Rural Development strategies Rural Directors Conference 1 st December 2005

Rural Developmentstrategies Rural Directors Conference1st December 2005 Martin Nesbit Conservation, Uplands and Rural Europe Division, Defra

The EU strategy • Rural Development Regulation agreed under Luxembourg presidency includes an important innovation: EU strategy for Rural Development. Strategic Guidelines should: • Guide Member States in preparing national strategies, which are turned into programmes; • Makes the Commission’s task in assessing strategies and programmes more transparent; • Makes clear how Rural Development policy contributes to broader EU priorities; • Helps ensure rural development spending contributes effectively to added value at EU level; • Ensures coherence between instruments; and • Reinforces the case for rural development spending within the overall CAP budget Mobile Library South Downs ESA and AONB

Rural Development Regulation and Strategic Guideline Priorities A X I S IV Knowledge Transfer, modernisation, innovation in the food chain Axis I “improving competitiveness through restructuring” Axis II“improving the environment & countryside through land management Environmental Objectives: Biodiversity, water, climate change Axis III “improving quality of life through diversification of economic activity” Creation of employment opportunities

Axis 1: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors Community Strategic Guideline “Europe's agriculture, forestry and its food processing sector have great potential to further develop high quality and value added products that meet the diverse and growing demand of Europe's consumers and world markets. The resources devoted to axis 1 should contribute to a strong and dynamic European agrifood sector by focusing on the priorities of knowledge transfer, modernisation, innovation, and quality in the food chain and priority sectors for investment in physical and human capital. ”

Axis 2: Improving the environment and countryside Community Strategic Guideline “To protect and enhance the EU's natural resources and landscapes in rural areas, the resources devoted to axis 2 should contribute to three EU level priority areas: biodiversity, and preservation and development of high nature value farming and forestry systems and traditional agricultural landscapes, water, andclimate change. The measures available under axis 2 should be used to integrate these environmental objectives and contribute to the implementation of the agricultural and forestry Natura 2000 network, to the Göteborg commitment to reverse biodiversity decline by 2010, to the Water Framework Directive objectives and to the Kyoto Protocol targets for climate change mitigation. ”

Axis 3: Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification Community Strategic Guideline “The resources devoted to the fields of diversification of the rural economy and quality of life in rural areas under axis 3 should contribute to the overarching priority of the creation of employment opportunitiesand conditions for growth. The range of measures available under axis 3 should in particular be used to promote capacity building, skills acquisition and organisation for local strategy development and also help ensure that rural areas remain attractive for future generations. In promoting training, information and entrepreneurship, the particular needs of women, young people and older workers should be considered. ”

Axis 4: Building Local Capacity for Employment and Diversification Community Strategic Guideline “The resources devoted to axis 4 (Leader) should contribute to the priorities of axis 1 and 2 and in particular of axis 3, but also play an important role in the horizontal priority of improving governanceand mobilising the endogenous development potential of rural areas. ”

Translating to a national context • Key considerations for MS are that they meet EU level requirements while addressing local needs. • Involves: (1) cooperation with regional/local government structures and Government delivery bodies (2) consultation with other Ministries – in UK combined agriculture + environment department makes this aspect easier, but discussion with Structural Funds authorities also vital (3) Consultation with civil society – particularly sectors concerned, NGOs, and local community groups

Coherence with national level rural policy • Key aspect of the CSG is ensuring coherence with other EU instruments • But national strategies must also ensure coherence with national rural policy; EU guidelines need to recognise diversity of situations • In England, national policies which must be taken into account include: • Rural Strategy 2004, • Sustainable Development Strategy of 2005 • Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy of 2002

Developing National Programmes In September a RD 2007 Policy Advisory Group was established. Group includes: • heads of relevant Defra policy units • delivery bodies (Regional Development Agencies, Natural England, Forestry Commission); • Environment Agency, industry representatives, regional and local government • .

Setting the direction • Ministers (England) have confirmed following adoption of Rural Development Regulation, and on the basis of emerging Strategic Guidelines, that they want a strategy centred on: • Environmental Stewardship approach, devoting bulk of resources to axis 2, and integrating measures as much as possible (e.g. agri-environment, Less favoured area, and forestry expenditure aligned); • Axes 1 and 3 (and axis 4) to be delivered by Regional Development Agencies, alongside mainstream regional development funding, with emphasis on knowledge transfer, training and innovation.

Consulting the public Officials are now working on the basis of the initial steer from Ministers to produce a ‘proto-strategy’, discussed in the Policy Advisory Group, which will form the basis for public consultation (probably beginning in January).

After consulting Following consultations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the National Strategy Plan will be produce – we hope in March/April. Programme developed in parallel in consultation with bodies on Policy Advisory Group.

Summary EU strategy Provides clear direction for rural development policy Ensuring coherence with national policy; analysing regional and local priorities The national context Strategy and process developed through close cooperation with stakeholders in government and wider The process

Rural Development strategies Rural Directors Conference 1 st December 2005