|
SEMINAR 1998 |
THE ARKLETON TRUST
|
|
[CONTENTS] [NEXT PAGE] |
2.1. Is there a new approach towards rural development issues in EU?Rural areas in the EU are confronted with irreversible changes. The existing rural development policy framework does not provide sufficient instruments to address the wide array of problems. Imbalances exist in net contributions to the EU budget and the figures are eloquent; as an example, Germany contributes almost 30% to the EU budget, irrespective of the fact that it produces only 27% of EU GDP [CEC 1997a: Table 6]. Although such fiscal redistribution is necessary between richer and poorer members of an economic and political union, it does represent a source of potential tension and a point of negotiation between the member States. Despite such elements of redistribution, the Cohesion report produced in 1996 reveals that the development disparities between rich and poor regions within the existing EU-15 continue to grow. Moreover, future enlargement of the Union will further widen disparities between member States and regions. Rural employment problems form an important component of economic disparity at EU and national levels.It is clear that agriculture alone cannot solve rural employment problems. Many observers argue for a further shift from sectoral (agricultural) to a territorial or spatial (rural) orientation of rural policy in order to encourage development of vigorous rural labour markets and assist structural adjustment of agriculture. The extent to which the latest Commission documents (Agenda 2000, Regulation on the Community support for Rural Development) provide a starting point for a coherent rural development policy was an important discussion topic of the seminar. It attempted to examine whether Agenda 2000 heralds a new emphasis on integrated, bottom-up and sustainable approaches in rural development.
[The Funds] |