Rural development refers to the measures and actions, both public and private, that seek to improve the quality of life in rural areas . Rural development policies encompass public initiatives in this area. These initiatives are updated with each programming period, which usually covers seven years, and are mainly framed within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union. The CAP was created in 1962 and constitutes the common policy for all Member States in agriculture and food matters. Until the current programming period, it was composed of two pillars: on the one hand, direct aid and market measures (financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF )) and, on the other hand, rural development (financed through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) . During the current period (2023-2027), both pillars (and their corresponding European funds) are implemented through the CAP Strategic Plans.
Regarding the previous Rural Development Policies, there are the 2007-2013 programming period and the 2014-2022 programming period.
Programming period 2007-2013
During the 2007-2013 programming period, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) focused its objectives on sustainability, rural development, food quality, environmental protection, and improving social conditions in the agricultural sector.
In 2008, some of its measures were reviewed in the so-called " CAP Health Check ." The aim of this review was to improve resource management and take better account of issues related to climate change, biodiversity, energy, and water management.
During this period, the National Rural Network (currently the PAC Network) granted various grants to finance projects related to sustainable rural development . These projects were classified into two groups, depending on who carried them out:
- Pilot projects: carried out by non-profit organizations involved in rural areas.
- Innovative experiences of entities of the National Rural Network 2011 .
- Innovative experiences of entities of the National Rural Network 2009 – 2010 .
- Cooperation projects: carried out by several Local Action Groups from different autonomous communities and/or countries, that is, inter-territorial and/or transnational projects.
- National Rural Network Cooperation Projects 2011 .
Programming period 2014-2022
The 2014-2022 programming period primarily pursued promoting competitiveness in agriculture ; the sustainable management of natural resources and action to address climate change ; and the balanced territorial development of rural communities, including job creation and maintenance. In Spain, during this period, a National Rural Development Program (NRDP) and 17 regional rural development programs (RDPs) coexisted.
In addition to the Monitoring Working Group of the RDPs 2014-2022 , during this programming period the UG of the NRN (current CAP Network) provided logistical support to two other working groups (WG) within the theme of Rural Development Policies, the WG on Forestry Measures in the RDPs and the WG on Forest Pastures and Silvopastoral Systems , both proposed by the Subdirectorate General for Forestry Policy of the General Directorate for Rural Development and Forestry Policies (DGDRYPF), and whose objectives are specified in forestry measures and CAP aid to the sector.
Working Groups that were carried out in the 2014-2022 programming period: