintheGreen
PaperontheUrbanEnvironment .
1.2.TheCommitteeconsidersthatthisobjectivecan
onlybeachievedbyprovidingresidentsofruraland
extra-urbanareaswithsuitablyadaptedamenitiesand
servicesthatareonaparwiththosefoundincities.In
thepresentOwn-initiative Opinion,theCommitteeis
seekingtohelpsecureabetterbalancebetweentown
andcountry.1.5.TheCommittee'sdecisiontodrawupthisOpin­
ionresultsinpartfromtheinclusion,bytheTreatyon
EuropeanUnion,ofruraldevelopmentamongtheaims
ofthepolicyoneconomicandsocialunion.
1.6.BalancedEuropeanintegrationonthebasisof
economicandsocialcohesionisnotpossiblewithout
dueregardforthelivingconditionsandenvironment
inallregions.1.3.TheinitialsectionsoftheOpinionlookatthe
problemsofdefining'extra-urbanand/orruralareas'
andthebroadimbalancesbetweenruralandurban
environments .Studiesandproposalsmadebyorganiza­
tionsrepresentingruralcommunitiesarediscussed,tog­
etherwithpointsmadeathearings.Successfulrural
developmentprojectsinanumberofMemberStates
areanalyzedintheaccompanying Report.
1.4.Theapproachadoptedheretoextra-urbanand/
orruraldevelopment isaglobalonewhichtakes
accountofpreviousCommitteeOpinions(*)onanum­
berofspecificaspects,particularlythoseassociated2.Currentsituation
2.1.Afully-fledgedstrategyforthedevelopmentof
ruralareasshouldbeestablishedatCommunitylevel.
Thisstrategywouldbedesignedtoimprovecoordi­
nationofthevariousCommunityresources,financial
instrumentsandregulationsaspartofacomprehensive
approachtoEuropeanruralsocietyanditsdevelop­
ment.Tothisend,moreinformationisrequiredabout
theruralenvironmentanditsspecificproblems,and
itwillbenecessarytoamplifythesurveysinother
Commissionreports.Thestrategywillhavetobedirect­
edalongthreebasiclines:partnership,bottom-updevel­
opmentandthesubsidiarityprinciple.(J)Theroleandinfluenceoflocalandregionalauthoritiesand
socio-economic organizations inthefieldofthecommon
regionalpolicy—OJNoC53,3.5.1980.
GreenPaperontheUrbanEnvironment—OJNoC269,
14.10.1991.
Environmentandagriculture—OJNoC298,27.11.1989.
Thefutureofruralsociety—OJNoC298,27.11.1989.
Europe2000—OJNoC339,31.12.1991.
Transport2000plus—OJNoC49,24.2.1992.
OrganizationoftheEuropeanYearoftheElderly—OJNo
C169,6.6.1992.
Europe2000:OutlookforthedevelopmentoftheCom­
munity'sterritory—OJNoC287,4.11.1992.2.2.Itisnecessarytoestablishanewdefinitionof
'extra-urban'and'rural'areas,bearinginmindthe

NoC161/40 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 14.6.93
fundamental differencesbetweentheTwelve.Therural
environment intheNetherlands ,France,theUnited
Kingdom,ItalyorPortugalcannotbedefinedinthe
sameway.Thecriteriafordefiningextra-urbanand
ruralareasareimportant—eveniftheyaresometimes
ofamicro-economic nature—andmustnotbepurely
quantitative .
2.3.Anyanalysisshouldthereforeindicate(a)the
breakdownoftheruralpopulationbycategory[econ­
omicallyactive,farmers,shopkeepers,craftsmen,small
andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs),professions,
workers,youngpeople,theelderly,etc.],(b)therole
offarmersandtheirfamilies,(c)themaineconomic
activities,(d)employmentinruralareas,(e)inward,
outwardandinternalmobility,(f)services,communi­
cationsandinfrastructure ,(g)educational,vocational
trainingandculturalfacilities,and(h)incomelevels.3.3.Anewapproachtoruralissuesintermsoftown
andcountryplanningisrequiredtosecureaqualityof
lifewhichcanandmustbuttressruralcommunities
againsttheviolenceanddeteriorationoflargetowns.
3.3.1.Thisdeterioration isallthemoreworrying
sinceithasemergedinareaswhichshouldreallybe
definedas'builtup'ratherthanastownsinthetra­
ditionalsense;suchareasarecomingtonegatethevery
conceptofwhattownsshouldbe.
Largecities,withalltheirnegativeaspects,continue
toexpand,despitetheresearchandrecommendations
containedintheGreenPaperontheUrbanEnviron­
ment(1).Weshouldexaminewhatthis'urban
obsession'permeatingoursocietyis;ifwedonottake
countermeasures ,urbancatastrophewillresult.
Thegrowthof'dormitorytowns',seenasaresponse
toapressingneed,hastriggeredawholelitanyof
detrimentaleffectscausedbylong-distancecommuting,
mediocrehousingandisolationforheadsofhousehold.
Thereisnoquestionofpitting'town'against'country';
itismoreaquestionofstrikingtherightbalance
andencouragingthecomplementary aspectsoftowns,
urbanareasandextra-urban/ruralareas,particularly
byimprovingthedistributionofemployment .2.4.Thewayinwhichpowersandtherefore
responsibilities fortheruralenvironmentaredistrib­
utedbetweenlocal,regional,nationalandCommunity
authoritieswillhavetobeexamined .
2.5.Itisalsonecessarytoworkoutdefinitionsof
ruraldevelopmentinstruments—suchasland-use
planning,urbanandrealestaterestrictionsand/or
incentives,economicdevelopment ,environmental
measures,culturalandnaturalheritagemanagement ,
andfinancialinstruments—usedinpartnershipby
ruralcommunitiesanddecision-making centres.3.4.Theaimofeconomicandsocialcohesion,which
hasbeengivenextraweightbytheUnionTreaty,
challengesustorethinkourideasonhowandwhere
SMEs/SMIs,servicesandbusinessesshouldbemaintai­
nedandestablishedinruralareas.Inregionswhere
initiativeshavebeentakentosupportandsetupbusi­
nessesandservices,stablejobshavebeencreated.
3.Comments3.5.TheCommitteenotesthatconvincing,success­
fulventureshavealwaysbeenunderpinned bythe
effortsofindividualsandbythefirmpoliticalwill
ofthesocio-occupational interestgroupsandelected
representatives intheregions.
3.6.Ontheotherhand,hastyrelocationsimposed
withoutanyconsultationorpreparationcannotprovide
propersolutionsforsecuringalong-termbalanceddis­
tributionofpublicauthorities,schoolsandnational
firms.3.1.Thereareseveralreasonsforruraldepopu­
lation:extensivemodernization (whichhasledtothe
disappearance ofanumberoftraditionalfarms)
absenceordeteriorationofcommunication networks,
disappearance orcontractionofpublicservices,
employmentdifficulties,lowfarmincomes,poorcareer
prospects(inparticularforwomenandyoungpeople),
distancefromeducationalandtrainingcentres,lack
ofdecenthousing,absenceofasocio-culturalfabric,
strategiesworkinginoppositedirectionsandthe
deteriorationofruralsociety'simage.3.7.Thewaythepublicauthoritiesareportraying
theruralcommunitytodayisamatterforconcern.The
symbolicrelationshipbetween'Europeandcompeti­
3.2.Allthisdemonstrates thefailureoflocalauthori­
ties,thetwelvegovernmentsandtheECCouncilto
pursueacoordinated ,overallstrategy. (')Doc.COM(90)218finalof27.6.1990.

14.6.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC161/41
tiveness'isusedtodefineurbandevelopmentobjectives,
whereastheruralcommunityisperceivedintermsof
'solidarity'and'handicap'.4.1.1.Thisnewapproachshouldprovideforthe
establishmentofregionalbodies,representingeconomic
andsocialinterests,tohelpsecureadegreeofcoherence
betweenpoliciesimplementedbythevariousdecision­
makingbodies(EC,national,regional,district,local,
orsub-regionallocalauthorities).
3.8.Itisclearthatfarmerslookaftertheenviron­
mentinthecountrysideandwoodland,andthatthe
survivalofthefarmingcommunityisessentialifconser­
vationistocontinue;decentincomesandlivingcon­
ditionsareapre-requisiteforthis.4.2.Todemonstrate Europe'scommitment to
developingruralareas,theCommissionmustdesignate
aspecificDirectorate-General withoverallresponsi­
bilityforallruralareaissues(land-useplanning,
regionalpolicies,development ,environment ,rural
development ,structuralpolicies,prospects).ThisDirec­
torateshouldbeprovidedwithadequateresourcesand
funds. 4.Proposals
TheCommission shouldatthesametimeestablisha
consultativebodywhichwilldealspecificallywiththe
implementation ofthispolicy,andworkinclosecon­
junctionwithrepresentatives oftheruralcommunity .Theruralcommunityiswaitingdespairinglyforaction.
Despitethestatementsanddeclarationsofintentset
outintheUnionTreaty,thepeopleinthiscommunity
wouldnotunderstandfailuretotakeurgentsurvival
measures.Men,womenandyoungpeopleinrural
areasviewthemselvesasanassetforEuropeandfeel,
throughouttheCommunity ,thattheyshouldbeoffered
alivelihoodandtheprospectofadecentfuture.
Consultation procedures,jointproposalsandthe
increaseinthenumberofassociations ,alltestifyto
thesenseofresponsibilityandthethoughtputinto
proposalsandprojectsbytheruralpopulation .4.3.ThenewDirectorate-General withoverall
responsibility shouldpromotetheestablishment and
developmentofland-useplanningdelegationsinevery
MemberState.These,setupalongthelinesofthe
currentECdelegations,shouldpooltheirstudiesand
projectsundertheumbrellaofa'Europeanobservation
centreforland-usedevelopment'.Thiscentre,working
incollaboration withthebodiesreferredtoin4.1.1,
wouldchannelinformationtoregionsenablingthem
todrawuptheirowndevelopmentstrategies.Europeneedsadeterminedstrategyforplanningand
developingruralareas.Thepolicywhichleadstorural
depopulationandexcessivepopulationconcentration
incapitalcitiesandahandfulofregionalcentresmust
bestopped.
Whatisatstakeisbalanceddevelopmentthroughout
theCommunity ,socialandeconomiccohesioninMem­
berStates,andabalancedmixofpopulationandactivi­
ties.4.4.TherelevantCommunityauthoritymustmove
quicklytoestablishtherequisiteoperational ,insti­
tutionalandfinancialresources .Someofthese
resourcesmayalreadybeavailableunderthestructural
funds,asdefinedbytheframeworkregulation.Finan­
cialresourcesshouldbetoppedupconsiderably ,sothat
thenecessaryvigorousactioncanbetaken.
Theproposalstakeaccountofthecurrentsituationand
anumberofcommentssetoutabove.
4.5.Thepolicyanditsmachinerywillhavetomatch
uptothecomplexityofthelong-termmeasures
resultingfrominteractionwithotherdevelopmentsand
allowdecisionstobetakenpromptlyonspecificon-the­
spotmeasuresproposedbyindividualsorcommunities .
Straightforward solutionsmustbefoundquickly.
FrameworkagreementssettingoutobjectivesatEuro­
peanandnationallevelcouldbefleshedoutby
implementation agreementstargettedtospecificobjec­
tives;theseagreementsbetweenregionsandtheCom­
munitywouldbemonitoredandguaranteedbythe
MemberStates.4.1.OneoftheCommunity'sprioritytasksinthis
sphereistospecifywhatismeantby'rural'.The
definitionofruralareasmustbeexpandedtotake
accountoftownsandconurbations whichhaveaclose
relationshipwithruralcommunities ,eventhoughthese
areasarehighlypopulated .Anoperationaldefinition
wouldbemoreusefulthanaquantitativedefinition.
Quantitativecriteria(populationthreshold)couldbe
combinedwithqualitativecriteria(function).

NoC161/42 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 14.6.93
areas.Thespecificproblemsofislandsmustbetaken
intoaccounttoensurethatallareasareservedby
transportlinks.4.6.Partnershipandagenuinepolicybasedonagree­
menttofurtherruraldevelopmentshouldbepromoted
betweenthevariouspartiesinvolved:—local,districts,
regions,MemberStatesandtheEuropeanCommunity
—onthebasisofacleardefinitionofrespective
responsibilities . 4.9.1.Newcommunication technologies (digital)
shouldbeintroducedinruralareassoastoencourage
business.Theymustcostthesame,ifnotless,asin
urbanareas.
4.6.1.Itisofparamountimportancetoestablish
pragmatic,flexibleoperationalproceduresforthispart­
nership,soastoensurethatsocio-economic representa­
tivebodiesandotherassociatedbodiescanbeclosely
involvedindefiningandimplementingthebroadlines
ofruraldevelopment (preparation,decision-making
andfollow-up)atlocal,regional,nationalandCom­
munitylevels.Theseprocedureswillmakeforeasy
accesstoECfinancing.4.10.Agricultureanditsnaturalpartner,thefood
industry,arevitalcomponentsofnationaltradebal­
ances.TherecentCAPreformisaheavyburdenforthe
futureofthefarmingsectorandtheruralcommunityas
awhole.
4.10.1.Moreeffectiveaccompanying measureswill
certainlybeneeded,toensurethatwhensmallfarms
gooutofbusinesstheirlandcontinuestobeusedfor
farmingpurposes.4.7.Allformsofvoluntarycooperationbetween
localandsub-regionalauthoritiesonjointschemes
shouldbeencouraged .Inordertofostertheestablish­
mentandimplementation ofoveralldevelopmentpro­
jects,stepsshouldbetakentopromotenewinstruments
fordiscussionandactionbyelectedrepresentatives ,
thusencouraginglocalsynergyandensuringthe
involvementofsocio-occupational operators.4.10.2.Techniquesusedintheproductionandsales
promotionofqualityproductsmustbeimproved.
4.11.Tourismshouldplayafully-fledgedrolein
ruraleconomies.Itsdevelopmentwouldentailahefty
increaseinnewtouristfacilities,withhigh-quality
accommodation andservicesandefficientdistribution
andmarketingnetworks.Trainingforpeopletoprovide
theseservices,investmentaid,thecreationofanew
legalframeworkallowingbetteropportunitiesforcom­
biningtouristandfarmingactivities,areallvital.4.8.'Developers'areneededtooverseetheseprojects
fromthedesignstagetothemanagementstage,but
existingbodiesaretoofragmented (farmingandagri­
culturalbodies)ortoogeneralist (trade,socialand
economicbodies)toachievethis.
Farmtourismshouldalsobeencouraged,byoffering
incentivesfortherefurbishment andmodernization of
farmbuildings.
4.12.Inaneconomicsystemwherecompetitiveness
isthewatchword,thelong-termviabilityofnumerous
businesseslocatedinruralareasisjeopardizedbythe
costsrelatedtotheirlocation(accesstocommuni­
cationsandtelecommunications networks,totraining
andadvicecentres,etc.).4.8.1.Itwillbenecessarytosetupinstitutesbringing
togetherprofessionals ,investors,andrepresentatives of
universitiesandspecialistschools.Theiraimwillbeto
trainemployees,managersofruralorganizationsand
qualifiedexperts.Thelattermustbeabletohelpwith
themarketingofhigh-qualityitems(biologicaland
otherauthenticproducts),theproducersofwhichare
notfamiliarwithdistributiontechniques,interalia
withinexistingstructuressuchascooperativesand
associations .Theyshouldtrainuptheirownlocal
ruraldevelopmentagentsandavoidbringinginoutside
'technocrats'. Currentresourcesareinadequateforovercomingthese
handicaps.
4.12.1.Local'partnership'arrangements ,under
whicheconomicandsocialoperatorsprovideadvice
andconcreteassistance,areanimportantpartofsup­
portforbusinessdevelopmentinruralareas.4.9.Theexpansionofthemotorwayandhigh-speed
trainnetworkisvitalifMemberStatesaretohave
fullaccesstotheEuropeantransportsystem.Butthis
networkcanonlybedescribedasbroad-meshed ,given
thedistancebetweenmotorwaysliproadsandhigh­
speedtrainstations.Itisvitaltobuildupthelocal
transportnetwork,includingrailfreightlinks,inruralGreaterresourcesmustbechannelledtothislocal
'partnership'supportforbusinessmanagers

14.6.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC161/43
incomes,fewrestrictionsonsupermarketdevelop­
ments,difficultyoffindingsomebodywillingtobuy
theirbusinesswhentheyretire).andprojectleaders(welcomingnewcomerstothearea,
advice,training,informationfacilities,provisionofcon­
tracts).Intheinterestsofefficiency,thesupport
arrangementsmustbebackedupbynationalandEuro­
peanprofessionalrepresentative organizations ;these
mustendeavourtoimprovetheexchangeofexperience
andinformationandtocoverthewidevarietyoflocal
situations .4.13.2.Taxrevenuefromthedistributionsector
shouldbesharedoutmorefairlyandshouldhelpmain­
tainanddevelopthesectorinproblemareas.
4.12.2.Tocompensateforthehandicapscausedby
abusiness'sgeographicallocation,financialsupport
instruments ,earmarkedforruralareas,togetherwith
economicandtechnicalsupportinstruments,shouldbe
provided (accesstoacommonpoolofknow-how,
sharedequipment,etc.).Thenumberofmembersoftheprofessionslivingin
ruralareasisofgreatimportanceforemploymentand
thisinturninfluenceseconomicandsocialdevelop­
ment.Theprofessionsmustbeinvolvedinconsultation ,
theformulationofproposalsandactionatlocallevel.
Thecontinuationofthesepublicservicesshouldbe
guaranteedbyspecificmeasures.Itistheseservices
whichsafeguardthequalityoflife(health,advice,
security,protectionoftheenvironment ,etc.).Grantsfor'smallprojects'shouldbemadeavailableto
smallfirms,andtheCommunityinstrumentsforsmall
ruralfirmsmustcoverallareasofeconomicactivity
(structuralfunds,Objective5betc.).
4.14.Ruralareasarehithardbytheflightfromthe
land,theinvertedagepyramidandisolation.Family
employment (home-basedchildcare,domesticwork,
assistanceforolderpeople)helpsmaintainthesocio­
economicfabricandfosteracertainqualityoflifein
vulnerableareas.Individual (non-company )farms,craftindustries,busi­
nessesandindustriesmustbeprovidedwithalegal,
taxationandsocialframeworkwhichencouragestheir
development .
Measuresshouldbeadoptedtofostercapitalaccumu­
lation:incentivesforsavingsinlocalbanks,andfor
venturecapital,taxexemption .4.14.1.Additionalresourcesmustbeallottedtothe
developmentoffamilywork(taxincentives,infor­
mationcampaigns)andtoimprovequality(training,
diversification ofservicesonoffer,acknowledgement
ofthestatusoffamilywork).MemberStatesandlocalcommunities mustendeavour
tohelpruralbusinessesandfarmsnarrowthegap
betweeninvestmentcostsandreturns,andreducethe
costofownershiptransfers(chargesonsales,inherit­
anceduties). 4.15.Ruralpopulationsshouldhavethesameedu­
cationalandtrainingopportunities asurbandwellers.
Tothisend,schoolanduniversitygrantsshouldbe
toppeduptotakeaccountoffactorswhichpushupthe
costofaccesstoeducationforruraldwellers(distancein
particular).Similarly,adulteducationshouldbepro­
motedbymeansofapolicyhammeredoutbetweenthe
MemberStateandregionconcernedandeducational­
ists,backedupacrosstheboardbytheEuropeanSocial
Fund.Thereshouldbegrantsforyoungpeoplewhosetupin
farmingorbusinessinruralareasandaguaranteefund
fordevelopingbusinessinruralareasshouldbesetup.
Itsaimmustbetocreateanattractive,welcoming
environment forfirms.
4.13.Apolicyforensuringhigh-qualityservices
shouldbedrawnup.Publicservicesarebeingcutback
andtheirqualityisdeteriorating .Financialreturnmust
notbethesolecriterion;itmustnotsupplantthe
conceptthatapublicserviceshouldguaranteeeconomic
andsocialviability.Thelattershouldbemaintainedby
systematically establishingorganizationblueprintsfor
health,transport,postalservicesandtelecommuni­
cations,educationandsafety.4.15.1.Asolutiontothedifficultiesinvolvedinpro­
vidingeducationforyoungruralpeople(widegeo­
graphicspread,lackofsuitablepremises,lownumbers,
etc.)may,interalia,lieinsettingupjointlocalauthority
consultationbodies,involvingelectedrepresentatives ,
teachersandparents.
4.15.2.Studentstendtosettleintheregionwhere
theywenttouniversity;theestablishment ofschools
andsmalluniversitiesinnon-urbanand/orruralareas
shouldthereforebeencouraged .4.13.1.Small-scaleservicefirmsandretailershaveto
overcomeconsiderablehandicapsinruralareas(low
populationdensityandanageingpopulation,low

NoC161/44 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 14.6.93
tyapproachwiththeresultingeconomiesofscale,
wouldenablesocio-cultural facilitiesandbodiestobe
setup.4.16.Thepoolofrentedruralaccommodation is
inadequateinbothquantityandquality,hampering
mobilityandeconomicdevelopment .City-orientedaid
andsupportmeasuresmustbeadaptedandmadeavail­
abletoruralareas.Thiscouldmeanspecialcredit
arrangements forthecountryside,greaterdevolved
powersforlocalbodies,ortaxincentivestofacilitate
theestablishmentofnewoperators .4.19.1.Openingsneedtobecreatedforindividuals
toorganizeandmobilizelocalenergies.
4.19.2.Actionshouldbetakentoencourageand
strengthenruralassociationsandorganizationswhich
caneliminatetheisolationoflocalinhabitantsand
engageinvariousactivitieswhichthelocalauthorities
aretoopoortofinance.4.16.1.Owner-occupiers ,oftenelderly,generallylive
insub-standardaccommodation .Housingimprove­
mentschemesandappropriateloanswouldhelpthem
tostayintheirownhomes,iftheywanttodoso.
4.16.2.Appropriatemeasuresshouldbetakento
encouragetheusefortemporaryortouristaccommo­
dationofwhatisinmanycasesaremarkableheritage.4.20.Urbanandrurallifestylesareincreasinglysimi­
lar.Incontrast,thedifferencebetweenthetwohabitats
remainsstrong:congestioninone,depopulation inthe
other.Movementbetweenthese'twoworlds'mustbe
facilitated,astheyareinterdependent andcomplemen­
tary.
4.17.Thecountryside'shistoricalheritageshouldbe
properlycataloguedandpublicizedinordertomakeit
morewidelyknown. 4.20.1.Thiswillentailachangeofoutlookonthe
partoftown-dwellers andanawakeningofawareness
intheruralcommunity .Stepstohighlightwhatthe
countrysidehastoofferintermsofitsbeauty,products,
architecturalandculturalheritage,environmentand
know-how,willhelp.4.17.1.Assistanceinrefurbishing buildingsis
urgentlyrequired,inordertoprovideaccommodation
forlocalworkersandnewbusinesses .
4.20.2.Substantialresourcesandeffortsmustbe
devotedbytheECandtheMemberStatestoinfor­
mationcampaignsabouttheadvantagesofworkingin
aruralenvironment ,andtorehabilitationoftheimage
ofrurallifeviathemedia.4.18.MemberStatesshouldbeencouragedtopro­
videfinancialbenefitsforfarmerstoassistthemto
makethebestuseoftheirland;softloansforland
purchase,tenancyincentives,taxexemption .
CAPback-upmeasuresmustbeimplementedaspart
ofablueprintforland-useorganizationandplanning.5.Conclusion
Regional-level developmentschemesshouldbebetter
coordinated . 5.1.Rurallifeisnot,andcannotbe,acoverfor
aflawedagriculturalpolicy.IftheEuropeanUnion
demandsthat,inordertoachieveeconomicandsocial
cohesions,theCommunitynarrowthedevelopmentgap
betweenitsregions-includingruralzones—thenthe
countrysidemustbeattractiveanditsdevelopment
stimulated .4.18.1.Itisessentialtohavesub-regionalmachinery,
ifnecessarydecentralized ,whichservesasaforumfor
consultation,studyandplanning,andhasthetaskof
shapingaforward-planning schemeforrur&lareasand
activities,inthelightofregional-levelland-useplanning
regulations .
5.2.Europeisbeingofferedanopportunity :hereis
analternativetourbanandsuburbancrisis,areal
blueprintforthesocietyoftomorrow .
4.19.Thelocalauthorityareaoftherightsize
remainsthebest-knownunitindailylife,andshould
thereforebepreserved.Moreover,across-localauthori­Wherethere'sawill,there'saway.

14.6.93 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC161/45
workinginoppositedirectionsorcancellingeach
otherout:Thepeopleofthecountrysidehavethiswill:the
Communityauthoritiesmustshareit,andpavethe
way: —byprovidingtheCommissionwiththenecessary
resourcestoimplementthispolicy;
byapurposefulpolicyforthedevelopmentofextra­
urbanand/orruralareas;byadoptinganoverallapproachtotheactiontobe
taken,giventangibleformbythedesignationofa
Directorate-General withoverallresponsibility ,as
definedinparagraphs4.2and4.3,andtheestablish­
mentofaspecificconsultativebody.—bycoordinatingallthestrategiesandintegrating
othersectoralpolicies,thuspreventingthemfrom
DoneatBrussels,28April1993.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
SusanneTIEMANN
APPENDIX
totheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialcommittee
Thefollowingproposedamendment ,tabledinaccordancewiththeRulesofProcedure,wasrejectedbythe
PlenarySession.
AmendmenttabledbyMrPricoloandMrBentoGonfalves
Point4.10
Replace'TherecentCAPreformisaheavyburdenforthefutureofthefarmingsectorandtherural
communityasawhole'by:
'ThechangesintroducedbytherecentCAPreformcould,iffollowedbyGeneralAgreementonTariffsand
Trade(GATT)negotiationswhichgofurtherthantheirpresentcontent,haveafurthernegativeimpacton
Communityagricultureandinparticularonfarmingindisadvantaged regions,whicharepredominantly
rural.'
Reasons
TheCAPreformhasmarkedthetransitionfromanincomespolicyimplementedthroughpricestoanincomes
policyimplementedthroughdirectsupport(aidperhectare).
ItistooearlytomakesuchaclearlynegativeassessmentoftheCAPreformasthatvoicedbytheRapporteur .
ItisGATTwhichisthepresentproblem,i.e.theriskthatthenegotiationswillleadtofurther,majorlimits
orrestraintsonCommunityagriculture .
Voting
For:37,against:43,abstentions :21.