1. Why is EU rural development policy needed?

The EU has a responsibility to look after the territory and population of its Member States. This role includes ensuring equal access to EU support across all parts of the territory and for all EU citizens. The EU's rural areas cover more than 90% of the EU territory and are home to around 55% of the total EU population. EU rural development policy is designed to provide support for this significant proportion of the EU’s population and landmass.

Many EU rural areas face considerable challenges. Some farming and forestry businesses still need to build their competitiveness. More generally, average income per person is lower in rural regions than in our towns and cities, while the skills base is narrower and the service sector is less developed. Costs of living can be higher and caring for the rural environment often involves financial costs.

On the other hand, Europe’s countryside has a great deal to offer. It gives us essential raw materials. Its value as a place of beauty, rest and recreation – when we look after it – is self-evident and it is vital for tackling climate change impacts. Lots of people are attracted by the idea of living and/or working there, provided that they have access to adequate services and infrastructure.

The EU's rural development policy is all about meeting the challenges faced by our rural areas, and unlocking their potential.

For more information about the EU rural development policy click here.

2. What is EU rural development policy?

The current EU rural development policy runs from 2007 to 2013. The policy is designed to support Member States’ own rural development actions that are carried out at national, regional and local levels. At EU level, a set of Strategic Guidelines provide an overall direction for rural development policy. These guidelines have been designed to ensure that EU rural development policy is flexible, strategic, thematic and integrated.

Flexibility is based on the principle of subsidiarity. This means that Member States are able use EU rural development policy to support actions that meet the specific development needs and challenges of their own rural areas. Strategic approaches ensure that rural development actions fit with other important policy work that is being taken forward by Member States and the EU.

A thematic approach focuses EU rural development policy on a number of core themes. These themes are referred to as the ‘axes’ of EU rural development policy. There are three main axes, namely: Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry; Improving the rural environment and countryside; and Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy. A fourth axis supports the implementation of ‘LEADER’ rural development methods, which encourages partnership activity via Local Action Groups (LAGs) that implement Local Development Strategies.

Integration is a key principle for EU rural development policy which ensures the thematic axes promote a balance between economic, social and environmental actions.

These policy elements are put into practice and delivered through Rural Development Programmes (RDPs). Each RDP has a budget of financial support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to co-finance actions within the policy themes.

For more information about the EU rural development policy click here .

3. What is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)?

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is an EU source of finance that is being used by Member States to achieve a variety of EU rural development policy goals such as: improving the competitiveness of farm, forest and agri-food businesses; helping protect the natural environment; supporting rural economies; and assisting quality of life in rural areas.

The EAFRD has a budget of €96.4 billion which is distributed in Member States through 94 different Rural Development Programmes (RDPs). At EU level the EAFRD is supervised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The EAFRD was first set up in 2005 by EU Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005. It represents the main funding instrument for implementing Pillar 2 of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.

For more information about the EU rural development policy click here.

For more information about the Pillars of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy click here.

4. What is a Rural Development Programme (RDP)?

A Rural Development Programmes (RDP) is a policy tool and funding mechanism used by Member States for implementing EU rural development policy in a specified territory. An RDP territory can cover an entire country or a specific region. There are over 90 RDPs operating in the EU and each of these RDPs is designed to provide the particular type of rural development support that is needed in its territory.

Every RDP has a budget from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The RDP budget is used to help Member States fund actions associated with the different themes/axes of EU rural development policy, namely: Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry; Improving the rural environment and countryside; Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy; and ‘LEADER’ rural development methods.

For more information about the individual RDPs click here .

For more information about the types of projects that RDPs can fund click here.

5. What is an EU rural development axis?

An axis is the name given to a group of measures in a Rural Development Programme. There are four axes. Each axis has specific goals linked directly to the aims and themes of EU rural development policy. There are three thematic axes, namely: axis 1 - improving the competitiveness of agricultural and forestry; axis 2 - supporting land management and improving the environment; axis 3 - improving quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy. There is also a fourth ‘methodological’" axis that is focused purely on supporting LEADER rural development approaches (LEADER axis).

6. What is an EU rural development measure?

Measures are a set of sub operations that make up of an axis of a Rural Development Programme (RDP).

A list of the RDP measures (and their numeric code) is presented below. None of the RDPs contain all of these measures. The list of measures aims to provide a menu of options. RDPs contain the measures that are most relevant to the rural development needs in their target territory. All RDPs contain measures from each axis. On average, RDPs tend to contain between 20 and 30 of the available measures.

Axis 1 - Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector

Promoting knowledge and improving human potential

111 Vocational training and information actions

112 Setting up of young farmers

113 Early retirement

114 Use of advisory services

115 Setting up of management, relief and advisory services

Restructuring and developing physical potential and promoting innovation

121 Modernisation of agricultural holdings

122 Improvement of the economic value of forests

123 Adding value to agricultural and forestry products

124 Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture and food sector and in the forestry sector

125 Infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture and forestry

126 Restoring agricultural production potential

Quality of agricultural production and products

131 Meeting standards based on Community legislation

132 Participation of farmers in food quality schemes

133 Information and promotion activities

Transitional measures (only available for Member States that joined the EU after 2004)

141 Semi-subsistence farming

142 Producer groups

143 Providing farm advisory and extension services

Axis 2 - Improving the environment and the countryside

Sustainable use of agricultural land

211 Natural handicap payments to farmers in mountain areas

212 Payments to farmers in areas with handicaps, other than mountain areas

213 Natura 2000 payments and payments linked to Directive 2000/60/EC

214 Agri-environment payments

215 Animal welfare payments

216 Non-productive investments

Sustainable use of forestry land

221 First afforestation of agricultural land

222 First establishment of agroforestry systems on agricultural land

223 First afforestation of non-agricultural land

224 Natura 2000 payments

225 Forest-environment payments

226 Restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actions

227 Non-productive investments

Axis 3 - Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy

Diversify the rural economy

311 Diversification into non-agricultural activities

312 Support for business creation and development

313 Encouragement of tourism activities

Improve the quality of life in rural areas

321 Basic services for the economy and rural population

322 Village renewal and development

323 Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage

331 Training and information

341 Skills-acquisition and animation measure with a view to preparing and implementing a local development strategy

Axis 4 – ‘LEADER’ rural development methods implementing Local Development Strategies

411 Competitiveness

412 Environment/land management

413 Quality of life/diversification

421 Implementing cooperation projects

431 Local Action Group (LAG) running costs, skills acquisition, animation

7. What type of projects can a Rural Development Programme help to fund?

Rural Development Programmes (RDP) funding is available for a wide variety of different types of rural development projects and actions. RDP funding is available under four main headings referred to as the RDP axes. Titles of the axes indicate the broad type of rural development actions that they support. These are:

Axis 1 - Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry.

Axis 2 - Supporting land management and improving the environment.

Axis 3 - Improving the quality of life and encouraging diversification of economic activities.

Axis 4 - ‘LEADER’ rural development methods.

Each RDP axis contains a collection of RDP measures. These measures have RDP budgets for specific types of rural development actions. There are nearly 40 different rural development measures and each RDP is designed to contain measures that suit the particular rural development needs in the RDP territory.

A list of the RDP measures (and their numeric code) is presented below. None of the RDPs contain all of these measures. The list of measures aims to provide a menu of options. RDPs contain the measures that are most relevant to the rural development needs in their target territory. All RDPs contain measures from each axis. On average, RDPs tend to contain between 20 and 30 of the available measures.

Axis 1 - Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector

Promoting knowledge and improving human potential

111 Vocational training and information actions

112 Setting up of young farmers

113 Early retirement

114 Use of advisory services

115 Setting up of management, relief and advisory services

Restructuring and developing physical potential and promoting innovation

121 Modernisation of agricultural holdings

122 Improvement of the economic value of forests

123 Adding value to agricultural and forestry products

124 Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture and food sector and in the forestry sector

125 Infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture and forestry

126 Restoring agricultural production potential

Quality of agricultural production and products

131 Meeting standards based on Community legislation

132 Participation of farmers in food quality schemes

133 Information and promotion activities

Transitional measures (only available for Member States that joined the EU after 2004)

141 Semi-subsistence farming

142 Producer groups

143 Providing farm advisory and extension services

Axis 2 - Improving the environment and the countryside

Sustainable use of agricultural land

211 Natural handicap payments to farmers in mountain areas

212 Payments to farmers in areas with handicaps, other than mountain areas

213 Natura 2000 payments and payments linked to Directive 2000/60/EC

214 Agri-environment payments

215 Animal welfare payments

216 Non-productive investments

Sustainable use of forestry land

221 First afforestation of agricultural land

222 First establishment of agroforestry systems on agricultural land

223 First afforestation of non-agricultural land

224 Natura 2000 payments

225 Forest-environment payments

226 Restoring forestry potential and introducing prevention actions

227 Non-productive investments

Axis 3 - Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy

Diversify the rural economy

311 Diversification into non-agricultural activities

312 Support for business creation and development

313 Encouragement of tourism activities

Improve the quality of life in rural areas

321 Basic services for the economy and rural population

322 Village renewal and development

323 Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage

331 Training and information

341 Skills-acquisition and animation measure with a view to preparing and implementing a local development strategy

Axis 4 – ‘LEADER’ rural development methods implementing Local Development Strategies

411 Competitiveness

412 Environment/land management

413 Quality of life/diversification

421 Implementing cooperation projects

431 Local Action Group (LAG) running costs, skills acquisition, animation

8. What is a Rural Development Programme Managing Authority?

A Managing Authority is responsible for the implementation of a Rural Development Programme (RDP). A Managing Authority is a public sector organisation. It is normally a national or regional government body with responsibility for the economic, social and environmental aspects of agriculture and rural development.

Managing Authorities are responsible for:

• Preparing RDP content. This process involves consultation and partnership with economic, social and environmental organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors that operate in the RDP territory.
• Chairing a ‘monitoring committee’ of partner stakeholders which oversees the implementation of an RDP during its lifespan.
• Ensuring that RDP funding processes comply with EU rules and regulations.
• Monitoring RDP performance and carrying out on-going evaluation to direct RDP activity.
• Carrying out communication actions to raise awareness about the RDP’s purpose, its application procedures for funding support, and progress in its objectives.
• Liaising with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

For more information about the RDP Managing Authorities click here.

9. What is a National Rural Network?

A National Rural Network (NRNs) is an organisation set up by a Member State government to support the implementation and evaluation of EU rural development policy. NRNs provide an important link at Member State level between the national administrations and organisations involved in implementing Rural Development Programme (RDP) actions, including Local Action Groups involved in ‘LEADER’ rural development methods.

NRN structures and methods of operation can differ between countries. Some NRNs form part of a Managing Authority while other NRNs are independent organisations. NRN membership covers a cross-section of different rural development interests.

NRN roles focus on promoting networking and information exchange about RDP activity at regional, national and EU level. This work includes arranging events and producing communication materials. NRNs have an important role in sharing good practice. NRNs receive funding from Member State budgets as well as from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

NRNs form part of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) and NRNs regularly participate in meetings or events organised at EU level to share experiences and information. Increasingly the NRNs also participate in geographic and thematic clusters to develop activities, promote greater cooperation and promote technical exchange and dialogue between networks.

In most Member States one NRN covers the entire country. In the United Kingdom four regional networks (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England) make up the NRN. In Belgium there is a Flemish Rural Network and a Walloon Rural Network.

For more information about the NRNs click here.

10. What is the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD)?

The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) was established in 2008 by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development to help Member States implement their Rural Development Programme (RDP) activities in an efficient manner. The ENRD provides a focus for connecting rural Europe and serves as a platform for the sharing of ideas and experiences on how RDPs are working in practice, plus how they can be improved in all Member States. Its main stakeholders include National Rural Networks (NRNs), Member State authorities, Local Action Groups (LAGs) and other rural development organisations with an EU perspective.

Key ENRD roles include:

• Helping to identify and collate examples of successful rural development projects across the EU;
• Assisting NRNs;
• Promoting transnational cooperation between LAGs;
• Providing analysis of relevant themes including the broader benefits of agriculture (public goods), as well as relevant themes such as forestry, social farming and rural entrepreneurship.

The ENRD shares information with stakeholders in a variety of ways, including through its publications and participation at events and fairs across Europe. The ENRD website provides access to a comprehensive set of multi-purpose and multilingual information and rural development tools.

For more information about who’s who in the ENRD click here.

11. What is the role of the ENRD Contact Point?

The ENRD Contact Point (CP) supports the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission in running the ENRD and provides a focal point for ENRD activities.

Based in Brussels, a core permanent team of staff is complemented by a larger group of experts, offering expertise in a wide range of rural development and geographic fields. In particular, the ENRD CP provides support for networking and cooperation, thematic analysis, events and communications.

The CP’s reception welcomes everyone with an interest in EU rural development policy as well as the general public.

Access map and directions can be found by clicking here.

For more information about the ENRD Contact Point click here.

12. What is the European Evaluation Network (EEN)?

The European Evaluation Network for Rural Development (abbreviated to "Evaluation Expert Network") aims to increase the usefulness of evaluation as a tool for improving the formulation and implementation of EU rural development policy. It is an integral part of the wider European Network for Rural Development.

The Evaluation Expert Network helps establish good practice and capacity building in the evaluation of Rural Development Programme activity up to 2013. It operates under the responsibility of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

For more information about the Evaluation Expert Network and its Helpdesk service click here.

13.What is the LEADER rural development methodology?

‘LEADER’ is the term used to describe a special type of local development approach for rural areas. The name LEADER comes from the French abbreviation for ‘Liaison Entre Actions pour le Development de L'Economie Rurale’ (which roughly translates to ‘links between actions for developing the rural economy).

LEADER’s approach involves a rural development methodology based a number of core components including partnership, ‘bottom-up’ territorial development, innovation and cooperation.

LEADER methodologies are implemented by local area partnerships which bring together public, private and civil society sector organisations. A LEADER partnership is known as a Local Action Group (LAG). Each LAG has a Local Development Strategy (LDS) which contains a set of rural development actions and objectives that have been suggested by local communities in the LAG territory. This approach ensures that all LEADER actions are driven from the ‘bottom-up’. LAGs receive a budget from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to finance projects in their LAG territory. All LAG projects supported by the EAFRD must fit with the aims of the LAG’s LDS.

Innovation is another important part of the LEADER methodology. By promoting innovation, LAGs aim to encourage local organisations and businesses to test new ways of developing their territory. LEADER has been extremely effective at stimulating all sorts of different socio-economic and environmental innovations throughout rural Europe. Different ways that innovation is expressed by LEADER include:

• Working in new ways: this might involve rural development approaches that apply new ideas, using new techniques, focusing on alternative markets, bringing diverse sectors and stakeholders together via new networking methods, supporting new priority groups, or finding new solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.
• Developing new products and services: these often result from testing innovative ways of working and can be created through the application of new or novel techniques, partnerships, technology, processes, research and thinking.
• Adapting proven approaches to new circumstances: is also recognised as an effective means of creating locally significant innovative rural developments. These types of innovative actions are often facilitated by knowledge transfer between regions or Member States.

The European aspect of LEADER has always been an important characteristic of the methodology. Specific parts of the LAGs’ EAFRD budgets are provided for transnational cooperation (TNC). TNC helps rural people learn from their peers in other countries about new ideas for rural development projects. Such LAG cooperation has created a great many mutual benefits for many different rural areas across the EU countryside. LAG’s LDS contains strong emphasis on cooperation and networking.

For more information about the LEADER methodology click here.

14. What is a Local Action Group (LAG)?

A Local Action Group (LAG) is a partnership which brings together public, private and civil society sector organisations from a rural territory to implement LEADER rural development methods. The size of LAG territories can vary from an area covering a population as low as around 5000 people to as high as around 150 000 inhabitants.

LAGs are made up from a cross section of local communities and LAG members include representatives from, among others, local authorities, business groups, social organisations and environmental bodies. These multi-sector LAGs bring together a large centralised knowledge base of skills and ensure an equitable coverage of interests.

A LAG receives a budget from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to co-finance LEADER projects in its territory. All LAGs are required to prepare a Local Development Strategy (LDS) before they start distributing EAFRD to LEADER projects. The LDS involves an in-depth analysis of a LAG territory to identify what local people believe is most important for the development of their area. The LDS also clarifies what issues the rural population considers to be the main challenges that LEADER funds should be used to tackle. A considerable amount of community consultation is required to produce a LDS and the procedure helps to provide the LAG with a built-in ‘bottom-up’ direction for their LEADER work.

LAG's are supported by central coordinating bodies in the Member States. These National Rural Networks provide capacity building assistance to LAGs and encourage exchanges of experiences between different rural areas.

For more information about LAGs in your area click here.

15. What is transnational cooperation?

Transnational cooperation (TNC) means undertaking a joint rural development project with at least one other area in another country. TNC can be, among other things, a way of getting enough people involved in an activity to make it viable, or as a means of encouraging complementary actions e.g. joint marketing by rural business organisations from different regions of local products or services, like food or tourism initiatives. Mutual learning is a useful result from TNC projects.

Special funding is available from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for TNC project work. One of the main conditions of TNC funded by the EAFRD is that at least one of the partners in a TNC project is a LEADER Local Action Group (LAG).

For more information about TNC click here.

16. How can I apply for EU rural development funding?

You can apply for EU rural development funding through the Member States’ Rural Development Programmes (RDP). The application processes may differ between countries and for different types of rural development projects. The Managing Authority of the RDP or your National Rural Network (NRN) can explain the information you need to know about applying for EU rural development funding in your country.

Contact information for the RDP Managing Authorities and NRNs is available by clicking here.