Rural development – European Commission – Yurika.R

European CAP Network

The European (EU) CAP Network is set up to enable networking of national CAP networks, organisations and administrations in the field of agriculture and rural development at Union level.

It serves as a forum for discussion and exchange of good practices on the implementation of the CAP for a wide variety of stakeholders, including Member State administrations, agricultural producers, evaluators, local action groups, European-wide organisations, farm advisory services providers, innovation support services and more.

The network supports the design and implementation of CAP Strategic Plans, innovation and knowledge exchange, including EIP-AGRI, and evaluation of the CAP.

The EU CAP Network provides a broad range of activities and information on the implementation of the CAP Strategic Plans across the EU, including a collection of good practices, events and publications.

The EU CAP Network replaced the European network for Rural Development (ENRD), including Evaluation Helpdesk and EIP-AGRI network.

LEADER

LEADER is a ‘bottom up’ approach, in which farmers, rural businesses, local organisations, public authorities and individuals from different sectors come together to form local action groups (LAGs). LAGs prepare their own local development strategies and manage their own respective budgets.

The LEADER approach strengthens bonds in local communities, encourages innovations across sectors, and facilitates knowledge sharing amongst LAGs at national and EU-wide levels.

Thanks to its success over 30 years, the LEADER approach has been adopted by the European regional development Fund (ERFD), the European social fund (ESF) and the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) as part of wider community led local development (CLLD). Today LEADER / CLLD groups manage tens of thousands of projects with economic, cultural, social and environmental benefits in rural Europe.

The ENRD provides detailed information on the LEADER approach, including resources, toolkits, and a database of LAGs.

The future of rural development

Under the new CAP, rural development actions will be included under the framework of national CAP strategic plans from 2023 onwards.  

Within this framework, the Commission aims to make rural development actions more responsive to current and future challenges such as climate change and generational renewal, while continuing to support European farmers in a sustainable and competitive agricultural sector. Rural development actions will also make a strong contribution to the Commission’s key priorities and strategies, such as the European Green Deal and the long-term vision for rural areas.

Legal bases

Regulation (EU) 1303/2013 – presents common rules applicable to the European structural and investment funds (ESIF)

Regulation (EU) 1305/2013 on support for rural development by the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD)

Regulation (EU) 1306/2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy

Regulation (EU) 1310/2013 on support for rural development by the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 807/2014 on support for rural development by the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD) and introducing transitional provisions

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 640/2014 on the administration, withdrawal of support or conditions of penalties applicable to direct payments, rural development support and cross compliance

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 809/2014 outlining how Regulation (EU) 1306/2013 the administration and control system, rural development measures and cross compliance should be applied