AER Rural Development Conference

Exeter, 19-20 October 2005

Introduction to WorkshopsProfessor Michael Dower

Coordinator, PREPARE Partnership

Member of EC Advisory Committee on Rural

Development

Theme of the Workshops

How do regions address

the specific economic, social and environmental problems

in their rural areas ?

The EAFRD

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

• Period 2007 to 2013• Budget still uncertain• Alongside continuing but changed CAP• With simplified instruments • Large measure of delegation to member states

or regions, subject to EU Strategic Guidelines

The 4 AxesAxis 1 Improving competitiveness in

agriculture and forestryAxis 2 Improving the environment and

countryside Axis 3 Diversifying the rural economy and

improving the quality of life in rural areasAxis 4 (a cross-cutting axis) LEADER –

strengthening capacity, partnership, cooperation and governance

Agriculture and rural development

Conference focus mainly on non-agricultural activity, but :• This is the EAFRD• It is administered in Brussels by DG-Agri, and in Member

states mainly by Ministries of Ag & RD• Farmers are :

- still a large part of rural society e.g. in new MS- the main beneficiaries of Axes 1 and 2- controllers of many key resources

• Moreover, millions of farmers need to diversify their sources of income, on or off the farm : they need RD

The challenge

However, the challenge is broader than farming. We must address (variably between regions) :• narrow rural economies• falling, and ageing, populations• poor infrastructure• lack of social services• inadequate housing• despoiled or threatened environments

‘Broad’ and ‘narrow’ rural development

The EAFD is designed to address these problems.

But other policies and programmes of EU, and of national & regional governments, can also apply:

• EU Regional, Social and Cohesion Funds etc

• MS Education, health & social services, transport, infrastructure, defence etc

Therefore, distinguish ‘narrow’ from ‘broad’ RD; and find ways to link them

e.g. Rural Policy Committee, Finland

‘Regional’ and ‘Rural’ With this ‘broad and ‘narrow’ approach, MS and

Regions can do much to address the needs of rural sub-regions, but :

• Beware of applying urban solutions to rural problems

• Do not rely on ‘trickle-down’ of benefits from regional centres to the countryside

• Remember that rural areas vary in character, problems and needs; and that their settlements, enterprises etc tend to be small

Government and people

Moreover, remember that government alone cannot achieve regional or rural development.

Development must start with the people, because:• They know their problems and needs• They control most of the key resources• Their skills, traditions, knowledge and energy

are the main resource for development • Their commitment is vital

Partnership

So, the need is for : • Rural, as well as regional, development• A broad, integrated approach • Partnership between government and peopleRecognition of this need was reflected in :• ‘The Future of rural society’ report, 1987 • Integrated Mediterranean Programme • Pilot Integrated Rural Development projects • LEADER• Cork Conference • CAP reform - Pillar 2 etc

Integration through area programmes

Government Ministries, for example Multi-national Agriculture Industry Education agencies

Regions Process and programme . or for a chosen area Private County pursued through partnership Sector

Councils with an animator, .over a period of time

Communes/ Non-government Municipalities Organisations

The local PEOPLE

LEADER

LEADER – Liaison between actors in rural development

14 years of experience in the EU• 1991-94 LEADER 1• 1995-99 LEADER 2• 2000-now LEADER+

Since May 2004• An element in RDR in EU-10• Option in SAPARD in Bulgaria and Romania

The LEADER concept

• Partnership between government and people• Local Action Groups, with partners from public,

private and civil sectors • Focus on a sub-region (10,000 to 100,000 pop) • Integrated in scope – social, economic and

environmental development• Innovative and flexible • Designed to mobilise local energy and resources

• Decentralised financial management

LEADER in the EAFRD Within the EAFRD …

LEADER is a cross-cutting Axis 4, with a focus on : - Building capacity and social capital- Promoting public-private partnership- Promoting cooperation and innovation - Improving local governance

- Encouraging an integrated approach to development, which links the other three Axes or (in the terms of this morning’s Workshops) finds the win-win-win linkages between the social, economic and environmental tasks.

Mainstreaming LEADER

LEADER is a powerful tool to focus the energy and resources of all sectors on the specific needs of rural sub-regions. For that reason, I urge that :

• the budget share for LEADER Axis (minimum 5% in EU-15, 2.5% in EU-12) be treated indeed as a minimum, with a much higher % as the aim

• You consider creating Local Action Groups of LEADER-type across the whole rural territory, as is done in Finland, Ireland and Spain.

Strengthening Civil Society

Effective public-private partnership, as in LEADER, depends upon the existence of partners.

In some countries, civil society is weak.

There is need to strengthen civil society - at national, regional and local level - to be a co-initiator of rural development programmes and partner of government in those programmes.

That is what the PREPARE programme is seeking to achieve.

PREPARE – Partnership for Rural Europe

Aim • To strengthen civil society in rural areas • To promote trust and dialogue between all rural

stakeholders• To promote multi-national exchange in rural

development • To empower local communities• To express the voice of rural Europe

PREPARE Partners

Forum SynergiesECOVAST – European Council for the Village & Small Town

Swedish Popular Movements CouncilFinnish Village Action MovementKodukant, Estonian Movement of VillagesHungarian Rural ParliamentSlovakian Rural ParliamentSlovenian Rural Development NetworkPolish Forum for the Animation of Rural AreasLithuanian Rural Communities Union

National rural movements

These movements consist, variably, of : • Action groups at local level

(e.g. 4000 such groups in each of Sweden and Finland) • Networks of these groups at region/county and

national level • Micro-regions (e.g in Slovakia and Hungary)

• Other NGOs at national, regional, local level• Links to commercial or public-sector networks• Links to national LEADER Networks

Social development

Why ? because …• Income levels are generally lower in rural areas• Infrastructure (e.g. roads, electricity) is often

poor • Public services (e.g. schools, post offices, health

services) may be outdated or distant • Housing may be of poor quality• Social capital, and the ability to act, may be

weak

Social development

How ? by strengthening the

human, social and physical capital…

Human capital – education, health, skills etc

Social capital – the glue that holds people together – local groups, networks, partnerships

Physical capital – roads, water supplies, electricity, schools, hospitals etc

Economic development

How ?• Adding value to farm and forest products• Manufacturing industry • Traditional and new crafts• Rural Tourism• Service industries – shops, garages, banks,

hairdressers, offices• In all this, a focus on local markets and viability,

as a complement to competing in the European and world markets

Encouraging enterprise

Support for small and medium enterprises :• Business support and advice • Low-cost premises and ‘incubators’• Small grants and small loans• Mutual guarantee schemes • Information technology • Training for entrepreneurs • Cooperation in marketing, selling etc

Environment

How ? • Agri-environment schemes• Renewable energy production e.g.biomass• Organic farming• Green tourism • Protection and imaginative use of cultural

resources • Landscape protection, management and

planning (European Landscape Convention)

Win-win-win

People

Economy Environment

Competitiveness + Cohesion

+ Sustainability