1. Policy needs for rural development statistics and data analysis
Item 8.1 of the agenda Paloma Cortés DG for Agriculture and Rural Development Unit L.2 – Economic Analysis of EU Agriculture

2. 2. Data analysis – Some examples
1. Overview
2. Data analysis – Some examples
3. Policy needs – Monitoring and evaluation for the CAP

10. 2. Data analysis – Some examples
1. Overview
2. Data analysis – Some examples
3. Policy needs – Monitoring and evaluation for the CAP

11. Data analysis – Some examples
Economic and policy analysis  Economic briefs:
Examine specific topics of interest concerning the society and the economy of the rural areas in the EU
Mainly based on Eurostat data
Published in Europa since 2011  in 2013:
Employment in agriculture (July)
Structural changes of EU farms (October)
Financial implementation of rural development policy (October)

12. EB 8: How many people work in agriculture in the EU?
Cover both internal and external needs
Published on Europa the
Promoted in the Facebook of DG Agriculture
More than readers in the first two months
Printed copies are available

13. EB 8: How many people work in agriculture in the EU?
Objectives:
To present the 4 Eurostat databases which provide information on the topic
Farm Structure Survey (main data source for agricultural labour), Economic Accounts for Agriculture, National and Regional Accounts, Labour Force Survey
To discuss about which database is better for each specific need
To provide the best answer to the question based on the data
Includes:
Explanation of the methodology used in each database
Tables, graphs and maps with data provided by each database  Analysis of the data
Comparative analysis of databases
A summary of the main findings

14. EB 8: How many people work in agriculture in the EU?
Summary of the main findings:
In 2010 there were 12 million farms in the EU
Most data sources tend to agree in saying that around 10 million persons are employed in agriculture, whereas the FSS indicates that 25 million people were regularly engaged in farm work in the EU during 2010
These 10 million persons represent 5% of total employment
In most Member States, the bulk of farm work is carried out by the holders and their family members (92.2%)
For many of the 25 million regularly working in agriculture, farm work only represents a minor activity: more than half spent less than 25% of their working time on farm work
On average, there were 2 persons working on each farm, but less than 1 person when measured in full-time equivalent

15. EB 9: Let's talk about rural development money!
Overview of financial planning and implementation of RD programs (EU-27 and candidate countries)
Based on declarations of expenditure received by the Commission by the end of 2012
Will be published on Europa beginning of October

16. EB 10: Structure and dynamics of EU farms: changes, trends, and their policy relevance
Looks at current farm structures as well as at changes over time
Based on the Farm Structure Survey (2010 and previous years)
Highlights the implications for agricultural policy
Will be published on Europa end of October

17. Data analysis – Some examples
Monitoring rural development policy:
Rural development report (December)
tistics/rural- development/index_en.htm

18. Rural development report
Purpose:
To provide, on a regular basis, a comprehensive set of information on RD policy and rural areas (EU-27 plus candidate countries)  statistics and analysis
Frequency:
Annual update, published on Europa by the end of each year (December)
Data sources:
Eurostat, European Commission, other data sources at EU level
Geographical level:
National, regional (NUTS 1, 2, 3), rural/urban typology, degree of urbanisation, RD programs
Formats:
Internet, paper copies, CD-ROM

19. Rural development report
Contents:
Data presented according to the structure of the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for RD  60 indicators describing the context of the RD programs:
Importance of rural areas (2 indicators)
Socio-economic situation of rural areas (8 indicators)
Sectorial economic indicators (17 indicators)
Environment (20 indicators)
Diversification and quality of life in rural areas (11 indicators)
Leader (1 indicator)
Tables, graphs and maps are prepared for each indicator  short analysis (2-3 pages) of current situation and recent evolution
Other chapters:
Analytical highlights
Financial chapters

20. 2. Data analysis – Some examples
1. Overview
2. Data analysis – Some examples
3. Policy needs – Monitoring and evaluation for the CAP

21. Policy needs – Monitoring and evaluation for the CAP 2014-2020
Article 110 of the horizontal regulation sets a Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (CMEF) for the whole CAP  with specificities for each pillar
The CMEF will serve to help assess the progress, efficiency and effectiveness of the policy in meeting the objectives defined for the CAP
A common set of indicators for monitoring and evaluation is one of the main elements of the system
Context, impact, result and output indicators

22. Common context indicators (CCIs) for RD programs
In the last year, Commission has worked intensively with the Member States (and with the support of the Evaluation Helpdesk) to define this common set of 45 indicators

23. Common context indicators (CCIs) for RD programs
In each RD program:
CCIs should be used to describe the territory (SWOT analysis) and needs assessment  specific context indicators can also be defined
Measures selected should be justified by these analyses
CCIs will also be used in the different evaluations
Each CCI needs:
An accurate definition
A methodology to calculate it  specially needed for new or complex indicators
As far as possible, data should be available in existing data sources at European level (usually provided by the MS)

24. Common context indicators (CCIs) for RD programs
In order to help MS in the preparation of the programs, the Commission prepared and shared with them a database with all the data needed for the CCIs:
3 xls files with one sheet per indicator
Based on European data sources  names of data sources, tables, variables... included
All available national and regional data included:
all regions, not only the ones with regional programs
data for 3 RD programs made up with several NUTS1/2 regions were also calculated (England, Germany)
Some additional calculations were made for some indicators (%, urban/rural typology)  formulas used remain visible
Complex indicators were also calculated by the Commission

26. Common context indicators (CCIs) for RD programs
Main problems found:
Definition of the indicator:
Definitions used in national statistics may not be exactly the same than the European ones  if national definitions are prefered, specific context indicators can be created
No common definition exist for one indicator (High nature value farming)
Methodology:
Urban/rural typology may not be adecuate for analysis at regional level  MS are encouraged to define methodologies suitable for intra-regional analyses and to create specific indicators
Complex indicators need additional explanations / not always easy to interpret / results may seem surprising  some adjustments may still be necessary / MS may want to prefer to create specific context indicators using their own methodologies

27. Common context indicators (CCIs) for RD programs
Main problems found (cont.):
Data availability in European data sources:
Regional data not always exist  needed for regional RD programs and for additional calculations (i.e. to apply urban/rural typology)
Environmental indicators  periodicity of the data source / latest data available can be old / important gaps at regional level
Next steps in the collection of data for the CCIs  to be done by the Member States:
Revision and update (if needed) of data provided  when different data sources are used, definitions and methodologies should be the same
Search in national/regional data sources to fill-in the gaps
Elaboration of proxies when data do not finally exist

28. Thank you!