Rural Development in Spain
Miguel Setuain
Resident Twinning Advisor
1
Rural Development
Keys of succes in the Spanish regions:
…from the beginning, the bet was made on a integral, endogenous
and participative development with a territorial basis, not a sectorial
basis.
….the Programs of Rural Development are defined and executed
on homogenous rural spaces where the agents that are sharing the
solidarity must confront common challenges and problems.
… the level of consolidation of the local fact, the social cohesion,
the values constitute without any doubt key elements for the
effectiveness of the designed policies.
2
Rural Development
Keys of succes in the Spanish regions:
The introduction of a method, and the proactive attitude that
reflects the application of the strategic planning in the
formulation of the policies from the beginning of the 90s to
present days
The approval in the regional Parliament of the Law of Rural
Development, like political element that gives the legal force
and the legal endorsement of the policies and the programs of
rural development beyond the social legitimacy .
A wide institutional framework for the rural development
prepared to act with an integral vision of the territory
3
SPAIN
Mixing …
 Horizontal
 Regional
programmes
Programmes
4
Overwiew of programme architecture
2000 - 2006
Type of
programme
Financed by Programmes concerned
Rural
EAGGFDevelopment
Guarantee
Programmes
Operational
Programmes
Leader +
Programmes
2
national
(supporting
improving structures)
measures,
7 regional
Section

EAGGFGuidance
Section
2
EAGGFGuidance
1 national
17 regional
(Navarre, Basque Country,
Rioja, Aragon, Catalonia, Madrid and Balearis
Islands)
national (supporting
measures,
technical assistance)
10
regional
(Galicia, Asturias, CastillaLeon, Castilla la Mancha, Extremadura,
Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia and Canary Islands)
5
Horizontal programmes:
What are the priorities?
Four main priorities have been set up for the
horizontal programmes:




to rationalize the input by reducing the use of pesticides
and irrigation water, by a more integrated management
of the holdings, etc.
to improve the viability of the agricultural holdings, by
encouraging sustainable and environmental-friendly
farming, diversifying the production, etc.
to reorganize the productive sector,
to improve the quality of life and the protection of the
6
natural environment
7
8
REGIONAL PROGRAMS
Rural development at regional level
In addition to the horizontal programs, each
Autonomous Community has designed a
Regional Development Plan, taking into
account the specific needs and priorities of the
region.
9
Each plan includes a selection of measures, in line
with the Council Regulations (I)







development and improvement of infrastructure connected with
the development of agriculture
encouragement for tourist and -craft activities
protection of the environment in connection with agriculture,
forestry and landscape conservation as well as with the
improvement of animal welfare
restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural
disasters and introducing the appropriate prevention instruments
financial engineering
diversification of agricultural activities and activities close to
agriculture to provide multiple activities or alternative incomes
agricultural water resources management
10
Each plan includes a selection of measures, in line
with the Council Regulations (II)










Training
Improving processing and marketing of agricultural
products
Forestry measures (on non-agricultural land)
Promoting the adaptation and development of rural areas
(art 33):
Land improvement
Re parceling
Setting-up of farm relief and farm management services
Marketing of quality agricultural products
Basic services for the rural economy and population
Renovation and development of villages and protection and
conservation of the rural Heritage
11
The Regional Plans
Aims the triple dimension of the rural development:



Economic dimension: adaptation, maintenance
and creation of employment
Socio cultural dimension: strengthening the
social cohesion and valuation of the cultural
patrimony
Environmental dimension: conservation and
renovation of the available natural resources
12
Important…
…to keep in mind that the horizontal and
regional programmes go together.

Whereas the horizontal programmes constitutes the
main body of support, and address the big structural
difficulties within the agrarian sector, the regional
programmes add to this the specific support designed
for the unique, particular situation of each and every
Autonomous Community.
13
AXES:
Improvement of the competitiveness and
development of the productive sector
 Information Society
 Environment, Habitat and Hidric Resources
 Human
Resources
development,
Employment equality of opportunities
 Local and urban development
 Transport and Energy networks
 Agriculture and Rural Development

14
ERDF:
•support to industrial companies and services,
•development, promotion and services to tourism
companies,
•water supplies,
•waste management,
•protection and regeneration of the natural
surroundings,
•infrastructures and equipment for urban and
rural
municipalities,
conservation
and
rehabilitation of social, sanitary, sport and
artistic/cultural patrimony, equipment of leisure,
creation of the information society, ports,
highways, energy, etc.
15
ESF:
creation of employment,
 labor insertion of young people and
women,
 fight against the horizontal and vertical
segregation as well as the wage/salaried
discrimination
 to favor to the conciliation of the laboral
and familial life
 opportunities
of employment for the
groups with an exclusion risk

16
Leader+
The Community Initiative Leader+ is a complement to the
mainstreaming
programming.
It aims at developing integrated cross-sector strategies for rural
areas, which seek to exploit all the potential of the local
economy. The local
population is actively involved to
elaborate and carry out the strategies and to participate in
Local Action Groups (LAGs), with equal
representation
from the public and private sector. The initiative also
encourages co-operation and networking between rural areas
In Spain was created by many regions complementary
programs called
PRODER to cover areas and measures
not covered by LEADER or LEADER+. The idea was a big
success allowing to expand the
LEADER approach in
new rural areas….
17
National Strategic
Reference Framework
2007-2013
18
Art.25 General Regulation

The Member State shall present a national strategic
reference framework which ensures that assistance from
the Funds is consistent with the Community Strategic
Guidelines on cohesion, and which identifies the link
between Community priorities on the one hand and the
national reform programme, on the other hand.

Each national strategic reference framework shall constitute
a reference instrument for preparing the programming of
the Funds.

The national strategic reference framework will apply to the
"Convergence"
Objective
and
the
"Regional
Competitiveness and Employment" Objective. It may also,
if a Member State so decides, apply to the "European
Territorial Co-operation" Objective, without prejudice to the
future choices of other Member States concerned
19
Art.25 General Regulation

The national strategic reference framework shall contain
the following elements:

An analysis of development disparities, weaknesses and
potential, taking into account trends in the European and
world economy;

The strategy chosen on the basis of this analysis,
including the thematic and territorial priorities. Where
appropriate these priorities shall include actions relating
to sustainable urban development , the diversification of
rural economies and areas dependent on fisheries;

The list of operational programmes for the ‘Convergence’
and ‘Regional Competitiveness and Employment’
objectives;
20
Art.25 General Regulation

A description of how the expenditure for Convergence’ and
‘Regional Competitiveness and Employment’ Objectives
shall contribute to the EU priorities of promoting
competitiveness and creating jobs, including meeting the
objectives of the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs
2005-2008
as
laid
down
in
Art
8
(2
bis)

The

For regions of the ‘Convergence’ objective only: the action
envisaged for reinforcing the Member State’s administrative
efficiency; the amount of the total annual appropriation
provided for under the EAFRD and the EFF; the information
required for ex-ante verification of compliance with the
additionality principle referred to in Art 13
indicative
annual allocation from
programme;
each
Fund
by
21
Art. 25 General Regulation
The national strategic reference framework may also contain,
where relevant:
(a) the procedure for co-ordination between Community
cohesion policy and the relevant national, sectoral and
regional policies of the Member State concerned;
(b) the mechanisms for ensuring co-ordination between the
operational programmes and the assistance from the Funds,
the EAFRD, the EFF, and the interventions of the EIB and of
other existing financial instruments
22
NSFR and NRP



Correspondences were identified among the axes
of the NRP and the NSFR
New actions to be financed are developed under
the SF in relation with the specific priorities and
measures of the NRP
Lisbon and Cohesion have common points but are
not the same. Special emphasis will be put on the
links to those 2 strategies, with the differences
among the 2 strategies and trying to offer
additional financing lines for some of the NRP
measures
23
Focus over
Lisbon objectives



The strategic guidelines have an obvious
orientation through Lisbon objectives. As long as
the NSFR will have to follow the Strategic
Guidelines this concentration will be ensured
For the programming process, work in on
progress on establishing some Lisbon indicators.
It is needed to transform the national objectives
into regional objectives
The next base for 2007 Funds, the Lisbon
indicators will be established at the regional level
24
RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SPAIN:
EU FUNDS COORDINATION
INTERMINISTRY COMMITTEE OF EU FUNDING
M. Labour
And Social Affairs
M.Ec
M. Agric/
Rural Dev.
M. Agric. Fish.
25
COORDINATION BETWEEN PROGRAMS
Sectorial Commitees
MIT&T
7FP R+D
M.
Env-LIFE +
M. EC.
MIT & TFP
PM Competiti
REGIONS
26
Planning Spain NSRF
EDRF (Convergence)







Axe 1 Development of Knowledge Society (I+D+I,
Information Society and ICT)
Axe 2: Development and enterprise innovation
Axe 3: Environment, Natural, Hydraulic Resources
and risk prevention
Axe 4: Transport and energy
Axe 5: Local and Urban sustainable development
Axe 6: Social Infrastructures
Axe 7: Technical Assistance and institutional capacity
support
27
Planning NSRF:
ERDF (Competitivenness)
Axe 1: Knowledge and Innovation and
entrepreneurial development
 Axe 2: Environment, and risk preventions
 Axe 3: Accessibility to the
networks and
transport services and telecommunications
 Axe
4:Local
and
Urban
sustainable
development
 Axe 5: Technical Assistance

28
Planning the NSRF:

The names and the number of axes can
change

Financial weight of each axis change in
relation with the current period.
29
Rural Development
2007-2013
SPAIN
30
Reg. (ECE) 1698/2005,
related to the support for
Rural Development
through EFRD
Communitary
Strategical Guidelines
National Strategic Plan
National Framework
Regional Programmes:
Cataluna
Extremadura
Galicia
Madrid
Murcia
Navarra
La Rioja
Comunidad Valenciana
Pais Vasco
Andalucia
Aragon
Asturias
Baleares
Canarias
Cantabria
Castilla Leon
Castilla la Mancha
31
Programming
National framework



Elaborate after the ENP
Approved by EC Decision
Content: common elements for the regional programs: horizontal measures
and general criteria , very basic
Regional programs




Elaborate after the national Framework
Approved by EC Decision
17 Regional Programs, one for each Autonomous Community
Content:

evaluation a priori
 Justification of the priorities
 Axes, measures by axe, objectives and indicators
 Financial framework of the FEADER contribution, national contribution
and contribution by axe
 Control, Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism
 Application of the LEADER approach
 Ways to give publicity to the Program
32
National Strategic Plan
1a. General content
General analyse of the
socioeconomic situation.
environmental
and

General strategy of rural development,
translation of the EC priorities included in the
community directrices to the national level

Strategy by axes including objectives and
common indicators
to be used in the
programming exercise.
33
National Strategic Plan (NSP)
1b. General content.
The rural development programs (in the case of Spain
17 regional programs) and the indicative allocation of
funds, including the amounts to achieve convergence
(in Spain for the Autonomous Communities of
Andalucía, Castilla - La Mancha, Extremadura y
Galicia)
External and internal consistency of the NSP,
complementarities with other EU financial instruments
Funds and setting up of the National Rural Network
34
Proposal of Horizontal Measures.
•Regulation 1698/05, the EC guidance
document and the guide for the NSP
allow the existence of regional and
horizontal measures
35
Regulation structures for the
measures - 3 thematic axes

Axis 1: Improving the competitiveness of the
agricultural and forestry sector

Axis 2: Improving the environment and the
country side

Axis 3: the quality of life in rural areas and
diversification of the rural economy
36
Proposal of horizontal measures
axis 1
Setting up of young farmers
 Modernizing the holdings; direct help and
loan lines
 Management of the hydraulic resources –
more rational use of water resources in
order to fulfill the Water Directive
Framework demands
 Increase
the added value of the
agricultural and forestry products

37
Proposal of horizontal measures
axis 2



Agro environmental contract – will simplify the
rural development, facilitate the administrative
management, and the improvement of the
environment connected with the agriculture.
(Some general criteria are established for all the
territory. At a national level, awards in monetary
incentives, for the lagging development regions
and Supplementary help for regions of the Natura
Network)
Ecological agri - food stuff, integrated and
extensive agro systems
Dryness and prevention of forest fires
38
Proposal for Horizontal Measures
Agroenvironmental Covenant
1.
Agroenviromental measures
1.

Horizontal criteria:

Autonomous Community
criteria:
…. €
2. …. €
2.
livestock welfare
1.
…. €
2. …. €
3.
Network Natura 2000
1.
…. €
2. …. €
4. Zones with natural difficulties
1.
…. €
2. …. €
TOTAL: ……...
39
Proposal of Horizontal Measures
LEADER approach

Management, through Local Action Group
of 10 % of the programme financing;

It is up to the Autonomous Community to
increase this percentage;

Defined (within the National Framework)
the composition of the Groups including
also the agricultural associations
40
The National Framework
Must include also the basic characteristics of
the rest of the rural development
programming not included inside the
horizontal
measures
and
also
the
percentage of co financing FEADER,
General
Administration,
and
The
Autonomous Community for each one of
the measures
41
The National Framework
Monitoring Committee – structured as a plenary
assembly and made of by specific working
groups, according to geographic criteria, for
the convergence regions and regions not included
in the convergence objective and according to
horizontal measures, and another one by the
measure established within the national
Framework
42
CANTABRIA
Surface: 5 231 km² (1 % of the country
surface)
 Number of inhabitants: 530 000
(101inh/km²)
 3 % arable land
 Land use: 27 % meadows and pastures
 52 % wooded area
 Most important products: Milk and dairy
products

43
CANTABRIA
UAA (used agricultural area): 159 000 ha
 No of agricultural holdings: 16 400
 Average size of holdings: 13 ha
 Agric. area in less favored Area: 78 %
 Agric. area in Mountain area: 78 %
 Irrigation: is of minor importance: 2 600 ha
(of which 89 % with sprinkler system)
 Organic farming: 842 ha - 62 producers
and processors

44
CANTABRIA









farm holders younger than 35 years: 9 %
farm holders older than 55 years: 52 %
How many women among farm holders? 36 %
Final agrarian production: livestock farming represents 88 %
Forest fires: yearly average 1991-99: 333 fires, covering 3
800 ha
Natura 2000: 18 sites – 118 700 ha (23 % of total surface)
National Parks: Part of Picos de Europa, 15 200 ha (total
area is 64.660 ha,
located also in Castile-Leon and Asturias)
Nitrates Directive: (no vulnerable areas)
45
CANTABRIA
46
FINANCING RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN
CANTABRIA
EU FUNDS (FEOGA)
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION (MAPA)
35%
48,75%
A.C. of CANTABRIA (Consejería de Ganadería,
Agricultura y Pesca)
8,12%
Local entities
8,12%
47
Local Action Groups
Non profit entity made of a group
of public entities (mainly city
halls) and social organizations
rooted at the local level
48
Requirements for the selection of
Local Action Groups to implement a
rural
program
for
economic
diversification
To be constituted as a group with juridical
personality, whose final aim is the
application of a development strategy for
a specific territory
49
Local Action Group
Composition:
public
or/and
private
institutions acting regularly in the territory
and ensuring a high level of participation
of the people of that area, allowing them
to take decisions together with the
administration (at least 50% of the
members of the decisional bodies in the
Local
Action
Group
must
be
representatives of the socioeconomic field
or associations)
50
Local Action Group
The territory where the Local Action Group
act must be wider that the municipality
area, must have a geographic continuity,
including at least 10.000 inhabitants and
must be uniform in their physical
economic and sociological characteristics
51
The characteristics of the projects to
be financed:
Basic requirements:
To contribute at the local development,
through the guidelines of the strategy of
the sub regional development plan
52
SELECTION PROCESS
Each Sub regional Plan includes a selection
procedure – an evaluation grid - which can
be consulted by all the applicants
Each program has particular characteristics:


LEADER PLUS – focus on the innovation actions
PRODERCAN – projects addressed to the socio rural
aspects and economic aspects
53
CO FINANCING
The amount to be co financed is established
by LAG, in concordance with the approved
evaluation grid – the maximum could be
100%
for
non
profit
generating
investments
For profit generating investments the
amount depends on the sector and the
type of investments (e.g. max. 50% for
production, transformation of the agrarian
products, max. 20% rural tourism, etc)
54
Potential BENEFICIARIES
All the local promoters that are contributing
to the local development: individuals,
companies, associations, city halls, city
halls networks, other public or private
entities, etc.
55
EAFRD
European Agricultural Fund for
Rural Development
Some data and conclusions
56
Budget

3% / 2 660 Mil
Euros for LEADER

0.3 % / 270 Mil
Euros Technical
assistance
Mil EUROS 2004 Mil EUROS
2007 –
2013
Total funds:
88.75
Guarantee
Guidance
LEADER
56.0
31.0
1.5
57
EU Co Financing:

Axis 1 şi 3 : maximum 50% (75% regions
Convergence Objective)

Axis 2 şi 4 : maximum 55% (80% regions
Convergence Objective)

5 % additional for ultraperiferical regions

Min. 20% per axis
58
Conclusions:
An unique and a simpler, coherent framework for the
rural development
Focused on the recognized priorities of the UE
A larger flexibility of programming for the Member
State
More responsibility at the regional, national and
communitarian level in relation with the obtained
results
59
General Aspects:
POSITIVES:


to gather the learning and the experience of
the LEADER model;
The creation of an unique instrument of
financing and programming, the Agricultural
European Fund of Rural Development with a
larger budget.
NEGATIVES:


lack of territorial focus;
it continues to excessively link agriculture with
the rural development.
60
POSITIVE

The establishment of three high-priority axes,
financed with a minimum percentage of the
global budget (Art.16).

The allocation of a minimum of 7% of the budget
for measures executed through LEADER (Art. 66)
and the award of 3% for a good management
(Art. 92).

The proposal of a level of comunity co financing
for the conservation of the environment through
61
LEADER (Art. 71).
POSITIVE

The definition, although rather concise, of the
specific characteristics of LEADER approach (Art.
60).

The recommendation of Art. 58 for the measures
anticipated inside the axis on Improvement of the
quality of life and diversification (Art 49) are
preferably executed through the strategies of
local development (by means of LEADER
approach or through territorial organizations in a
narrow collaboration with national, regional and
local organizations)
62
POSITIVE

The fact that the LEADER approach can be used
not only on the 3rd axis (Art 62.a)

the recognition in Art. 61 of the fact that the
Groups for Local Action are the LEADER Groups

the recognition, in that same art. 61, that those
Groups are the ones which will make the
selection of the local projects/ cooperation
projects of (ínter territorial and transnational)

The financing of an European Network of Rural
Development
(Observatory)
and
National
63
Networks (Art 68)
POSITIVE

The decision to elaborate a community strategy
of rural development with a greater emphasis on
the priorities of the UE, articulated with the
national and regional priorities through the
national strategic plans of rural development
(Articles 9-13)

the recommendation on which the main actors of
the rural territories (“the rural stakeholders“)
must participate and have a more important role
in the design, the execution and the evaluation of
the programs from its territories at all the levels
(Art. 6).
64
NEGATIVE

Inside the Regulation there is no particularly
specification related to the capacity that must have
the UE in order to force to the fulfillment of the
priorities of the Rural Development policy, reason why
the Members States could not take fulfill the European
strategy of Rural Development

the Members States are not stimulated to adopt the
principles of LEADER inside other axes, it is only
recommended.

It is not guaranteed that the new MS would obtain a
complete training on the practical experience of
LEADER approach, neither of a strategy with a
territorial
view,
nor
of
the
application 65 of
"mainstreaming" of LEADER.
NEGATIVE

An organized civil society is key for the success of the policies
of rural development, reason why the funds for the efficiency
of those organizations and the acquisition of operational
competences would be more and more needed for the new
MS.

The measures anticipated on the axis 3 - Improvement of the
quality of life and Diversification (Art 49) must be executed
preferably through local strategies according to LEADER
territorial approach

A system of qualification, certification and recognition of the
Groups Local Action is needed to be created – for the
preparation of the execution of thee measures in all the axes
according to the principles of Article 61
66
NEGATIVE

In all the axes executed through LEADER approach, the
measures would have also to benefit from a greater level of
co financing by the UE and of the reserve fund

The list of specific characteristics of the LEADER approach
does not include the decentralized financing

The strategic community plans, as well as the national,
regional and the local ones must become tools that
independently articulate the set of the development actions
of the territory, independent on its financing

The diversification measures must also contemplate not only
to the micro companies but to the a small companies and
cooperatives, essential for this strategy
67
IT THIS A TRUE EUROPEAN RURAL
POLICY?

A REGULATION OF AGRARIAN DEVELOPMENT
MORE THAN OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The CAP CONTINUES
SUBSIDIES, NOT ON
INVESTMENTS.

IT LACKS
TERRITORY
AN
BEING BASED
THE SUPPORT
INTEGRAL
VISION
OF
ON
TO
THE
68
ELEMENTS OF A TRUE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT POLICY

RURAL SOCIAL DINAMIZATION: Human capital and
Governance

ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: Agrarian policy,
Forests policy, Environmental policy, Tourism policy,
Employment Policy, Welfare Policy, Cultural and
Educative Policy.

TERRITORIAL BALANCE: Rural infrastructures

A INTERDEPARTMENTAL AGENCY

SUPPORT To the RURAL ASSOCIATIVE MOVEMENT
69
ATTITUDE OF THE RURAL
ACTORS:

OPTIMISM IN FRONT OF DIFFICULTIES

WILL OF INTEGRATION BETWEEN ALL THE RURAL
ACTORS

TO AVOID “RURAL VERSUS URBAN”
70
[email protected]
Resident Twinning Advisor
ADR Vest / SODERCAN
Vă mulţumesc!
71