These documents are based on the statistical appendix of the report 'Rural Development in the European Union' published by DG AGRI (2007). A first map (up) presents the global amount of EAFRD funds allocated to each country and a second map (down) presents the detailed allocation according to the three new objectives.

 

Considerable simplifications has been introduced in the new programming period 2007-2013 as compared to the previous one. Rural Development is now financed by a single fund: the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The previous 5 types of programming have been reduced to a single one, and there is now a single financial management and control framework instead of 3. A strategic approach has also been introduced by the Community Strategic Guidelines adopted by the Council in February 2006. According to this document, support in area of rural development has to contribute to key community priorities, to other measures defined for cohesion and environment and furthermore to implementation of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Following the purposes of the CAP reform launched in 2003 (to realise an aid system that is independent from production, and to increase the population retention capacity of the rural regions) three major objectives for Rural Development policy have been set for the period 2007-13:
• Increasing the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector;
• Improving the environment and countryside through support for land management;
• Enhancing the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of economic activities.