• The REPS Series: a series of articles on the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme
• Transnational Cooperation: Information on Local Action Groups across Europe seeking to engage in transnational cooperation projections
• News Bites: A news digest containing news stories from National Rural Network members and the broader rural development community

We would strongly recommend you register with the new NRN web site by entering your email address in the form at http://www.nrn.ie/general/2009/06/subscribe-to-the-nrn-website/. In so doing you will be emailed new articles every time they are added to the site.

The RDSU web site was always intended to be the web site of the RDSU itself, the Unit responsible for the delivery of the National Rural Network, and to temporarily host information relating to the Irish Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 and the National Rural Network. As of the 1st of June, the new National Rural Network web site at www.nrn.ie now hosts all information relating to the Irish Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 and the National Rural Network. The RDSU site will continue to act as the main source of information about the Unit itself.

Stay informed. Click here and register now.

The Cavan Monaghan Rural Development company developed an online tourism discussion website for tourism businesses in Cavan / Monaghan in 2007.  This website, Talktourism.ie, has now been short-listed for a National award in the ‘Online Tourism Award’ category of the Irish Internet Association and Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Awards 2009.

The best websites in Ireland are included in the shortlist for awards under 15 different categories and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin on the 21^st May.  The winners are selected by the general public who can vote online on the Irish Internet Association website.  John Toland and all Talktourism members would welcome your support by logging on and voting for this rural based website by following this link and ticking for TalkTourism.ie in the Online Tourism Award category and complete the voting form. Voting closes today, the 1st of May.

Good luck to TalkTourism and Cavan Monaghan Rural Development.

You can read more about the event here.

More than two million ruminants, especially sheep, have fallen victim to outbreaks of bluetongue (BT) in Europe since 1998 and experts believe the rising temperatures are responsible for this problem.

There are many aspects of Rural Development Programme that reflect the EU priority placed on climate change, such as Axis 2: Improving the countryside and the environment and Axis 3: Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy. It is intended, for example, that actions under Axis 3 aimed at stimulating adoption of new renewable energy technologies at community level, coupled with initiatives to promote public awareness of the benefit of such technologies will directly contribute to achieving the goals of the National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) 2000.

References:

• EU Research Information Centre: Livestock face climate change quagmire
• Irish Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 [PDF]

On the 23rd of April the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that they will conduct a wide-scale survey, this spring,  of organic farming in the US to find out how the growth of organic farming is changing the face of U.S. agriculture.

“The Organic Production Survey is a direct response to the growing interest in organics among consumers, farmers, and businesses,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This is an opportunity for organic producers to share their voices and help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of organic farming in the United States.”

2007 Census of Agriculture counted more than 20,000 U.S. farms engaged in organic production.

The survey will look at many aspects of organic farming during the 2008 calendar year - from production and marketing practices, to income and expenses. It will focus not only on operations that are currently engaged in organic production, but also on those making the transition to organic agriculture.

The results will help shape future decisions regarding farm policy, funding allocations, availability of goods and services, community development and other key issues. In addition, the information can help producers make informed decisions about the future.

References:

• USDA Press Release
• Irish Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 [PDF]

Presentations from the seminar are available here.

Background and objectives of seminar

The National Rural Networks (NRN) have a clear and crucial role to play in supporting the implementation of EU rural development policy. In order that networks carry out this role successfully, it is also important that the necessary networking methods and tools are developed at all levels involved. The role of the European Network for Rural Development will be key in giving impetus to this process.

Sound networking strategies, methods and tools are of course very much part of the Leader heritage, and while they served the Leader community well under the previous initiatives, networking under the new Rural Development policy throws up new opportunities and challenges.

All rural stakeholders, and in particular representatives of the beneficiaries of the EU rural development policy as well as administrations involved in the implementation of the programs, are to become involved in these new rural networks. The activities carried out should ensure not only exchanges of good practice and cooperation between the different actors and countries, but also build active links and guarantee a flow of useful information both ways between the local, regional, national and EU levels.

The seminar, as a kick-off event of the EN RD, will thus aim at examining how these interlinks can be built as inclusively and efficiently as possible.Such a platform for exchanges between the actors of the European rural development policy should provide support to practitioners as well as to policy makers in the course of the implementation of the rural development programmes and for the future.

Over the next 50 years climate change is likely to have profound effects on important economic sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, ecosystems, tourism and health. It will also affect households and businesses and certain sectors of society, notably the elderly, the disabled and low-income households.

The White Paper presents a framework within which the European Union and its Member States can prepare for the impacts of climate change. A first phase of the strategy will run until 2012 and will lay the groundwork for preparing a comprehensive EU adaptation strategy from 2013 and beyond. It will focus on increasing our understanding of climate change and possible adaptation measures and how adaptation can be embedded in key EU policies. Decisions on how best to adapt must be based on solid scientific and economic analysis, yet information content and availability differs widely across regions. The paper outlines the need for a Clearing House Mechanism in which to exchange information on climate change risks, impacts and best practices.

European Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas said: “The seriousness of climate change is becoming greater and more disturbing with each passing year. We must work hard to reduce carbon emissions, but even with the emission reductions we are committed to achieving, some amount of climate change is inevitable. It is therefore essential that we start work now with governments, business, and communities to develop a comprehensive adaptation strategy for the EU and to ensure that adaptation is integrated into key EU policies.”

Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said: “European agriculture will feel the full force of climate change. I want to give farmers a clear understanding of the challenges they will face, and I want to launch discussions about specific steps to help our farmers to adapt. In particular, I want to see us take “no regret” measures which will bring economic and environmental dividends no matter how the climate develops. These are the key elements of the paper on agriculture and climate change that has been adopted today in support to the White Paper”

Impacts of climate change will vary by region, with coastal and mountain areas and flood plains particularly vulnerable. It is for this reason that most adaptation measures will be carried out nationally or regionally. The role of the European Union will be to support these efforts through an integrated and coordinated approach, particularly in cross-border issues and policies which are highly integrated at EU level. Naturally, climate change adaptation will need to be at the heart of all EU policies. Adaptation must also feature prominently in the Union’s external policies to assist those countries most affected and cooperate on international adaptation issues with partner countries.

References:

• Press Release
• White Paper Q&A
• White Paper: Adapting to Climate Change: Towards a European Framework for Action [pdf]
• Accompanying summary document: Adapting to Climate Change: the challenge for European agriculture and rural areas [pdf]

Commissioner Fisher Boel opened the conference and spoke with conviction about the importance of creative ideas within the EU.  She highlighted the role of networks in generating and promoting ideas and claimed that this role is critical in the economically challenging times we now face. The conference was organised by the European Network for Rural Development which is a network of national networks established under the Rural Development programme (2007-2013)

The Commissioner outlined her view that Rural Development policy and practice will be bolstered subsequent to 2013 and in this context she highlighted the importance of measuring the impact of the current programme and in generating ideas as to how it should be developed in the future. She was encouraged by the emphasis being placed by the Networks on Climate Change and Common Goods in rural areas and looked forward to hearing how development programmes can address these issues.

The seminar was addressed by senior DG Agri officials, Director  Jose Manual Sousa Uva, the Deputy Director, Loretta Dormal Marino and Heads of Unit, John Lougheed and Rob Peters. Delegates heard about the progress being made in bringing together the Agriculture and Rural Development sectors in Germany, Italy, France, Sweden and The Netherlands. The emphasis was placed on the importance of constructive collaboration in delivering the rural Development programmes in the best interest of Agriculture and Rural Communities.

Mr Sousa-Uva and Ms Dormal-Marino both reiterated the importance and value of LEADER and emphasised the need to appreciate that the current programme and the National Rural Networks embraced the Agri-Competitiveness and Agri-Environment sectors as well as the Local Action Groups. Delegates discussed the opportunity that this programme presented in integrating and aligning development efforts in rural areas. They were also very conscious of the challenges that this proposition presented at EU, National, Regional and even Local levels when it come to the integration of Agriculture and Rural Development policy and practice.

Paul Keating, the manager of the rural Development Support Unit, which will deliver the National Rural Network in Ireland, was invited to share the Irish experience and reiterated the need for the Network to serve a clear and useful purpose for the many organisations and administrations active in Irish Agriculture and Rural Development. Paul also reported to the seminar from a workshop which explored the Strategic Framework for the National Rural Networks. He highlighted the need to measure the impact of networking in this context and to respond to the needs of the various stakeholders.

Mr Michael Ludlow from Comhair LEADER na hEireann (the Irish LEADER network) was present and contributed on the strengths and concerns of LEADER in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food was represented by Ms Rebecca Chapman.

The seminar presented a valuable opportunity for those involved in the early stages of establishing the NRN in Ireland to meet with people undertaking similar roles across the EU. Particular links were re-established with programme staff in Slovenia, Austria, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Lithuania and Greece where the scale and approach to the Network are similar to Ireland. Contact was made with some progressive French and Dutch Agriculture and Rural Development organisations as well as some of the key individuals in the area of monitoring and evaluating such programmes. Relationships were reinforced with the UK, English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish programmes where collaborative approaches to network activities were discussed.  The occasion also helped to raise the profile of the National Rural Network in Ireland and highlighted the fact that we have a valuable contribution to make within the European Arena.

In her closing remarks Commissioner Fisher Boel wished the delegates well in their future work and shared her hope that the national and European Networks  become a forums for “deep and imaginative discussion”.

The EENRD operates under the responsibility of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. Implementing the multiple tasks of the network exceeds the internal resource capacity of the Commission, therefore an Evaluation Helpdesk, established and operated by an external contractor, runs all the day-to-day operational matters. The Helpdesk is composed of a small permanent team of staff in Brussels and is supported by a core team of experts and around twenty geographic experts from across the 27 EU countries. In the case of the UK, Ireland and Malta John Grieve of The Rural Development Company john@rural-development.co.uk is the geographical expert, he is also a member of the Core Team.

The activities of the EENRD and its Helpdesk are supervised by the Expert Committee on Evaluation of Rural Development, which was established by the Commission Decision of 20 February 2008 (2008/168/EC). The EENRD is a distinct part of the wider European Network for Rural Development (EN RD - which is managed by a separate external contractor) but the two work independently in their daily tasks. The activities of both networks are coordinated in a way to ensure synergies and exchanges of information.

The work of the EENRD is organised on the basis of Annual Work Programmes, which are agreed with the Commission. These Annual Work Programmes are developed within an overall multi-annual framework and objective-led approach, which has the general aim to increase the usefulness of evaluation as a tool for improving the formulation and implementation of rural development policies. The AWP activities derive from three specific objectives:

• To increase capacity in the evaluation of Rural Development Programmes
• To increase capacity in managing evaluation processes
• To share good practice in the evaluation of Rural Development Programmes

Since the Evaluation Helpdesk started its activities in April 2008, one nine-month Annual Work Programmes has been implemented and a second twelve-month one started (for calendar year 2009). A key output of the 2008 Annual Work Programmes was the Development of guidelines for the application of the High Nature Value (HNV) indicator. These guidelines aim to help Member States to provide an estimate of how much HNV farming and forestry there is in a Member State/region, and to assess whether it is being maintained through rural development measures. It describes a common approach involving four key steps and how the Member States should operationalize this, taking account of good practice and data availability. Another exercise completed in 2008 was a SWOT analysis of the different elements of the current RD evaluation system 2007-2013 (including the CMEF) and evaluation processes. This activity was complemented by a needs assessment of the rural development evaluation community, which was conducted by the Helpdesk in autumn 2008 through the organisation of Focus Groups in the Member States, including Germany.

Key goals within the Annual Work Programmes 2009 are to further develop methodological and other content work, provide timely support for the mid-term evaluation of Member States’ rural development programmes and liaise with Member States and other networks.

The documents referred to in this article (Annual Work Programmes 2009, the HNV Guidance document, SWOT and needs assessment) are available to download from the EENRD website: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/eval/network/index_de.htm

EENRD Contact Details:

Evaluation Helpdesk of:
The European Evaluation Network for Rural Development
260 Chaussée St Pierre - B-1040 Brussels
Tel : +32 (0)2 736 18 90
E-mail : info@ruralevaluation.eu

Since 2005, the Commission has pushed ahead with its CAP Simplification Action Plan, repealed hundreds of obsolete acts, introduced reforms which streamline the CAP, and improved law-making practices and IT systems. A key change was the recent Health Check agreement, which will render the CAP much less complex. Other measures on the Commission’s agenda include the possibility of streamlining cross-compliance rules, a more regular review of legislation and possible changes to EU quality policy, including marketing standards and the system of geographical indications.

“We’ve been making great progress with our efforts to make the CAP simpler and more user-friendly,” said Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. “Simplifying the policy means less hassle for administrators, but more importantly, it means that farmers can spend more time in the field doing what they do best and less time doing paperwork. The changes we have made will also reduce the burden to farmers by hundreds of millions of euros. At a time of economic difficulties, this is a real bonus.”

The Commission has been focusing on simplifying the CAP since it published its first Communication on the issue in October 2005. The programme is fully embedded in the overall Commission strategy on Better Regulation.

You can download the report here.