EU sluist 143 miljoen naar Cyprus voor plattelandsontwikkeling (en)

The STAR committee gave a positive opinion on the Rural Development Plan for the Republic of Cyprus 2004-2006, to be co financed by the "European Agriculture Guarantee and Guidance Fund" ( EAGGF) Guarantee section. The Rural Development Plan (2004-06) for the Republic of Cyprus will cover the areas of the country under effective control of the internationally recognised government of the Republic of Cyprus. The EAGGF contributes with a total amount of € 74.8 million during this period and will be complemented by national public funding of € 69.08 million and by € 14.42 million additional State Aids. In addition it is estimated that the private sector will contribute with € 33.91 million. The rural development programme has the largest financial envelope of all programmes in the Republic of Cyprus. This reflects the importance of the sector in the country and the priority accorded to this sector by the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The programme includes a broad range of ambitious rural development measures which give a special emphasis to the improvement of infrastructure and the competitiveness of the rural economy of the country, strengthening and diversification of rural areas and protection of the environment. The general aim is to foster the sustainable economic development of rural areas and to improve the prosperity of the population living in the countryside. The formal approval decision will be taken by the Commission in the coming days.

Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries said "This is good news for the rural population of the Republic of Cyprus. We must keep the momentum going now and do everything necessary to start work on the ground so that citizens in the rural areas of the Republic of Cyprus can benefit from the opportunities to develop their rural economies as soon as possible."

The plan intends not only to address the structural needs of Cyprus agriculture and rural economy but also aims at improving competitiveness and multi-functionality, and to accelerate economic diversification, to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen export-oriented growth and interaction with tourism.

In addition to purely economic objectives, the plan puts special emphasis upon the protection of the environment as a service to a society where tourism activities form an important motor of economic activity. Environmentally-friendly land management is one of the prerequisites for sustainable tourism development. Consequently the land management will be organised with to foster the potential for recreation potential and the attractiveness of the landscape. The physical and architectural environment, the cultural heritage, the public health and the specific national and regional features will be protected and further developed. Bearing in mind the small size of farms, multi-functionality and its link with handicraft and tourism activities is one of the main priorities of the plan and the EAGGF's contribution.

The priorities in the plan have been proposed and defined in partnership with the Cypriot authorities. According to the principle of subsidiarity, the Cypriot authorities will decide about measures and projects benefiting from EU co financing in keeping with EU policies and the existing eligibility rules. The priorities of the Rural Development Plan are the following:

Improvement of competitiveness at production, processing and marketing level: EU contribution € 27.4 million. These are measures to promote investments for strengthening of competitiveness of farms, of food industry marketing and processing agricultural products. Particularly important elements here are the introduction of new technology, new brands and modernisation of farms and their compatibility with European standards. Priority is given to the production of high added value, quality products and to the promotion of local specialities such as Halloumi cheese and Commandaria wine.

Strengthening of the socio-economic conditions of rural areas (diversification): EU contribution € 42.05 million. These measures aim at protecting and improving the man made and the natural environment of rural areas, while pursuing the objectives of the Community policies aiming at the harmony between agriculture and environment. A series of measures will re-establish the traditional landscape in mountainous and least favoured areas and strengthen the role of farmers for the safeguarding of the natural and cultural heritage of the Cypriot countryside. This priority aims simultaneously at the further development of the economic and social fabric of rural areas. Compensatory allowances will be paid to compensate natural disadvantages in mountainous and less-favoured regions.

Protection of the environment and sustainable management of natural resources: EU contribution € 4.25 million This priority includes measures concerning the forestry sector which aim at sustainable development and protection of the forests to improve their ecological, economic and social role. These measures are in line with the National Forestry Program and entirely compatible with the international agreement and more especially from the Ministerial Conferences on the protection of the forests in Europe, including the Vienna conference.

Restructuring of rural development policy and enhancement of implementation capacity: EU contribution € 1.1 million. This priority comprises necessary actions to strengthen the administrative capacity for the implementation of the plan.

The Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus will be the Managing Authority.

The proposed strategy, the measures and the actions considered and the implementing bodies in place are fully in conformity with the EAGGF regulatory framework. Assurances exist for complementarity with the other programming documents for the period 2004-2006, for the optimal implementation and the sound financial and programming management as well as for the potential impact of the RDP on the rural economy, on the rural environment and the rural population of the country.