News

Court of Auditors assesses rural development spending

A new European Court of Auditors (ECA) report has highlighted that “The complexity of rural development policy and Member States’ weak control systems are the chief causes of the high error rate in spending.”

Published on 17 February 2015, the Special Report on Errors in Rural Development Spending argues that Member States’ control authorities “could and should have detected most of the errors affecting investment measures in rural development.”

The report highlights that the average error rate in rural development expenditure 2011-2013 was 8.2% and that most of the errors “are due to breaches of conditions set by Member States”.

“The key to bringing [the error rate] down is to strike the right balance between the number and complexity of rules governing spending […] and the efforts to guarantee compliance with such rules,” commented Rasa Budbergytė, the ECA Member responsible for the report.

For more information, visit the Court Of Auditors newsroom.

Source:
  • EU-Institutionen
Publication date: 
17/03/2015

First meeting of EU Rural Networks’ Steering Group

The first meeting of the EU Rural Networks’ Steering Group took place in Brussels on 25 February 2015. The meeting marked the start of the Steering Group’s work of providing guidance and coordination to the activities of the two European Rural Networks (ENRD and EIP-AGRI).

Representatives exchanged views on the most important topics and priorities for 2015 and how the European networks could work on these themes in practice. This input will guide the ongoing development of the networks’ activity plans. The full meeting report will be made available on the ENRD website.

For more information on the establishment and composition of the Steering Group, see pages 10-14 and Annex II of the "EU Rural Networks and Strategic Framework and governance bodies" paper. 

Source:
  • ENRD-Kontaktstelle
Publication date: 
17/03/2015

Unlocking the potential of the RDPs

A recent ENRD conference looked into the main drivers and barriers behind the design of the 2014-2020 national and regional Rural Development Programmes (RDPs), as well as into opportunities for their implementation to address local needs and contribute to EU priorities as best as possible.

Collaboration between actors at European, national and regional levels was highlighted as a key driver of the programming process. Delays in legislation and guidance, and excessive rules and procedures – and varying interpretations of these – were seen as the main barriers.

With the completion of the programming stage, RDP implementation could now be enhanced through simplification of procedures, for example via increased application of Simplified Cost Options (SCOs) and flexibility in programme modification.

Capacity building and collaboration among Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies and auditors will be further pursued with the active support of European and National Rural Networks. This will include exchange of good practices, in fields such as cooperation, Financial Instruments, risk management and multi-funding.

Source:
  • ENRD-Kontaktstelle
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

Understand EAFRD financial instruments

A new factsheet on financial instruments co-funded by the EAFRD has been produced. Financial instruments aim to address market gaps in access to finance, such as in small farms or new agricultural businesses with insufficient credit history. 

The guide has been produced by fi-compass – a platform for advisory services provided by the European Commission in partnership with European Investment Bank - to help improve awareness of the potential of financial instruments as a sustainable and efficient way to invest in rural development.

Source:
  • EU-Institutionen
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

Online inventory of EU forest research

A new database of forestry-related research and innovation projects is now available online. The database includes over 180 EU-funded projects.

Created by the Forest Based Sector Technology Platform (FTP), the inventory provides information on the scope, duration and funding of each project. It will be further developed to include details on the approximately 1 500 participating organisations and on the outputs of each project.

Source:
  • EU-Institutionen
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

Young Farmers in the Spotlight

Future Farmers in the Spotlight is an independent film project to raise awareness of successful young farmers who have set up viable, innovative and sustainable farming initiatives. It aims to inspire and encourage the next generation of sustainable farmers.

Having filmed 16 inspiring stories across Western Europe, the project now aims to tell the stories of young farmers in Southern and Eastern Europe and focus on ‘access to land’ as a crucial step in setting up a rural business.

Source:
  • Stakeholder auf europäischer Ebene
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

Italian NRN recognised by 2014 CAP Communication Awards

The RDP Planet initiative of the Italian National Rural Network won third prize in the ‘Communication to Stakeholders’ category at the recent 2014 CAP Communication Awards. RDP Planet is a monthly online newspaper that includes content by farmers for farmers, giving special attention to young farmers.

The Special Prize of the Public went to Liveable. Austria, a project run by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, which used real-life testimonials to explain the positive impacts of the new RDP on the country’s regions.

The awards ceremony, which took place in Brussels on 29 January 2015, gave three prizes in each of three categories: Communication to Stakeholders; Innovative Communication; and Communication to the Public. See the full list of CAP communication award winners 2014.
 

Source:
  • Stakeholder auf europäischer Ebene
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

How to integrate climate action into rural development

DG Climate Action, European Commission has published guidelines on Mainstreaming climate change into rural development policy, providing suggestions for designing and integrating new and innovative climate actions into the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programmes.

The document explores the potential for increased climate action through LEADER and joint actions under the Co-operation Measure. It also highlights best practice examples from 2007–2013.

 

Source:
  • EU-Institutionen
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

New Evaluation Helpdesk on its way

The contract for the new European Evaluation Helpdesk for Rural Development 2014-2020 has been awarded. The first quarter of 2015 will be dedicated to setting up the new Helpdesk team and office in Brussels.

The Evaluation Helpdesk is, along with the Contact Point, one of the two service providers for the ENRD. Its agreed work programme includes a stronger focus on: good practice in evaluation methodologies and processes, and capacity building for evaluation stakeholders in Member States.

For more information, contact: info@ruralevaluation.eu

Source:
  • Evaluierungs-Helpdesk
Publication date: 
19/02/2015

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