Alberthe Papma, Min. of Agriculture

1
Rural policy in an urbanized countryThe
Netherlands

• Alberthe Papma
• Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality,
  Directorate of Rural Affairs

Alberthe Papma, Min. of Agriculture Netherlands
IDELE Seminar 1-2 June 2006
2
The Dutch countryside

• fairly densely populated
• countryside under urban influence
• agriculture still the main form of landuse but
  not the main economic driving force
• concentrations of intensive farming and
  greenhouses
• storehouse of nature, biodiversity, water
• opportunities for recreation and leisure

Alberthe Papma, Min. of Agriculture Netherlands
IDELE Seminar 1-2 June 2006
3
Changes in (European) rural policy have great
impact

• farmers are either expanding
• giving up or
• broadening scope care, agro-tourism, energy
  production.
• growing opportunities for other economic
  activitities

4
In 2004 publication of the Agenda for a vital
countryside (with action programme)

• The Dutch government chose to
• devolve as much as possible and centralise only
  when necessary
• build new relationships with regional and local
  authorities
• strengthen civil society
• describe the main national targets for the
  countryside agriculture, nature, biodiversity,
  water, social welfare and economic development
• agree on multi-year planning, funding and
  evaluation

5
Based on this Agenda the Dutch government aims to

• translate European policies into national policy
• and/or regulations
• formulate specific targets
• while focussing less on implementation
• provide multi-year funding for those targets
• simplify rules and regulations
• reduce the administrative burden
• synchronise the existing multitude of financial
  systems, each with their own specific
  reguirements
• facilitate developments and innovations by
  providing access to knowledge, funding
  experiments etc.

6
And regional authorities will

• have far reaching responsibilities for the
  implementation of policies and realisation of
  national and regional targets
• get flexibility in planning, together with
  multi-year funding
• be able to formulate integrated and sustainable
  programmes for regional rural development
• consult local authorities, ngos, civilians,
  entrepreneurs and other relevant partners

7
May 2006 new action programme for 2007-2013

• in January 2007, target agreements will have been
  formulated with all twelve provinces
• in January 2007 most national funds for rural
  development will have been integrated in a single
  Investment Budget for the Countryside
• During the seven-year planning period the
  provinces will have flexibility in investing
  these funds according to their own judgement,
• the only demand being that all agreed targets
  will have been met by the end of 2013

8
Summarizing

• New developments in the countryside demand for
• new agreements with all parties involved
• clearly defined roles and responsibilities for
  the various authorities
• clearly defined targets together with freedom of
  movement at the regional level
• Keywords local partnerships, citizen
  responsibility and innovative entrepreneurship
• The proof of the pudding is in the eating there
  will be a mid term evaluation of the new system
  in 2010.