New EU Funds for Agriculture and Rural Development 2007-2013

European Agricultural Fund for Guarantee (EAFG)  and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

The European Commission has recently reorganised its funding strategy for the new 7-years programming period 2007-2013. In addition to the structural funds – the European Regional Development Fund (EFRD), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF) - specific new funds had been created for the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP):

• European Agricultural Fund for Guarantee (EAFG) aiming to finance Pillar I measures (market policies, direct payments and other support) and
• European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for financing rural development programs previously within Pillar II of CAP.

 EAFRD contributes to the promotion of sustainable rural development in the EU. The EAFRD contains four Axes, of which the fourth one, the Leader Axes, will contribute to the priorities of the remaining first three Axes and plays an important role improving governance and mobilising the development potential of rural areas.

Comprehensive Experience of ADT Projekt in Technical Assistance Projects on new EU Funds for Agriculture and Rural Development 

Since 2006 ADT developed specific competence related to the new funds dedicated to agriculture and rural development under the CAP, particularly to support new EU Member States.

ADT provided for example consultancy to the preparation of the National Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in Bulgaria and trained in Romania recently more than 575 potential beneficiaries of agro-environment payments 2007-2013 (ecological agriculture; extensive pastures management and soil and water protection) to enhance the impact of the new Rural Development Programme. Participants of the training courses received information on eligibility requirements, standards of good agricultural & environmental practice and the implementation of EU Cross ComplianceRegulations for obtaining specific aid for several sub-measures.