Rural Development

EU farmers are most likely eligible to receive direct payments, the major form of EU funding in agriculture.
The 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy introduced a new system of direct payments, known as the Single Payment Scheme, under which aid is no longer linked to production.

The main aim of the single payment is to support farmers' incomes in return for them respecting standards of environmental protection, animal welfare, food safety and keeping the land in good condition. Farmers are encouraged to take their decisions based on market signals.

Under certain limited conditions, Member States may decide to reduce the value of payment entitlements and continue to make direct payments linked to production

Under the Rural Development 2007-2013 policy, EU Member States will invest over €91 billion to improve competitiveness for farming and forestry, to protect the environment and the countryside, to improve the quality of life and diversification of the rural economy. A fourth area (Leader) introduces funding opportunities for locally based approaches to rural development.

Source of funding

Direct payments
• Direct payments are administered through paying agencies appointed by national authorities. 
• To be eligible for the single payment, a farmer requires payment entitlements and land. Entitlements are calculated on the basis of the payments received by the farmer during a reference period (historical model) or the number of eligible hectares farmed (regional model).

Rural Development
These funds are distributed through programmes run by national governments: the government appoints the Managing Authority whose task at project management level is to inform potential beneficiaries of how to get support, those rules which apply and the EU contribution available.

For further details, contact the ministry of agriculture in your country or your local agricultural
association.

Romania: www.madr.ro