Strengthening rural development: A study on the implementation of rural development policy at European level
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Access to services
- Connected rural areas
- Agriculture and food
The European Commission has funded a study that evaluated the contribution of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) and National Rural Networks (NRNs) in implementing EU Rural Development Policy.
As part of the Common Agricultural Policy's second pillar since 2007, the ENRD brings together stakeholders from across the EU, facilitating exchange and networking at the European level. Meanwhile, NRNs, established mainly at the national level in each Member State, bring together stakeholders involved in rural development.
The study analysed the effectiveness of these networks in supporting 118 Rural Development Programmes during the 2014-2020 period. It found that ENRD activities are very helpful in connecting NRNs at the EU level. For instance, the ENRD provided a hub for exchange of information on how Rural development policy, programmes are working in practice and how they can be improved to achieve more.
Overall, the study highlights how important ENRD and NRNs are for rural development. They bring people together, provide training, and help with policies, leading to better rural development programs and stronger communities.
If you want to learn more, we encourage you to read the full study on the website.