MEMO/07/428

Bruxelles, 25 octobre 2007

Plans de développement rural: 3 régions en Italie

Le profile d´Italie

• Population: 58,7 Million
• PIB/habitant: 110% (EU 25)
• Régions convergence: 74%
• Régions compétitivité: 124%
• Taux d’emploi: 57,6 % (EU 25: 63,1%)
• Taux de chômage: 8%
• Territoire: 30,1 Millions ha
• Superficie agricole utilisée (SAU): 13,2 Millions ha
• Superficie forestière: 10,7 Millions ha
• Zones défavorisées/montagne: 61% du territoire
• Zones Natura 2000: 4,3 Millions ha (14,4% du territoire)

Définition des zones rurales: adaptation de la méthode OCDE

• Superficie zones rurales B, C, D^[1] = 92% du territoire ; 93% SAU
• Population: 57% ; Densité (hab/km²): 54 zones D; 143 zones C; 210 zones B.
• Revenu par habitant (IT=100): 88% (zones C et D)
• Chômage: 12% (zones C et D); Convergence 20%
• Agriculteurs exerçant une autre activité: 26,5%
• Travailleurs indépendants: 24%
• Formation continue dans lez zones rurales: 6,3% (9% EU 25)
• Les zones rurales C et D sont caractérisées par:
• Infrastructures (y compris touristiques) et services à la population insuffisants
• Vieillissement des actifs en agriculture, abandon des terres
• Richesse du paysage et du patrimoine environnemental, culturel et historique
• Insuffisante diffusion d’internet
• Population Leader + concentrée dans les zones C et D

La stratégie choisie

Sur base des besoins identifiés et des stratégies de Lisbonne et Göteborg, le Plan Stratégique National individu 3 objectifs stratégiques:

• Amélioration de la compétitivité du secteur agricole et forestier
• Amélioration de l’environnement et de l’espace rural
• Qualité de la vie dans les zones rurales et diversification de l’économie rurale

Contribution totale UE

Pour l'Italie, la contribution totale du Fonds européen agricole pour le développement rural (FEADER) pour la période 2007-2013 est 8.292 millions d'€

Region: Campania

Region profile

• Campania has a population of 5.8 millions of habitants. The regional territory (13.590 Km²) can be divided into low-lying land (25%), hilly (40%) and mountains areas (30%). Hills are located in the inner and coastal parts of the region.
• Economic growth started to decrease steadily in 2003. In 2004 regional GDP was at € 90.552 million (6,7% of national GDP). Employment rate is lower then the national average (58.4%) being about 44.40%
• There are roughly 250.000 holdings (average 2,4 ha/holding). The agricultural production system is highly fragmented and only 10% of farms utilises more then 5ha of UAA.
• The most important agricultural sectors of the region are permanent crops (fruit, viticulture, oliviculture), horticulture (mostly tomatoes), and arable crops (including fodder and grain for human consumption). Tobacco and livestock production are important agricultural activities. Buffalo milk is utilised for dairy products (Mozzarella di Bufala) which play an important role in the regional rural economy.
• The export of processed agricultural products gives a strong contribution to the regional economic. Tourism is well developed on the coastal rural area.
• Particular attention has been put by the regional administration to preserve protected areas which represent 35% of the regional territory including Natura2000, National/regional parks and other protected areas.
• Water quality is critical in some geographical areas where monitoring reveals constantly pollution problems.
• Soil erosion is a significant problem with substantial differences in geographical areas and according the variety of type of soils.

Budget overall and share of EU funding:

A financial aid of € 1.882.3 million of which € 1.082.3 million is EU financed has been allocated to the Rural Development Programme for the Italian region of Campania in the period 2007- 2013.

Overall aim of RD programme in region

The overall objective of the programme is to promote competitiveness of the agri-food and forestry sectors in a sustainable way.

Intervention in favour of competitive farms should be addressed to innovation, quality, industry integration, food safety and respect of standards. Intervention in favour of multifunctional farms ( = located in mountain areas etc, oriented for the supply of services, rather than products) should be addressed to maintenance/enhancement of the environment/territory, to niche/quality products, direct marketing, services supply.

Further the environmental performance in rural areas e.g the reduction of nitrates pollution and water consumption should be achieved. The renewal of products and processes and to the improvement of industry integration will be another important issue as well as the reorganisation of the tobacco produce.

Axis 1: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 752.9 million - EAFRD contribution: € 432.9 million.

The support to the improvement of the competitiveness of agricultural and forestry sector has the following priorities:

• to promote modernisation and innovation in the agri-food sector
• to improve quality of production
• improve human resources and
• to facilitate rejuvenation in the agri-food sector

Axis 2: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 677.6 million - EAFRD contribution: € 389.6 million.

The support to the improvement of the environment and the countryside will have the following priorities:

• promote a sustainable agricultural and forestry development according to the need of biodiversity safeguard, countryside valorisation and renewable energy development
• aking into account the severe problems in relation to landslides and erosion strong emphasis is being given to non productive investments in order to counterbalances these problems.
• moreover robust fighting/preventing fire actions in forests are also being planned in order to ensure forests protection in a region ranking as "High risk" of fires.

Axis 3: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 282.3 million - EAFRD contribution: € 162.3 million.

The support to quality of life in rural areas and diversification of rural economy will have the following priorities:

• to guarantee the permanence of rural population in less favoured areas by promoting the contribution of agriculture to quality of life, and
• to diversify rural economy in order to create employment.

Leader budget allocation:

Budget: € 94.1 million - EAFRD contribution: € 54.1 million.

The general strategy for Axis 4 is to integrate agriculture in local development activities, in order to improve the effectiveness of local governance and increase local employment and diversification.

At least 80% of the Leader resources will be used to implement axis 3 measures.

Region: FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA

Region profile

• Land Surface is app. 7.856 km² and the regional territory is characterized by mountainous area (mainly alpine), hills, valleys and lagoon.
• Population is around 1,2 million inhabitants, 33% of which live in urbanized areas (2,8% of the whole territory). Population density is relatively low (154 inhabitants/ km²).
• Unemployment rate (3,9%), is lower than Italian and EU standards.
• In 2005, there were 23,837 holdings, covering 224,521 ha of utilized agricultural land (UAA), (40% of the total regional surface).
• Forests cover around 35% of the regional territory, (275,000 ha).
• 23% of the Regional Utilised Agricultural Land is located in mountains, (hence the importance of the measure Less Favoured Areas).
• Organic farming is rather low compared to the other Italian regions, (only 1.3% of UAA).

Budget overall and share of EU funding:

A financial aid of € 247.2 million of which € 108 million is EU financed has been allocated to the Rural Development Programme for the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia in the period 2007- 2013.

Overall aim of RD programme in region

The overall aim of the plan is targeted to

• strengthen the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector,
• to develop a sustainable use of natural resources,
• preserve the local landscape whilst maintaining agricultural activities in rural areas,
• decrease the risk of land abandonment,
• promote the diversification of the rural economy.

Agriculture and Agri-foodstuffs industry: Farms are generally small (8.7 ha) and there is a clear need of diversification in order to improve the value added of the current agricultural products.

Environment: The main objectives for the conservation of the environment is by safeguarding the existing natural resources and to encourage sustainable productive activities.

The environmental objectives of the RDP plan covers the conservation of existing forest belts, the implementation of forest fire prevention action plans, climate change (through the application of the Kyoto Protocol), the conservation of habitats and biodiversity (in accordance with the Birds Directive 79/409/EEC (SPA for the protection of the wild birds) and 92/43/EEC (designation of SCI).

Axis 1: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 106.3 million - EAFRD contribution: € 46.7 million.

The support to the improvement of the competitiveness of agricultural and forestry sector includes agricultural measures which focus the territorial needs. This axis intends to promote and develop modernisation and innovation in the agri-food sector, to improve human resources and rejuvenation in the farming sector, to achieve better quality in agricultural products in order to meet the needs of the market and consumers, to promote innovation and reinforcing the productive lines of agriculture and forestry, to promote biomass production.

Axis 2: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 91.4 million - EAFRD contribution: 40.2 € million.

The support to the improvement of the environment in rural areas intends to safeguard environmental conditions, to support and preserve agriculture in mountain areas, to promote a sustainable agricultural and forestry development according to the need of biodiversity safeguard, countryside valorisation and renewable energy development

Axis 3: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 24.7 million - EAFRD contribution: €10.8 million.

Axis 3, The support to "quality of life in rural areas and diversification of rural economy" will have the following priorities: to develop rural tourism; to support integrated and multi-functional development of agriculture in rural and less favoured areas; to promote renewable energy production; to develop the services for the rural economy and population and to improve the effectiveness of local governance.

Leader budget allocation:

Budget: € 16.0 million - EAFRD contribution: € 7.0 million.

Leader will focus on tourism, local quality products and traditions.

Region: LIGURIA

Region profile

• Liguria has a total surface of 5,421 km² and a population of 1,592,309 inhabitants. The territory is characterized by a deep coastline and a mountainous internal area. Plain areas are almost absent. Rural areas cover the more hilly part of the coastline and the internal, mountainous parte of the region. They occupy 75% of the regional surface and have 17% of the population. Rural population density is, on average, 67 inhabitants/km².
• Regional land cover is the following: agriculture and forestry: 79%, Natural areas16%, artificial areas 5%.
• The region presents some peculiar characteristics concerning land use. The agricultural surface is very small, with approx. 65.000 Ha in terms of UAA. The incidence of territory covered by forests is, on the contrary, very elevated and reaches 63% of the regional territory. In terms of land utilization, the region presents a significant coverage of permanent pastures and grasslands (56% of UAA). Permanent crops cover 28% of the agricultural land, and arable crops only 14%.
• Regional farms are approx. 28.200. Their average surface doesn't reach 2,6 ha of UAA and their average economic dimension is 9,3 ESU. Land productivity and labour productivity are, on the contrary, very elevated.
• The main agricultural sector is represented by floriculture, which accounts for 72% of the regional agricultural output. It is the only regional production present on national and international markets. Another important sector of the regional agriculture is horticulture, which is specialized in high quality products and accounts for 10% of the regional agricultural output. The other agricultural sectors are wine, olive oil, milk and beef. The food sector employs approx. 13.000 units. The most important food sectors are: bread and biscuit making, dairy, olive oil production and meat processing. The forestry sector is not very developed.

Overall aim of RD programme in region

The overall objectives are:

• Strengthening the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector,
• Promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and landscape conservation,
• Promotion of the diversification of the rural economy and quality of life

Axis 1: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 143.5 million - EAFRD contribution: € 50.2 million.

The financial weight of the axis is 47,4% (55,4% considering Leader). The priorities are:

• to enhance the entrepreneurial capacities of the agricultural and forestry workers and to generational renewal
• to promote modernisation and innovation of the holdings and the integration of the industries
• to improve physical and telematic infrastructures
• to develop the quality of agricultural and forestry production.

The measures of axis 1 will focus on promoting innovation and restructuring and developing physical capital (84% of the axis). The improvement of human potential will be also relevant (15%), while the improvement of quality, though strategic, will concentrate on few products (1%)

Axis 2 budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 55.8 million - EAFRD contribution: € 24.5 million

The financial weight of the axis is 23,2% (29,1% considering Leader). The priorities are:

• the protection of the territory
• the conservation of the biodiversity and the protection of agricultural and forestry areas with a high environmental value
• the protection of water resources (both quality and quantity), the reduction of greenhouse gasses.

The measures supporting the sustainable use of agricultural land will be very important (93% of the axis). Agri-environment, in particular, will have almost 60% of the financial resources of axis 2.

Axis 3: budget allocation and main priorities:

Budget: € 15.2 million - EAFRD contribution: € 6.7 million

The financial weight of the axis is 6,3% (15,5% considering Leader). The priorities are:

• to maintain and create employment and income in rural areas
• to enhance the condition of rural areas, for the population and the enterprises.

The measures to diversify the rural economy will use 61% of the axis 3 resources, while the measures for the improvement of quality of life will be less relevant (27%). 12% of the resources will be used for training and information.

Leader budget allocation:

Budget: € 54.3 million - EAFRD contribution: € 21.2 million

The financial weight of the axis is 20%. The main priorities are:

• to reinforce the participation of local communities in the definition of the rural development policies
• to valorise the endogenous resources of the rural areas.

The Local Action Groups will be 10 and will implement the measures of the three axes. Inter-territorial and trans-national cooperation will be also financed.

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm

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^[1] Le Plan Stratégique National a classifié le territoire italien en 4 catégories: zones A (Pôles urbaines), zones B (zones rurales avec agriculture intensive spécialisée), zones C (zones rurales intermédiaires) et zones D (zones rurales avec problèmes globaux de développement)