Rural Regions in Europe: territorial potentials and main challenges Policy expectations

Rural Regions in Europe: territorial potentials and main

challenges

Policy expectations

Daniela ToccaceliDaniela ToccaceliResearcher University of Florence

www.ruraleurope.orgInternational association

Rurality-Environment-Development

Centro Interuniversitario Europeo di Studi e di Formazione per lo Sviluppo Rurale e Locale SostenibileGAIAESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010

Red proposal




•A European rural model which improves the contributions of rural territories to the main stakes and objectives of the European Union.

•A European model based on: •the enhancement of rural society

•a territorial approach

•cooperation and positive relationships between town and country

• the acknowledgement of rural pole of development

The rural poles of development: a strong and essential component of cohesion




Rural development pole is defined as:

A rural development pole is an inhabited, significantly rural area where the social, economic and territorial evolutions are led within the framework of an integrated and prospective development plan. A rural pole is not an agglomeration, but a rural territory as a whole, which may include one or more small towns.

The territorial development plan determines the objectives of results in short, medium and long terms. It specifies the guidelines for development, the human and material means to achieve the results targeted.

The civil society, public and private actors must be partner for its development and its assessment.

Ex CEMAT Glossary of key expressions used in spatialdevelopment policies in Europe (Lisbon, 2006)

The need for a European rural strategy




1. The Common Agricultural Policy cannot be the sole instrument for

development of rural territories.

2. The widening gap among rural territories asks for a specific

territorial approach to rural development, alongside existing

policies.

3. A specific European policy for rural territories needs better

harmonising the various general guidelines and programmes

already in place.

Aim of the European rural territories strategy




►Rural territories become real poles of development, in

a strong and balanced interrelation with urban poles.

• Through their contribution and potential in terms of

sustainable development, rural territories are key

partners for the construction of Europe.

• The functions of rural territories are fast-changing and

therefore call for specific support and other

accompanying measures.

Objectives of the European rural territories strategy




• Consolidation of local economies• Public /private partnerships• Territorial cohesion by the mitigation of disparities also by the

maintenance of public services and transport and communication infrastructures ;

• Creation/strengthening of knowledge-sharing networks;• Redeployment of multifunctional farming/agriculture into step with

society;• Preservation of biodiversity and the environment;• Fighting climate change, global warming and natural disasters;• Enhancement of rural heritage and cultures in their diversity ;• Greater citizen participation through bottom-up methods of

governance;• Capacity-building of local institutions and populations;• Integration of young people and women onto the salaried or self-

employed labour market.

Methodological principles of rural development




Territory and master plan Participative and integrated development Collective implementation and local partnerships

A culture of assessment

Overarching material and immaterial investments

Coherence between development measures

Cooperation between rural territories and networking




…there is a widespread need for new (place based) instruments and methodological model in Europe

The example of Maremma’s Rural District (Tuscany –Italy)

A New instrument: the European Grouping of Territorial Development (EGTD)




Going beyond the experiences and procedures of Leader Local Action Groups (LAGs) European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (ETCG)

EGTD aims to facilitate and to accompany actions which contribute to strengthening social, economic and territorial

cohesion.

…a new tool for local governance: the COUNCIL of the EGTD




The concept of “Local Action Groups” was crucial for the success of Leader approach. The Commission should take similar initiative in order to give efficient tools for the territorial cohesion.

The Council’s members would be both institutional partners of the EGTD and socioeconomic and associative actors on the territory.

Its main tasks would consist in designing the development pole strategy and programming its actions.

...and a new European Fund for Rural Development and Territorial Agriculture




Next to a Fund helping market activities of agriculture and forestry, the EFRDTA finances the rural development policy.

This rural policy is built up around 3 stakes and an Observatory of rural territories assists it in its implementation :

➡ stake 1: formulation and implementation of integrated projects for the sustainable development of rural poles

➡ stake 2: adaptation of farms and forestry holdings within the overall context of territorial development

➡ stake 3: training, engineering and knowledge-sharing

Thank you for your attention




References:

RURALITY‐ENVIRONMENT‐DEVELOPMENTinternational association R.E.D.presidency of the Advisory Group on Rural Development of the European Commissionmember of the Coordination Comitee of the European Network of Rural DevelopmentRue des Potiers, 304, B 6717 Attert‐tel :+32/63230490 – fax : +32 63230499 ‐[email protected] ‐ www.ruraleurope.org

GAIA - UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR RURAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENTUNIVERSITY OF FLORENCEVia Miele, 3 I-50127 FirenzeTel: +390554374613 - fax: [email protected] – [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ruraleurope.org/



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Rural Regions in Europe: territorial potentials and main challenges Policy expectations