Effects of Non-Spatial EU Policies on Spatial Developments - the Case of the Netherlands

Although the European Union has had no formal power to conduct spatial planning as such, many of its policies have had a clear impact on urban and regional development in the member states. Examples include the encouragement of certain kinds of development in particular regions via the structural funds or the designation of Trans- European Networks and the discouragement of development as a result of Natura2000 zones, air and water quality standards. At the same time, EU agricultural policy has left a clear mark on European rural areas. In addition, competition policy (particularly state aid caps and rules on public procurement) can have an impact on planning processes, while the enlargement of the common market will affect regional economic development. This paper will draw on experiences in the Netherlands regarding the cumulative effects of EU sectoral policies and make some suggestions on how the concept of territorial cohesion, included in the Constitution, may provide a vehicle for reconciling potential policy conflicts.

The effect of the European union (MPP6) infrastructural development on the productivity of food crop farmers and development of rural areas in Imo state

The study examined the effect of the European Union infrastructural development on the productivity of food crop farmers and development of rural areas in Imo State. The specific objectives were to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, determine the extent of infrastructural development in the area and ascertain the impact of the scheme on the productivity of the rural food crop farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of structured and validated questionnaire from 240 respondents comprising of farmers in the beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities using the multi-stage sampling technique. The data retrieved from the questionnaire were analysed with the use of the descriptive statistics, the infrastructural index model and the ordinary least squares regression model. The mean infrastructural index for the beneficiary and the non-beneficiary communities was 0.84 and 1.01, respectively; these figures were used to rank communities based on their level of development. The study showed that 18.2, 72.7 and 9.1% of the sampled beneficiary communities were developed, moderately developed and underdeveloped, respectively while 81.8 and 18.2% of the non-beneficiary communities were moderately developed and underdeveloped, respectively. The pooled result of the ordinary least square regression model showed a good fit at p < 0.05, that a reduction in distance and cost of accessing the infrastructural facilities in the benefiting communities would increase food crop production in the area. The null hypothesis that the EU (MPP6) infrastructural facilities has no significant influence on the value of food crop production in the beneficiary communities was rejected as the F-cal obtained was greater than the F-tab at p 0.01 level. European Union through their Micro Project Programmes (MPP6) should expand it geographical scope to ensure that more infrastructural facilities are provided particularly in the non –beneficiary communities as this will bring about an increase in the productivity level of food crop farmers and the development of the rural areas.Key words: rural infrastructure, agricultural productivity, infrastructural index, European Union Micro Project Progra

CROATIAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF EU FUNDS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The EU funds are an important factor in the development process of any new member state of the European Union. As such, EU funds support modernization and help facilitate further economic development in a member state, including its rural regions. The Republic of Croatia, based on NUTS3 classification, is predominantly rural with 79.01% of its territory being rural and 56.07% of population living in rural areas. Therefore, rural development is an integral part of overall economic development of the country. In order to improve competitiveness of Croatian agriculture sector, especially its small family farms, it is crucial to invest in their means of production and modernization of their assets. Funds awarded within the EAFRD framework in The Republic of Croatia tend to facilitate this process and further aid rural development. Croatian Development Index has a very important role in allocation of before mentioned funds. Its values are taken as criteria for state-aided areas, scoring projects (including EAFRD and other EU funds applications) and other aspects of public development policies. As one of the primary goals of Rural Development Programme in the Republic of Croatia, it is especially important to achieve a more balanced territorial development of rural areas given the fact that Croatian rural regions (counties and municipalities) are not equally developed, ensuring job creation and job retention in the process. The existence of disparities in the level of development is not a characteristic that can be found only in the Republic of Croatia, but it is an issue that should be taken into account when devising or reconsidering criteria for allocation of future EU funds in the Republic of Croatia, in order to further reduce regional disparities in the level of development. The aim of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on associations between the indicators of Croatian Development Index and spatial distribution of EU funds awarded within the Rural Development programme in The Republic of Croatia based on available data for the most recent invitation to tender for EAFRD funds

European lessons for Green and Blue Services in The Netherlands

Green and Blue Services were developed in The Netherlands to reward farmers for the environmental services they provide to society. Especially the first initiatives were area specific, developed together with farmers and different from the national Agri-environmental scheme. In the PLUREL case study region Haaglanden, Green and Blue Services are seen as a strategy to strengthen agriculture in the urban fringe

The EU´s Regional Policy and its extension to the new members. ZEI Discussion Paper: 2000, C 76

[Introduction.] All candidate countries from Central and Eastern Europe will be new members with a per capita GDP below the EU average and even below the least developed present member states. However, GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of some candidate countries is close to that of some member states (Slovenia 68 per cent, Czech Republic 63 per cent of the EU average). The number of applicant countries and the differences between them are greater than ever before, and they will all be net recipients of the common budget. European solidarity will become more important than ever in achieving the major goal of reducing disparities in levels of development explicitly set by Article 130a. The new members would like to get access to the Structural Funds as a major instrument in supporting their modernisation process. Although future resource transfer is not the only reason for becoming a full member of the EU, this field plays a very important role for the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs). There is no doubt that it is of utmost importance for the historically undercapitalised candidate countries to accelerate their modernisation process, among others, also by having access to EU funds. This paper will focus on the preparation of the European Union for Eastern enlargement in a budgetary sense. It will deal with the role of regional development subsidies within the Union and look through the gradual development of the common regional policy and its reforms. It will provide a critical survey of the Agenda 2000 and discuss decisions of the Berlin European Council on the future of structural funds, with special regard to the financing of enlargement