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

1. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile Rural Regions in Europe: territorial potentials and main challenges Policy expectations Daniela Toccaceli Researcher University of Florence International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

2. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile 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 ofrural pole of development International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

3. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile 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 spatial development policies in Europe (Lisbon, 2006) International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

4. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile The need for a European rural strategy The Common Agricultural Policy cannot be the sole instrument for development of rural territories. The widening gap among rural territories asks for a specific territorial approach to rural development, alongside existing policies. A specific European policy for rural territories needs better harmonising the various general guidelines and programmes already in place. International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

5. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile 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. International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

6. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile 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. International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

7. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile Methodological principles of rural development • Territory and master plan • Participative and integrated development • Collective implementation and local partnerships • Overarching material and immaterial investments • Cooperation between rural territories and networking • A culture of assessment • Coherence between development measures International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

8. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile …there is a widespread need for new (place based) instruments and methodological model in Europe The example of Maremma’s Rural District (Tuscany –Italy) International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

9. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile 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. International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

10. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile …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. International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

11. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile ...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 International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org

12. ESPON SEMINAR Luxembourg, 15 december2010 GAIA Centro Interuniversitario Europeodi Studi e di Formazione per loSviluppo Rurale e Locale Sostenibile Thank you for your attention References: RURALITY‐ENVIRONMENT‐DEVELOPMENT international association R.E.D. presidency of the Advisory Group on Rural Development of the European Commission member of the Coordination Comitee of the European Network of Rural Development Rue des Potiers, 304, B‐6717 Attert tel :+32/63230490 – fax : +32 63230499 ‐ red@ruraleurope.org ‐ www.ruraleurope.org GAIA - UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOR RURAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE Via Miele, 3 I-50127 Firenze Tel: +390554374613 - fax: +390554374105 centro.gaia@unifi.it – daniela.toccaceli@unifi.it International association Rurality-Environment-Development www.ruraleurope.org