2008/168/EC: Commission Decision of 20 February 2008 setting up the organisational structure for the European Network for Rural Development

29.2.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 56/31
COMMISSION DECISION
of 20 February 2008
setting up the organisational structure for the European Network for Rural Development
(2008/168/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (1), and in particular Article 91 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) A European Network for Rural Development for the networking of national networks, organisations and administrations active in the field of rural development at Community level was put in place in accordance with Article 67 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005. It is necessary to adopt implementing rules in order to lay down the organisational structure for the Network.
(2) In order to prepare and implement the activities provided for in Article 67(a) to (f) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, a Coordination committee should be established within the European Network for Rural Development. Therefore the organisational structure, tasks and procedural rules of the Coordination committee should be defined.
(3) In order to support the national networks and transnational cooperation initiatives as referred to in Article 67(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, a separate Leader subcommittee should be set up under the Coordination committee. The composition and the tasks of this subcommittee should be defined.
(4) In order to set up and run expert networks with a view to facilitating an exchange of expertise and supporting implementation and evaluation of the rural development policy as provided for in Article 67(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, an Expert committee on Evaluation of Rural Development Programmes should be established. The composition and the tasks of this committee should be defined.
(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Rural Development Committee,