The European Commission published a study on funding for EU rural areas which provides a preliminary analysis of the contribution of the interventions programmed under the CAP 2023-2027.
The introduction of CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) in the current programming period 2023-2027 marked a shift in how rural development is approached. CSPs are designed to align with broader EU objectives, particularly those related to green and sustainable development. Specific objectives, such as SO8 (“jobs and growth in rural areas”), and various intervention types (INVEST, COOP, INSTAL, KNOW), are included in the CSPs to support activities that go beyond farming.
Member States are required to evaluate their CSPs during and after the 2023-2027 period to assess contributions to CAP objectives and enhance agriculture and rural development policy. In such a way, CAP Strategic Plans requires a collective effort to embrace change, innovate, and leverage the best practices and tools available.
The project Tools4CAP – which stands for “Innovative Toolbox empowering effective CAP governance towards EU ambitions” – appears to support the improvement of the CAP governance and sustainability by aiding the implementation of 2023-2027 national Strategic Plans and preparing for post-2027 Plans. In the last year, Tools4CAP has published different deliverables that help to understand the scale of the current CAP and what tools are available for the design and monitoring of CSPs. The project aims to support Member States on building a robust intervention logic, and a functional stakeholder engagement at all relevant levels.
Tools4CAP’s deliverable 1.2 presents the project conceptual framework and includes all novelties of the CAP 2023-2027. The description of the CAP 2023-2027 typology of interventions, and the data requirements for monitoring them, are included in the deliverable 4.1 Integration of farm level data towards CAP monitoring and evaluation. In addition, chapter 4 of Tools4CAP’s deliverable 2.1 Assessment of the potential of existing and innovative modelling tools focuses on the modelling needs from a social and rural angle.
The EC study sets out several recommendations to streamline the funding available to rural areas at various levels:
- The integration of CAP support and national or regional support schemes.
- Synergies between CAP support and other EU funds.
- Multi-funding approaches – such as Community-Led Local Development CLLD/LEADER and Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs) which requires better governance and stakeholder involvement.
- Capacity building activities and knowledge sharing to support managing authorities and other stakeholders.
Find all Tools4CAP deliverables here.
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