Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development (Dec 2015)
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES 2007–2013 AS A TOOL OF PLACE-BASED POLICY
Abstract
The Regulation (EC) No 1698/200 obliged the EU countries to determine the geographical area and defi ne rural areas covered by each RDP 2007–2013. In the context of the concept of place-based policies that requirement is equivalent to setting target areas and could give RDPs place-based character. The study was carried out on the basis of qualitative data from secondary sources, i.e. 43 RDP implemented in 27 member states. Findings show that all the analysed RDPs covered all the country or region for which they were developed, and rural areas were defi ned mainly as a whole, usually through criteria that refl ect their basic demographic characteristics. Only two countries applied a selective method refl ecting internal diff erentiation of rural areas and consequently their diff erent needs and development objectives. Only these methods and RDPs can be regarded as a real tool of place-based policy, others only meet the formal criteria
