The European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has a direct impact on agriculture (first pillar), and on rural development with a full integration of agriculture in the rural areas (second pillar, see http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm).
As the Member States implement the European policy in their own region, Flanders (responsible for the Agricultural policy in the Flemish region) adopted a specific Flemish strategy and program for rural development (PDPO):
“…emphasis on the quality of life in a strongly urbanized area with a multifunctional use of the fragmented open space and an important role for the agri- and horticulture…”
After a first program period (2000-2006), the second program (PDPO II) for the rural development in Flanders runs between 2007 and 2013. All measures can be constrained into four central themes, namely economics, environment, quality of life and diversification of the rural economy and the furthering of the social cohesion through the LEADER approach.
Since 2007 the former communal program LEADER, aiming at the support of rural actors willing to develop a long term potential for their region, was incorporated in the rural development program. In this program period, no less than ten Flemish LEADER regions (Local Action Groups) can be distinguished: Hageland+, Haspengouw, Kempen-Maasland, MarkAante Kempen, Meetjesland-Leie-Schelde, Midden-Kempen Beweegt!, Pajottenland+, Tielts plateau, Vlaamse Ardennen, Westhoek, "Buitengebied".
flemish_lag.pdf (.pdf 53.4 KB)
Assignments of the Flemish Rural Network
As in all Member States, the rural development program incorporates the establishment of a rural network, aiming at networking and communication between all rural actors. The Flemish Rural Network aims at being the “driving force that generates group dynamics and gets rural areas on the move”.
Therefore the network was assigned the following
- - managing a network of rural actors
- - identifying and analysing transferable good practices
- - providing information regarding these transferable good practices
- - setting up training programmes for local action groups in the process of formation
- - organising the exchange of experience and expertise
- - providing technical assistance for inter-territorial and transnational cooperation
- - taking part in the European Network for Rural Development
For more information contact:
Nele Vanslembrouck
Coordinator Flemish Rural Network
Flemish Government
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Organisation and Strategic Policy Division
Ellipse building (5th Floor)
Koning Albert II-Laan 35, bus 40
1030 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32(0)2 552 77 17
Fax: +32(0)2 552 77 01
Email: flemishruralnetwork [at] flanders [dot] be
Itinerary to the Ellipse building:
Itenary to Ellipse Building in Brussels North Region (.pdf 501.2 KB)
http://www.ellipse-building.be/nl/index.php