EU Rural Development Policy and Tourism Jean-Michel Courades DG Agriculture and Rural Development European Commission

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EU Rural Development Policy and Tourism
Jean-Michel CouradesDG Agriculture and Rural
DevelopmentEuropean Commission
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Evaluation of the period 1994-1999

• Encouragement for tourist and craft activities,
  including the improvement of living accommodation
  on agricultural holdings
• Diversification especially those providing
  multiple activities or alternative incomes for
  farmers

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Evaluation of the period 1994-1999

• success largely based on the high quality of the
  natural and cultural heritage (integrated
  approach needed)
• potential contradictions between the objectives
  of economic development and improving the quality
  of rural life and tourism
• alternative job opportunities for farm
  households.

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Current measures 2000-2006

• Protection and conservation of the rural heritage
• Diversification of activities close to
  agriculture to provide multiple activities or
  alternative incomes
• Encouragement for tourist and craft activities

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Current period 2000-2006

• measure subsidiary to the intervention of the
  ERDF (see Art.35(3) of R 1257/99). Support only
  possible in so far as financing is not provided
  by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
• Support shall be consistent with other Community
  state aid law. (de minimis rule for
  non-agricultural activities 100 000 euros over 3
  years rules for revenue generating investment
  35 of EU contribution/total cost in Obj 1 15
  in Obj 2 )

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Community Rural Development Strategy
(objectives)

• Improving the competitiveness of the farm and
  forestry sector through support for
  restructuring, modernisation/innovation and
  quality production
• Enhancing the environment and the countryside
  through support for land management
• Improving the quality of life in rural areas and
  promoting diversification of economic activity

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Community priorities

• Axis 1 improving the competitiveness of the
  agricultural and forestry sectors
• Guideline 1 the resources devoted to axis 1
  should contribute to a strong and dynamic
  European agrifood sector by focusing on the
  priorities of knowledge transfer and innovation
  in the food chain and priority sectors for
  investment in physical and human capital.

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Community priorities

• Axis 2 improving the environment and countryside
• Guideline 2 the resources devoted to axis 2
  should contribute to three EU level priority
  areas biodiversity and preservation of high
  nature value farming and forestry systems, water,
  and climate change.

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Community priorities

• Axis 3 improving the quality of life in rural
  areas and encouraging diversification
• Guideline 3 the resources devoted to axis 3
  should contribute to the overarching priority of
  the creation of employment opportunities in the
  fields of diversification and quality of life.

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Period 2007-2013

• Axis 3 Measures to diversify the rural
  economy(i) diversification into non-agricultural
  activities,(ii) encouragement of tourism
  activities,(iv) protection, upgrading and
  management of the natural heritage

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On farm diversification into non-agricultural
activities

• The aid beneficiary may be either the farmer, his
  or her spouse, or their children.
• Members of the farm household.
• a natural or legal person or a group of natural
  or legal persons, whatever legal status is
  granted to the group and its members by national
  law, with the exception of farm workers. In case
  where a member of the farm household is a legal
  person or a group of legal persons, that member
  shall exercise an agricultural activity on the
  farm at the time of the support application.

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Tourism measure Articles 52 (a)(iii) and 55 of
Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005)

• eligible actions will be
• (a) small-scale infrastructure such as
  information centres and the signposting of
  tourist sites
• (b) recreational infrastructure such as that
  offering access to natural areas, and
  small-capacity accommodation
• (c) the development and/or marketing of tourism
  services relating to rural tourism.

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Measure Tourism Target Indicators

• Output
• Number of new tourism actions supported
•  Total volume of investment
• Result
• Additional number of tourist visits
• Gross number of jobs created
• Impact
• Net additional value expressed in PPS 
• Net additional full time equivalent jobs created

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Period 2007-2013

• Axis 3 Measures to improve the quality of rural
  life in the rural areas, comprising
• (i) conservation and upgrading of the rural
  heritage.
• (ii) A vocational training measure for economic
  actors
• (iii) A skills-acquisition and animation measure
  with a view to preparing and implementing a local
  development strategy.

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Axis 3 measures

• Article 52(b)(iii) and Article 57 of Regulation
  1698/2005 (Conservation and upgrading of the
  rural heritage)
• the drawing-up of protection and management plans
  relating to Natura 2000 sites and other places of
  high natural value, environmental awareness
  actions and investments associated with
  maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the
  natural heritage and with the development of high
  natural value sites
• studies and investments associated with
  maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the
  cultural heritage such as the cultural features
  of villages and the rural landscape.

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Community priorities

• Axis 4 (Leader) building local capacity for
  employment and diversification
• Guideline 4 the resources devoted to axis 4
  should contribute to the priorities of axis 1 and
  2 and in particular of axis 3, but also play an
  important role in the priority of improving
  governance and mobilising the endogenous
  development potential of rural areas.