Our beautiful countryside : rural development in the EU.
Date: 2009-10-12
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Subjects: agricultural production, common agricultural policy, quality of life, rural development, rural region, sustainable development

The EU  
is rural

THE FACTS

YES BUT...

Over 90 % of the EU’s territory is rural.
Rural areas are home to nearly 60 % of 
the population.

The EU has a vast range of landscapes, 
from mountains to plains, from great 
forests to rolling fields, home for a huge 
variety of species of plants and animals 
(biodiversity).

EU farmers and foresters provide safe, 
high quality food at affordable prices, 
as well as energy sources, fibres and 
construction materials.

The countryside is attractive to visit, to 
live in and to set up new businesses.

Rural tourism is popular and an 
alternative source of income for rural 
businesses.

The population is ageing and many 
young people head for the cities.
Skills, income and employment levels 
are often lower than in urban areas.

The beauty of the land and biodiversity 
could be threatened by bad practices.

They may need help to become or to 
remain competitive.
Bad practices could damage the 
environment and contribute to climate 
change.

Local services and infrastructures must 
be good enough to make country life 
sustainable.

Some farmers or other countryside 
businesses may need financial help, 
training and guidance to break into new 
and different activities.

Why have a rural 
development policy?

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Do you want good quality, 
affordable, locally-grown food?

Are you concerned about the 
environment and climate change?

Do you have a favourite  
"place in the country"?

Do you agree that it is important  
to keep rural communities alive  
and well?

Most of us would answer "YES" to at least one of the above 
questions. 

Not many people know that over 90% of the EU's territory is 
defined as "rural". Nearly 60% of the population live in these 
rural areas.

It is up to us to look after our precious countryside, its villages, 
its wildlife and farming.

It is for these reasons that the EU devotes so much attention, 
time and money to a common rural development policy. This 
booklet introduces you to the subject and points you towards 
more detailed information sources. 

Our Beautiful 
Countryside
  Rural development in the EU

European Commission
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/

European Commission
Agriculture and Rural Development

Project : DG AGRI Rural development
Project Manager : Vincent Gallego
Last proofreading by : Vincent Gallego
Prepress Operator : Sabine Bauwens

Filename : Rural Development.indd
Last modification date : 09 July 2009 - 10:06:48
Output date : 09 July 2009 - 14:01:27
Simulation ICC Profile : ISO Coated v2 (330 %)
Proof paper : FOGRA Certified Perfect Proof 200 g

Date : 

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Client’s name :  .

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Client s signature for approval :

Avenue de Tervueren 270 • B-1150 Brussels
Tel. + 32.2.235.56.00 • Fax + 32.2.235.56.99
prepress@tipik.eu • www.tipik.eu

Studio:Graphics2:DG-AGRI:DG-AGRI 023 Rural Development:3. STUDIO:6. Layouts:Rural Development Folder:Rural Development.indd

 
What is rural 
development?

Rural development policy sets out to improve:

1. the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors

2. the environment and countryside

3.  the quality of life and range of economic activities in rural areas

4.  the capacity of rural communities to create new jobs and 

opportunities

Rural development policy offers those who live and work in rural areas 
financial and practical assistance to keep the countryside alive and 
farmers competitive. This is translated into the EU's rural development 
policy, 2007- 2013, which is described briefly in the following pages.

The European  
Union and its  
member countries 
have decided to  
make rural 
development  
an essential pillar  
of the EU’s common 
agricultural policy 
(CAP). 

Rural Development 
2007-2013

Projected spending on rural development over the 2007-2013 period

Total funding

EU contribution

EUR 225.7 billion

EUR 90.8 billion

Who 
decides 
what?

The  general  rules  for  rural  development  policy  are 
established by the member countries and the EU institutions 
together. Member states decide exactly which parts of 
the  policy  they  wish  to  promote.  Rural  development 
programmes are decided at national, regional and local 
level but the national state authorities are ultimately 
responsible for their correct implementation.

All rural stakeholders, not only farmers, can help devise 
and be part of a rural development programme. The 
approach is ‘bottom up’ not ‘top down’. The decisions 
are taken at local level.

Go  to  the  relevant  website  to  see  what  your  country  
is doing.

RuRAL DEvELOPMEnt POLICy FOR 2007 tO 2013 IS FOCuSED On thREE PRIORIty AREAS

1  

 Making farming 

and forestry more 
competitive – 34%  
of the total

2  

 Improving the  

environment  
and the countryside  
– 44% of the total

3  

Improving the quality of life in rural 
areas and encouraging economic 
diversification – 13% of the total

Includes:

For example:

Through:

•  Grants for new machinery (e.g. to improve food  

quality and hygiene)

•   Aids to young farmers to set themselves  

up in business

•   Agri-environment schemes supporting specific farming 
practices that help to protect the environment and the 
countryside. 

•   Conserving biodiversity 

•   Vocational training to improve technical  

•   Forest related measures such as planting of new forests

and economic expertise

•   Special assistance to farmers in mountainous or other 

difficult farming areas

•   Creating and expanding small businesses

•   Promoting tourism activities on and off the farm

•   Village renovation and rural heritage conservation

•   Improving services and small scale infrastructures for village renewal

•   Technology for renewable energy, information and communication 

LEADER (6%) provides 
 for locally led rural 
development initiatives  
in support of the 3  
priority areas above.  
Technical assistance  
makes up the remaining  
3% of the budget.

Project : DG AGRI Rural development
Project Manager : Vincent Gallego
Last proofreading by : Vincent Gallego
Prepress Operator : Sabine Bauwens

Filename : Rural Development.indd
Last modification date : 09 July 2009 - 10:06:48
Output date : 09 July 2009 - 14:01:27
Simulation ICC Profile : ISO Coated v2 (330 %)
Proof paper : FOGRA Certified Perfect Proof 200 g

Date : 

. .  . .  .  .  / . .  . .  .  .  / 2009

Client’s name :  .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Client’s signature for approval :

Avenue de Tervueren 270 • B-1150 Brussels
Tel. + 32.2.235.56.00 • Fax + 32.2.235.56.99
prepress@tipik.eu • www.tipik.eu

Studio:Graphics2:DG-AGRI:DG-AGRI 023 Rural Development:3. STUDIO:6. Layouts:Rural Development Folder:Rural Development.indd