THE ARKLETON TRUST

1998 Seminar on Rural Development

February 1998

A Brief Synopsis

RURAL DEVELOPMENT, EUROPEAN ENLARGEMENT AND THE WTO TRADE TALKS

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The aim of the 1998 seminar was to discuss the place of rural development policies and programmes in the context of rural adjustment, following the WTO Trade Talks starting in 1999. The objective was to develop a common understanding and language relating to rural development policy and its aims, objectives, scope, content, nature and implementation. We intended not only to assist the future development of EU rural policy and related delivery mechanisms, but also to ease the task of negotiation at the next WTO Trade Talks. Participants attended from the European policy making community, Eastern Europe and from academic and non-governmental institutions. The seminar was chaired by Michael Tracy and facilitated by John Bryden. A report has been published and is available from The Arkleton Trust office in Oxfordshire, priced £6.00 (A4 30pp).

Prior to the seminar a Study Tour was organised for Eastern European participants, with the aim of seeing how the EU rural regulations (Structural Funds in Objective 1, CAP Accompanying Measures, Environment) were implemented on the ground. The tour, accompanied by Michael Tracy and John Bryden, started with a visit to the Scottish Office in Edinburgh, continued to Inverness where we met officials and members of the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 Partnership, the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Inverness & Nairn LEADER programme. Visits were made to Nigg, to see the dry dock supported by Objective 1 funds, and to Kilmorack Village Hall, by Beauly, to talk with LEADER beneficiaries and local representatives. Support for Eastern European participants came from TAIEX, the European Commission's office for Technical Support to the CEECs. CEECs must harmonise their internal regulations with those of the EU during the process of Accession.

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