European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
rural development
Current priorities and challenges in EU agricultural policy [Policy Podcast]
Written by James McEldowney, The European Commission’s work programme for 2017 includes a commitment to progress and consult widely on the simplification and modernisation of the common agricultural policy (CAP). A public consultation exercise was launched at the beginning of February 2017 and closed on 2 May 2017. A number of stakeholder organisations and think tanks have issued … Continue reading
Rural areas and poverty
Written by Ana Martinez Juan, A definition… When it comes to poverty, one of the key issues is defining what it means and how it can be measured. Two types of poverty are generally categorised: absolute or extreme poverty, that identifies the number of people below a fixed real poverty threshold (euros/person/day) and relative poverty, … Continue reading
EU animal welfare strategy, 2012-2015: State of play and possible next steps
Written by Beata Rojek. In recent decades, awareness of and concern for animal welfare have been constantly growing among citizens, businesses and policy-makers. Two Eurobarometer surveys – from 2006 and 2016 – revealed its increasing resonance with public opinion. The topic has been on the EU policy agenda for over 40 years, which has helped … Continue reading
Precision Agriculture, what is it and how can it affect farming in Europe? A new study
Currently the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel is conducting a study entitled ‘Precision agriculture and the future of farming in Europe’. This Scientific Foresight study aims to identify relevant legislative pathways by mapping concerns regarding future developments in precision agriculture. The first part of the study, the technical horizon scan, has been published. Continue reading
Short food supply chains and local food systems in the EU
The current EU rural development policy 2014-2020 puts more emphasis than before on short food supply chains and defines them precisely for the first time. Producers wishing to involve themselves in local food systems can benefit from several measures co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Continue reading
Conference on rural development in Cork, 5 – 6 September 2016
On 5-6 September 2016, the European Commission is organising a new conference on rural development in Cork, exactly twenty years after the first one. The event will bring together some 250 policy makers, academics, NGOs and other interested parties. It will provide an opportunity to discuss current and future challenges of rural areas and agriculture, and will be concluded with the presentation of a new Cork declaration. Continue reading
EPRS and OPEN DAYS – open for business
Written by Christiaan van Lierop Attracting some 6 000 participants from across Europe, the four day OPEN DAYS event is Europe’s largest annual get-together of regional movers and shakers. Launched in 2003, the event has grown to become the EU’s leading networking platform for experts in local and regional development. But it’s about much more than … Continue reading
EU rural development policy
Written by Marie-Laure Augère-Granier The rural development concept has evolved significantly over recent decades to become a fully-fledged policy at European Union level. It has adapted to an enlarged Europe which, from 2004, welcomed 13 new countries, adding much diversity to an already strongly contrasted rural Europe. Adaptation was also needed to cope with important … Continue reading
Focus on Food & Farmers
Written by Maria Kollarova This week our focus is on agriculture, our food and farmers’ livelihoods. The Russian embargo of agricultural products has certainly become a hot topic in the area since 7 August, when the Russian government adopted a list of agricultural imports to be banned. It is really too early to say what … Continue reading
La politique européenne de développement rural
Partie intégrante de la politique agricole commune, la politique de développement rural de l’Union européenne pour la période 2014-2020 contribue à favoriser la compétitivité de l’agriculture, à assurer un développement territorial équilibré des zones rurales et à garantir la gestion durable des ressources naturelles ainsi que la mise en œuvre de mesures visant à préserver … Continue reading
Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture
Urban and peri-urban agriculture has been defined as the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals for food and other uses within and surrounding the boundaries of cities, including fisheries and forestry. It comprehends a multifunctional of food production activities, as well as herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants for both home consumption and for the … Continue reading
What is a city? In focus on urban areas
What has anything from around 700 people to more than 17,000,000 and can cover from 0,44 square metres to more than 2,500 square kilometers? Cities: whether a huge metropolis, a national capital or a historic town or port – cities have much in common. The typologies proposed for Europe’s cities by various organisations all have their … Continue reading
From urban-rural linkages to urban-rural relationships in the EU
Urban and rural areas are increasingly integrated. In OECD countries, 80% of the rural population lives close to cities. Current and common challenges such as climate change, efficient use of natural resources (water, land), equal access to public services or demographic changes just to name a few, can be tackled more easily if cooperation exists … Continue reading
A 51-year-old Policy – AGRICULTURE Week on the Library Blog
A little history The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the oldest policies of the European Union: was born in 1962! Its aim: to strengthen the competitiveness and the sustainability of agriculture and rural areas across the European Union. Due to its long history it has been reformed to adapt its objectives to the … Continue reading
Common Agricultural Policy after 2013: What will change
The 50-year old Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is heading for a new reform to tackle current challenges such as climate change, food security and sustainable management of natural resources. Over the years, it has moved away from supporting market prices to supporting producers’ income and rural development, while imposing rules for the protection of the … Continue reading
Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy
6 language versions available in PDF format Reform der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik Reforma de la política agraria común Réforme de la politique agricole commune Riforma della politica agricola comune Reforma wspólnej polityki rolnej Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy Subject to the ordinary legislative procedure, the reform of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is under … Continue reading
La ruralité au sein de l’Union européenne
Couvrant plus de la moitié du territoire de l’Union européenne (UE) et près d’un quart de sa population, les zones à prédominance rurale témoignent de l’importance de la ruralité au sein de l’UE. Ces zones sont, tout comme les zones de montagne, caractérisées par leur diversité, aussi bien d’un point de vue géographique, qu’économique ou … Continue reading
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