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Southern Oxfordshire Leader Network Event Next Rural Development Programme. Presented by: Jacquie Middleton Date: 7 th June 2013. The current Rural Development Programme for England delivers £3.7bn of investment. Improving the environment Farm competitiveness, forestry and rural growth
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Southern Oxfordshire Leader Network Event Next Rural Development Programme Presented by: Jacquie Middleton Date: 7th June 2013
The current Rural Development Programme for England delivers £3.7bn of investment... • Improving the environment • Farm competitiveness, forestry and rural growth • LEADER / rural communities ...and is due to end on 31 December 2013.
The current programme is funding activity that has made a real difference to the environment and rural areas... • 70% of utilised agricultural area covered by agri-environment schemes • 10,000ha of new woodland created • 16,600 jobs created or safeguarded in farming and the rural economy ...and we are already committed to significant spend in the new programme.
Ministers have set out objectives for Defra... • Growing the rural economy • Improving the environment • Safeguarding animal health • Safeguarding plant health ...and their view on use of CAP monies. “I believe that taxpayers’ money should be used to support public goods for which there is no market mechanism such as the contribution farming makes to our habitats and wildlife.” Owen Paterson - Secretary of State, Defra
? Some key points remain to be finalised. • England Rural Development Programme budget • Agreeing CAP reform package with European Parliament • Detailed design of ‘greening’
However other aspects are clear. • New EU Rural Development Regulation has more flexibility - six priorities, no more axes • Leader continues • Now part of European Structural and Investment Funds • Have to plan on the basis that funding will be tight • UK objectives • Focus on measurable outcomes • Better value for money • Simpler, more flexible system • Effective transition
New schemes will deliver more flexibly across the 6 priorities of the Rural Development Regulation 2014-20. • Fostering knowledge transfer and innovation • Enhancing competitiveness and farm viability • Promoting food chain organisation and risk management • Restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems • Promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy • Promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.
Co-financing Organisations • Growth • Teams LEPs The next RDP will be aligned with other EU funding streams... Growth Programme (ERDF, ESF & EAFRD) Maritime and Fisheries Programme (EMFF) Rural Development Programme (EAFRD) Community Led Local Development, including Leader and FLAGs Projects
... with a Rural Development Programme... • Securing environmental benefits • Focus on agriculture and forestry sectors • Strengthening rural communities ... that includes LEADER...
... Leader .. • Continue to be part of RDP with at least 5% of the EU spend • Aspiration for Leader to cover all rural areas • Leader groups currently applying for transition funding to maintain expertise and capacity during transition year • Not clear yet what Leader will be asked to deliver ...
...and with growth objectives delivered through a “Growth Programme”. Top priorities • Research, technological development and innovation • Raising SME competitiveness • Shift to low-carbon economy • Employment & skills (inc. social inclusion) Other objectives • Climate change adaptation, risk prevention & management • Environmental protection & resource efficiency • Sustainable transport, removing network bottlenecks • Access to & use of ICT
The Growth Programme will play an important part in rural development... • The EAFRD contribution will need to be spent on rural priorities: ESF and ERDF can be spent in rural areas too. • Government has asked LEPs to: • Develop Investment Strategies for the Growth Programme funds allocated to their areas. We want to see their first drafts by the end of September and final strategies by the end of January 2014 • Seek help through engaging with local partners, including RFNs ...so LAGs and others need to help LEPs do this. For example showing LEPs what approaches work in rural areas.
We have started to develop the next rural development programme for England... • What has worked, or not, under the current Programme? • Where the next RDP has a role in delivering government objectives • How do we get best value for money? • Early 2014 - submit new programme document to the European Commission • January 2015 – new programme starts ...to provide Ministers with a basis on which to take decisions.