The rural development policy in the EU and in France Christian TOURNADRE 2014/11/12

1. Rural development Policy

In line with Europe 2020 and the overall CAP objectives three long-term strategic objectives for EU rural development policy in the period can be identified :Europe 2020 fostering the competitiveness of agriculture; ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources, and climate action; achieving a balanced territorial development of rural economies and communities including the creation and maintenance of employment. 3

The 5 targets for the EU in 2020 (for memory) 1. Employment –75% of the year-olds to be employed 2. R&D –3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in R&D 3. Climate change and energy sustainability –greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if the conditions are right) lower than 1990 –20% of energy from renewables –20% increase in energy efficiency 4. Education –Reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10% –at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education 5. Fighting poverty and social exclusion –at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion 4

1. Rural development Policy Rural development policy is declined through : - Common Strategic Framework –which intends to help Member States and their regions in programming and setting clear investment priorities for the next financial planning period from 2014 until –Partnership Agreement –The Partnership Agreement is a document that defines a common strategic base for FESI. It is concluded between the Member State and the European Commission. It defines the main directions of the programming, and determine the nature of the intervention of European funds on territories. 5 UE 2020 Common Strategic Framework Partnership Agreement ERFD, ESF, EAFRD, …

1. Main reasons for implementing a rural development policy in the EU 6

7 28 Member States with over 56% of the population living in rural areas, which cover 91 % of the territory... => Rural development is a vitally important policy => Farming and forestry remain crucial for land use and the management of natural resources => An opportunity for economic diversification in rural communities Main reasons for implementing a rural development policy in the EU

8 EU needs to achieve valuable goals for its countryside and for the people who live and work there. The EU's rural areas is a vital part of its identity. Many of the rural areas face significant challenges. Some of the farming and forestry businesses still need to build their competitiveness. Average income per head is lower in rural regions than in our towns and cities. Service sector in rural areas is less developed than in urban areas. Main reasons for implementing a rural development policy in the EU

9 European countryside has a great deal to offer : –raw materials for food consumption, –a place of beauty, rest and recreation, –useful for fighting against climate change, –attractive for living if people have access to adequate services and infrastructure. The EU's Lisbon Strategy for jobs and growth, the Göteborg Strategy for sustainable development and the UE 2O2O are just as relevant to our countryside as to our towns and cities.Lisbon Strategy for jobs and growth The EU's rural development policy is all about meeting the challenges faced by our rural areas, and unlocking their potential.

2. Organization of rural development policy : French case study 10

11 1 rural development programme for France’s mainland

12 Organization of rural development policy : French case study Every Member State must set out a rural development programme, which specifies what funding will be spent on which measures for the period. National Strategy Plans must be based on EU Strategic Guidelines.EU Strategic Guidelines This approach should help to: –identify the areas where the use of EU support for rural development adds the most value at EU level; –make the link with the main EU priorities (for example, those set out under the Lisbon and Göteborg agendas); –ensure consistency with other EU policies, in particular those for economic cohesion and the environment.

1.Main challenges for rural areas highlighted by the RDP include: 1.high unemployment rate, 2.difficulties to export products, 3.risk of agricultural decay in less- favoured areas, 4.Insufficient modernization of the forestry sector, natural hazards (fires and storms), 5.low quality of water and insufficient protection of biodiversity, 6.a number of inequalities between regions and a risk of social segregation. 13 Organization of rural development policy : French case study

2.On the other hand, strengths of rural areas include : 1.an economically important agricultural and foodstuff sector, 2.a demographic renewal with a dense tissue of service enterprises and numerous candidates to set up as farmers, 3.abundant forest and water resources, an important biodiversity, 4.a rich and diversified natural and cultural heritage and a general attractiveness. 14 Organization of rural development policy : French case study

French rural development policy main objective is to assist the rural area’s weaknesses by enhancing their strengths on an economic, social and environmental point of view: 1.to develop a competitive economy and create jobs in the primary sector (agriculture and forestry), secondary sector (in particular agro-food industries and forest industries) and tertiary sector (services and tourism); 2.to promote a territorial development by and for the populations and stakeholders of rural areas, taking into account their diversity as a whole as an asset, and ensuring a sustainable management of their cultural heritage; 3.to ensure a sustainable management of natural resources, in particular with regard to water and biodiversity. 15 Organization of rural development policy : French case study

2. Organization of rural development policy: implementation at regional level in Auvergne region 16

Diagnosis of the area SWOT analysis Definition of strategic goals Action plan for 7 years Individual projects endorsed locally Check for possible actions and define an action plan to reach the goals Understand the weakness and strengths of the area and share a common vision of the area Identify the issues to tackle and set-up the development goals for the area Photograph the area Beneficiaries (farmers, companies, local governments, NGOs) are eligible to receive funding (if their projects are selected).

18 About our region km² 1 342,000 inhabitants in Hab/km² in Auvergne (114 in France) 47 % of the territory has a density < 15 Hab/km²) Lost 5400 Ha/year (3.6 % of the Agricultural surface in 10 years) 2/3 in mountain area 60% occupy by agriculture

19 About our farming system Farms -2,3 % /an since Ha average surfaces (80 Ha in France) ¾ raise cattle Represent 8.5% of the employment of the region (twice more than the national average)

20 About our productions Crop's  Wheat ( Ha) Corn for Seed Meat produce with grassland : Brood cows Milk : Dairy cows 1.1 billion litters 75% transformed in cheese And pigs ( )

Our regional Strategy Our main goals –Increase the income of farmers and Agro Food Industry by modernizing structures and diversify agricultural production –Means of compensation for disadvantaged areas –Improve the quality of our products and our environment –Increase the attractiveness of rural areas by maintaining services, development of business and tourism –Involve territory by establishing a LEADER approach –Evaluation throughout the device to allow reorientation of the measures if necessary Our main focus –To install young to ensure the renewal of generations –To modernize agriculture in particular in the areas of breeding –To diversify production and transform the farm products –To market farmer’s products directly to the consumers 21

How to? ……. Action Plan Establishment of a dialogue between the different actors of territories Sharing strategy and means to implement to achieve the objectives Implementation of an action plan 22

23 Our regional Strategy Presentation of examples in pictures

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