EN RD Thematic Activities > Thematic Working Group 3: Public goods and public intervention

Chairperson

Martin Scheele, Head of unit H1, Environment, GMO and genetic resources, DG AGRI, European Commission.

Members

Download the list of the TWG3 Members: [ PDF  ]

Mandate

As agreed in the meeting of the Coordination committee of 01/10/2008, the group aims to establish a common understanding of the significance of the role of agriculture in the provision of public goods. Particular attention was to be given to understanding the delivery mechanisms needed for encouraging the provision of respective public goods and assessing the implications for future policy developments.

Through relevant analyses and the diffusion of results, the group aims to contribute to ensuring that RD interventions enhance the provision of public goods for the benefit of society.

Specific objectives

In view of laying a solid ground for the discussion, the group aims to clarify the conceptual framework with regard to the definition and identification of public goods.

Furthermore, the group addresses the following topics:

• the role of different public goods directly or indirectly supported through the Rural Development measures;

• what instruments and delivery mechanisms, targeting, management and control mechanisms have
  been designed  and implemented to support public goods;

• which innovative approach / initiatives could better ensure the provision of public goods;

• the role of local administrations and stakeholders;

• effectiveness in responding to needs of society;

• how to set the right incentives for ensuring the provision of public goods: the question of delivery mechanisms
  and the levels of governance;

• public goods as an enabling factor for integrated rural development (socio-economic benefits, rural vitality);

• lessons learned and possible recommendations at the level of programming.

Activities

The analytical work of the group was carried out on the basis of a defined work plan articulated in three steps as follows:

• Step 1: Collecting data on delivery mechanisms of the public goods in RDPs

• Step 2: Analysis of the information gathered

• Step 3: Social and economic spill-over effects in the provision of public goods

Under Step 1 of the work plan (concluded in October 2009) a ‘Conceptual framework on Public Goods’ and a preliminary overview of the main results of the Rural Development Programmes (RDP) screening exercise were produced. The purpose of the Step 1 analysis was to investigate how Member States and Regions intend to deliver a range of environmental and social public goods associated with agriculture through their 2007-2013 RDP.

Step 2 included the completion of an analytical research that builds upon the evidence documented in Step 1, and provides a more detailed analysis of:

• The potential contribution of individual rural development measures to the provision of specific public goods in different regions of the EU;

• The relationship between public goods and agriculture, and aspects of undersupply of public goods;

• The role of rural development measures in delivering environmental and social public goods;

• The most used measures under the RDPs for the delivery of public goods.

Step 3 involved a more comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic benefits linked to the provision of environmental public goods as well as economic and social public goods such as "rural vitality". It was undertaken by means of the collection of relevant example/case studies. The results of this activity have been incorporated into the Final report.

A concluding seminar took place the 10th of December 2010. The scope of the seminar was to present the outcomes of the work of the TWG3 to a larger group of stakeholders, and to clarify the notion of Public Goods to a wider audience. It also demonstrated that the conceptual framework of public goods provides for common grounds in discussions about the CAP and Rural Development.

TWG 3 activities timeline: [PDF ]

Main reports

• TWG3 Status Report – November 2010 [PDF ]

• TWG3 Conceptual Framework [PDF ]

• TWG3 Final Report [PDF ]

Dissemination of results

• Synthesis report while being still ‘technical’ in content is addressing a targeted public with the aim of presenting the findings of the TWG3 in a more concise and ready-to-use fashion. [PDF ]

• Brochure on Public Goods and Public Intervention in Agriculture [PDF ]

• Power Point Presentation on Public Goods and Public Intervention in Agriculture [PPT ](*) + [PDF ]

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