Rural Development in Sweden Rural areas have been depopulated rapidly Farming and forestry used to be dominant in rural economy 60% of the farmers are part-time farmers

Rural Development in Sweden Net income M€ Agriculture5 000 Forestry3 000 Other rural business Total11 000

The Swedish national RD strategy Promote economically, ecologically and social sustainable development Close link to the environment policy, regional development policy and forest policy Promote sustainable production Contribute to growth and employment Facilitate the transformation of the energy policy

The Swedish national RD strategy will focus on: Natural resources and environmental objectives Food production with added value New production of goods and service Skill, innovation and entrepreneurship Integration of new groups and gender equality

The Swedish and Nordic position on EU RD program Use the synergy between RD and the regional / cohesion policy The role of private forestry must be taken into account Measures distorting competition and markets must be avoided

The Swedish and Nordic position on EU RD program No support to normal operations of commercial forestry Support should primarily be directed to forest owners and their organizations Compulsory measures should be funded by national funds RD support should not deep freeze rural areas by creating total protection areas (Natura 2000 )

The new Swedish RD program Three axes plus Leader Balance of 15% / 75% /10 % and Leader 7 % Total budget 555 m€ annually

Forestry measures in the new RD program Axis 1 Investment support (art 27) Training and information (art 21) Infrastructure (art 30)

Forestry measures in the new RD program Axis 2 Afforestation of agricultural land (art 43) Forest-environment payments (art 47) Non-productive investment, “broad- leaved deciduous forest” (art 49)

Forestry measures in the new RD program Axis 3 Business development (art 54) Tourism (art 55) Leader (art 62)