WRITTEN QUESTION E-1238/98

by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Proposed Rural Development Regulation

Has the Commission taken account of the following weaknesses in the proposed Rural Development Regulation?:

- Restriction to farmer clients, not the whole of the rural population including rural SME's. This will restrict the possibility of integrated rural development.

- The restriction of rural environment measures to agricultural environment.

- No clear role for rural localities, people and organizations in integrated planning.

- Lack of reference to community development measures.

- Lack of integration with national measures.

Has the Commission fully considered the advantages of broadening the scope of rural development to encompass not only agriculture but other industrial sectors that will play an increasing role in the future of rural needs, ensuring that the approach is integrated and inclusive and enables a longer term view to be taken of the rural economy?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 1998)

The Commission proposal(1) concerning rural development comprises two aspects which integrate and ensure full coverage of the needs of the agricultural and forestry sectors as well as the rural areas and their populations.

The first aspect concerns support for investments in agricultural holdings, setting-up of young farmers, training for the agricultural sector, support for early retirement, less-favoured areas and mountain farming, support for agri-environment and for improved processing and marketing of agricultural products as well as measures for the development of forestry.

The second aspect concerns the wider elements for rural development involving the development of all the resources of the territory, in particular local products, tourist and craft activities, conservation for the rural heritage as well as diversification to provide multiple activities or alternative incomes, the improvement of living conditions and the preservation of the environment.

This proposal on the agricultural sector and rural activities aims to develop in a durable way the economic, social and environmental interactions between agriculture and territory.

It is based on the conviction that a multi-disciplinary approach to rural development is capable of developing the synergies and opportunities which contribute towards the prospect of sustainability in the long term for the rural economic micro-system. In other words the future for the agricultural sector is deeply connected with that of the rural economy, in particular in the most marginal rural areas and in the agricultural sectors which are in crisis.

In addition, the Commission's proposals(2) with regard to regional policies supported by the structural funds would bring additional help to the worst affected areas of the Community. The Commission proposes to maintain objective 1 which would offer assistance through integrated programmes to the least developed parts of the Community and, as at present, it can be expected that this would include many rural areas. Outside the objective 1 regions, the new objective 2 has a specific strand addressing the problems of the rural areas. The Commission has recommended that population coverage in these areas should be 5 % of the total of the Community.

(1) COM(98) 158 final.

(2) COM(98) 131 final.