Ontwikkelingsprogramma voor Portugees platteland voor de periode 2007-2013 goedgekeurd (en)

Today the Rural Development Committee (consisting of representatives of the 27 Member States) gave a positive opinion to the Rural Development programme of the Portuguese national rural network for the financial period 2007-2013. This marks the end of the process of approving the 94 different regional and national rural development programmes that make up the EU rural development policy. Specific Rural Development programmes for each of the Portuguese regions have already been approved. These programmes are defined to guarantee infrastructure, create new income opportunities for rural regions, promote growth and fight unemployment. The Commission still has to formally adopt the programme in the next weeks.

"We are now at the end of the process of approving the Rural Development programmes for 2007-2013," said Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. "A stronger Rural Development policy is vital for the future of our rural areas. This money helps the agricultural sector to diversify, but also finances crucial environmental projects and helps create jobs outside farming."

For details of the agreed Portuguese rural network programme: MEMO/08/723.

Background:

As part of the fundamental reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which started in 2003, rural development policy has also been reviewed. The Commission conducted a thorough analysis of rural development (RD) policy, including an Extended Impact Assessment of future RD policy and made a proposal in July 2004. In September 2005, the Council adopted a reformed rural development policy for the period 2007-2013[2], which is characterised by "continuity and change".

It continues to provide a menu of measures from which the Member States can choose and for which they receive Community financial support in the context of integrated RD programmes. It changes the way these programmes are developed by fostering the strategic content and the sustainable development of rural areas. For that purpose the future RD policy focuses on the three commonly agreed core policy areas (axes):

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  Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry
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  Supporting land management and improving environment and
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  Improving the quality of life and encouraging diversification of economic activities.

See also:

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm

[1] EAFRD: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

[2] Regulation 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005