Lutz Scherling, Head of the Division in the Ministry for Agriculture, the Environment and Consumer Protection, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Open Days 2015 Opportunities for Demographic Change Brussels, 14 October 2015 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – rural development as part of the demographic change

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 6.5% of the total area of the Federal Republic of Germany Sixth-largest federal state. Six districts, two independent urban districts and around 780 municipalities, nine of which have in excess of inhabitants (fragmented settlement pattern). 85% of the area of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is rural. 2% of the population of the Federal Republic of Germany, lowest population density of all federal states (69 inhabitants per km²). Gross domestic product (GDP): only 1.3% of the total German amount. Brussels, 14 October Version: 2015

An entire federal state has (considerably) fewer inhabitants than one “city” Brussels, 14 October : 1,626,220 inhabitants 2014: 1,803,752 inhabitants Map: Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie, Frankfurt am Main,  2014: Δ HH= + 11 % Δ M-V= - 19 % 1989: 1,963,909 inhabitants 2014: 1,598,800 inhabitants

Situation in the whole of Germany – public services and economic power Brussels, 14 October Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is particularly affected in almost all indicators

Demographic change – population trends in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (draft of the fifth up-dated projection, Source Statistisches Landesamt) Based on the year 2013 and depending on the model, the population in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will decline by between approx. 80 thousand and 120 thousand inhabitants by This corresponds to a population decline of between 6.9 and 7.3%.

- 6 - Population trend as % between 2013 and Projection for the 96 near-regions Regional losses of between -35 and -46% Regional gains of between +10 and +35% Competition amongst rural municipalities and with the urban regions is increasing. Growing disparities! Competition amongst rural municipalities and with the urban regions is increasing. Growing disparities!

Rural Development Programme (RDP M-V) – second pillar of the GAP On 13 February 2015, the European Commission approved the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the funding period between 2014 and 2020 Subsidies amounting to €1.2 billion are available €936.7 million are from the EU budget €89.8 million are from the German financial framework for the GAP direct payments (4.5% redistribution) €262.6 million from national and communal co-financing On 13 February 2015, the European Commission approved the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the funding period between 2014 and 2020 Subsidies amounting to €1.2 billion are available €936.7 million are from the EU budget €89.8 million are from the German financial framework for the GAP direct payments (4.5% redistribution) €262.6 million from national and communal co-financing Brussels, 14 October Social participation and economic development €339 million in total 80% of the population will benefit from improved services LEADER approach € 80 million Is offered extensively in 14 LAGs Social participation and economic development €339 million in total 80% of the population will benefit from improved services LEADER approach € 80 million Is offered extensively in 14 LAGs Competitive power of the agricultural sector €195 million in total Investments in agriculture: Focus on animal well-being, high-quality products, improved working conditions and diversification of farms Competitive power of the agricultural sector €195 million in total Investments in agriculture: Focus on animal well-being, high-quality products, improved working conditions and diversification of farms Transfer of knowledge and innovation €24 million in total 8,500 people involved in further training and consultancy EIP – European Innovation Partnerships and Network Promotion Transfer of knowledge and innovation €24 million in total 8,500 people involved in further training and consultancy EIP – European Innovation Partnerships and Network Promotion

Brussels, 14 October The RDP and the strengthening of the social infrastructure – our way… Development programmes for investments in the expansion of the requirements-based range of basic services considerably augmented! OBJECTIVE: to ensure regional public services Development programmes for investments in the expansion of the requirements-based range of basic services considerably augmented! OBJECTIVE: to ensure regional public services Challenges include:  Enabling the flexibility of legal standards and norms  Ensuring the multi-functionality of the village infrastructure facilities  Promoting and advancing inter- communal cooperation  Mobility becomes a key factor, allow alternative concepts  Strengthening voluntary work Challenges include:  Enabling the flexibility of legal standards and norms  Ensuring the multi-functionality of the village infrastructure facilities  Promoting and advancing inter- communal cooperation  Mobility becomes a key factor, allow alternative concepts  Strengthening voluntary work

EAFRD – projects with a future Conversion of Groß Mohrdorf manor house into a nursery Brussels, 14 October Photo sources: Fotodokumentation des Bauablaufes, Architekten- und Ingenieur-Contor Mittelbach, Stralsund

Brussels, 14 October EAFRD – projects with a future Example: municipality of Balow, district of Ludwigslust-Parchim More public services at local level The village community centre is to be structurally altered in order to meet the current and future public services needs.  BusStop for the BürgerAktivBus (in service since September 2014).  MARKTPLATZ for travelling vendors and service providers (irrespective of the season – premises available in the community centre)  MITBRING-Agentur (organised by the citizens)  BürgerKÜCHE (as a meeting point for social exchange)

Brussels, 14 October EAFRD – projects with a future Example Woldegk: outpatient clinic guarantees primary health care The administrative district of Woldegk (district of Mecklenburg Lake District) has a population density of only 24 people per km 2. People are becoming fewer, considerably older and trips – including to the doctor – are becoming longer. The “Zentrale Gesundheitshaus Woldegk”, which received €400k in subsidies in 2012, provides enough space for two GPs’ surgeries, one surgery used by several consultants, one physiotherapy practice and 14 barrier-free apartments.

LEADERalternativ – the example of “Multiple houses” in the Haff region Brussels, 14 October Improved primary care in times of demographic change; A lack of mobility of the population is being replaced by mobility of the service providers; Clinics, hair salon, grocers, meeting place for clubs and the village community, etc.; Economic viability is increased by networking.

Brussels, 14 October Fair chances of development for rural regions as part of the demographic change Summary Can only be guaranteed with the right infrastructure and public services Necessitate regional economic power Necessitate regional cooperation and specific answers at local level Necessitate advice and accompaniment Necessitate the political will of the EU, of the member states and the regions.