EU post-accession rural development measures

At an information seminar on post-accession rural development measures, Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner responsible for agriculture, rural development and fisheries, said the final deal agreed upon in December 2002 in Copenhagen represented "a fair and balanced package that will greatly improve the prospects for many of the farmers in the new member states and will enable them to make better use of their agricultural potential".

Mr Fischler, speaking in Brussels on March 19, claimed that, in particular, the final agriculture package foresaw a very important support for the necessary restructuring process in the rural areas of each of the acceding countries.

"Reinforced EU rural development programmes, together with structural support, will offer considerable opportunities for farmers in the new member states to improve their efficiency and diversify their income sources," he said.

The Copenhagen European Council, Mr Fischler added, had changed the face of Europe, laying a new basis for the life of the present and future generations in Europe.

"In fact, an old European dream is now within reach: peace, security and equal chances for the nations of this continent shaping their future united under a common roof."

The rural and agricultural sectors of the countries affected by the programmes vary enormously in nature and extent. They have their particular needs, priorities and problems which are taken into full account. Support is therefore tailored and targeted on specific needs.

The EU Commissioner referred specifically to the Sapard programme which, he said, had proven to be a successful tool to prepare the ground for rural development policy in the acceding member states and to lay the ground for their successful accession to the EU.

Sapard - special accession programme for agriculture and rural development - was launched in 1999 to contribute to the implementation of the acquis concerning the common agricultural policy and related policies and to solve priority and specific problems for the sustainable adaptation of the agricultural sector and rural areas in the applicant countries.

Malta was not included in the programme because when this was in the planning stage the island's application to join the EU was "frozen". Neither was Cyprus, due to the ethnic division that has remained unsolved.

Sapard requires that each of the participating countries draws up a development plan, based on the country's needs, covering the period 2000-2006. This plan includes the improvement of structures for quality, veterinary and plant health centres, setting up producer groups and land registers.

The plan is being funded out of the CAP structural funds and is prepared with the all the organisations involved on the partnership/consultation principle.

The invaluable experience of Sapard in the pre-accession period is bound to facilitate the implementation of the post-accession rural development instruments. The Sapard instrument plays an important role in setting up the necessary administrative structures and in helping to train staff through practical experience. Competent staff is available to deal with these preliminaries to membership.

As countries have put in place the necessary procedures, and the farmers and administrators have got used to them, there should not be substantial difficulties with absorbing the EU funds for rural development.

The process leading up to adoption of the Sapard programmes in acceding countries is virtually the same as that for member states. Community financial resources are granted to beneficiary countries under Sapard in a way that is quite similar to that by which structural funds are released to member states.

Addressing those at the seminar coming from acceding countries, Mr Fischler said: "The quality of the rural development measures and coherence, and efficiency of the programme will depend very much on your input. We are partners in the implementation of this policy and this policy dialogue can help us identify ways of best meeting your needs. This dialogue enables us to agree on joint objectives and on implementation principles".

The seminar participants were given a detailed presentation of guidelines regarding the switch from Sapard to post-accession rural development instruments. These guidelines are intended to help the acceding countries' administrations in the elaboration of their rural development programmes for the period 2004-2006.

On signature of the accession treaties, the acceding member states will have observer status in the relevant council formations and Commission committees.

Although Malta is not a recipient of Sapard funds, local agriculture is benefiting from other EU sources. The Maltese Rural Development Department shall be receiving about €3 million in pre-accession aid for institutional capacity building as well as for pilot rural development support schemes.

Out of this allocation, some €510,000 shall go for a rural stewardship scheme whose purpose is to promote the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the traditional rural environment of the Maltese islands by farmers.

A further €510,000 are available for a rural business scheme that is directed to enhance the situation of the agricultural sector by improving the economic performance of the marketing and processing chain, through gains in both productivity and competitiveness.

A total of €170,000 are detailed for producer groups helping them improve their market efficiency and increase their number and effectiveness. Another €510,000 fall under the farm holdings scheme that will promote improvements in economic performance at farm level.