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NEWSLETTER 1999 |
THE ARKLETON TRUST
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[CONTENTS] [NEXT PAGE] |
The TrustThe Trust has made special efforts to bring together rural development researchers, policy makers and practitioners from countries of Eastern and Western Europe in order to develop better understanding of the diverse nature of rural areas in Europe and dialogue on the possible solutions to rural problems. The diversity of rural Europe is increasing, and must be addressed by locally designed measures rather than centralised and monolithic policies. The measures must integrate the different sectoral and other concerns of rural people, covering social, economic and environmental objectives together, rather than separately. The task of the EU and national Governments is to design appropriately flexible and co-ordinated systems of support. Although we are a long way from realising this kind of vision, the signs are hopeful.This has been an eventful year for rural development, now sometimes described in Europe as 'the second pillar of the CAP'. The Agenda 2000 proposals, given flesh by the draft regulations published a year ago, were finally agreed this Spring, and the agreement means further changes to the Agricultural and Cohesion policies of the EU as well as policies for the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs). A new Rural Development Regulation has been introduced, and this will open up new possibilities for rural development support throughout the EU. A new programme - the Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development, or SAPARD - has been introduced for the CEEC's. A new Rural Community Initiative for rural areas to succeed LEADER II is envisaged, and this is known as LEADER Plus. Two key underlying pressures for change are Eastern Enlargement and the forthcoming 'Millennium Round' of World Trade Talks due to start at the end of 1999. Other pressures include budgetary constraints and the need to further concentrate the efforts of the structural funds, continuing problems of agricultural surpluses, environmental and health considerations in relation to agriculture, the on-going need to diversify rural economies, and the need to address the problems of declining urban areas.
[The Funds] |