Ministry of Agriculture

and Rural Development

Department of
Programming and Analyses

European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region -

flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”

 The Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and and the
flagship project were discussed during the Nordic
-Baltic rural network meeting (3-5 November 2009)
– it was decided that the questionnaire will be
prepared
 The questionnaire on flagship project “Sustainable
rural development” was elaborated by SE and PL
 The questionnaire was sent by email on the 18
December 2009;
Aim of the questionnaire

 Conception of rural development and

sustainability are very broad
 Questionnaire is to support selection of
field for cooperation
 To channel further work
The questionnaire
 Background information
 Questions
1) inventory approach
2) indication of priority areas (5) and ranks
3) justifications
4) actions to be used for project purpose
5) suggestion about possible way of cooperation
6) identification of actors for each topics
The questionnaire
 replays from national rural network and Managing
Authorities, Ministries including:
 National Rural Network (EE: FI; LV: PL, SE)
 Ministry of Agriculture (LV)
 Ministry of Agriculture and Managing Authority (EE)
 Common replay of NRN, Managing Authority (DK)
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- suggested topics in questionnaire

 Regional and local food

 Culinary Heritage,
 Cooperation between Local Action
Groups,
 Innovation in rural area,
 Biodiversity and nature conservation,
Agriculture,
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- suggested topics in questionnaire

 Forestry,
 Aquaculture,
 Climate changes,
 CAP (rural development) after 2013,
 Research coordination.
 There were two extra topics outlined:
rural youth; cooperation and common
marketing
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- suggested topics in questionnaire: the score
1 2 3 4 Sum

Rural tourism 0,00 0,00

Regional and local food, Culinary heritage 1,00 1,00

History, culture and traditions 0,00

Cooperation between Local Action Groups 4,00 0,50 4,50

Innovation in rural areas 2,00 0,33 0,25 2,58
Biodiversity and nature conservation 0,33 0,50 0,83
Agriculture 1,00 0,33 1,33
Forestry 0,25 0,25
Water resources in rural areas 0,00
Aquaculture 0,33 0,33
Inland water fisheries 0,00
Climate changes 1,00 0,25 1,25

Evaluation of Rural Development Programmes 0,00

CAP (Rural development) after 2013 3,00 1,00 0,25 4,25
Research coordination 1,00 0,50 0,25 1,75
Rural Youth 0,33 0,33
Cooperation and common marketing 0,25 0,25
Business development 0,25 0,25
Calculation of highest score –
some limitations
 Some countries do not replay for
questionnaire
 Some sent two questionnaires;
common replay – how to weight?
 A lot depends how we weight he ranks
(especially in case of the more distant
position on the list)
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
scored:

 Cooperation between Local Action

Groups
 CAP (rural development) after 2013
 Innovation in rural area
 Agriculture
 Climate
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score:

Priority of actions

4,50

4,00

3,50

3,00

2,50

2,00

1,50

1,00

0,50

0,00

LAG Coop. CAP RDP Innovation Research Climate Agriculture

>2013 coord
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score:

 Cooperation between Local Action

Groups – main objective is to
encourage national and trans-national
cooperation between LAGs; good
experience; flexibility and wide list of
actors;
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
scored: Cooperation between Local Action Groups
 “The axis 4 in the RDP is the only axis with a
measure directed to transnational cooperation. Thus
there are lots of TNC already going on or being
planned. According to our answer in the first
question the LAGs should be the first option” (SE
NRN)

 “As we are Estonian rural network unit and from the

beginning (2007) our main theme has been to be
Leader support unit, therefore Leader issues are
still very important to us and especiallially Leader
cooperation - both natonal and transnational
cooperation. (EE NRN)”
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score:

 CAP (rural development) after 2013 – future of the

rural development is the crucial issue for future
activities related to Baltic sea rural areas; need for
exchange views, opinions and common aims.
 Country positions – a lot of differences – added
value- better understanding;
 Example of possible acitivities concept of new
measures
CAP (rural development) after 2013

 “ CAP after 2013 – Active debate on the EU budget post

2013 and future shape of the common agricultural policy
is gaining momentum as we move towards the end of the
programming period in 2013. These debates will have an
important impact how the CAP will look like, what kind of
financing will be available, what is the role of rural
development policy, what will the toolkit look like for
facing the challenges etc.. as the challenges around the
Baltic Sea are similar among the member Sates , it is
important to cooperate in the issue of CAP 2013+, to
achieve the most suitable policy, which responds to the
challenges of the Baltic Sea region in the field of
agriculture.”(EE Ministry)
CAP (rural development) after 2013

 “CAP (rural development) after 2013 – this topic is

highly important in the EU and it is necessary to
work on this subject to find the best perspectives for
our region and Europe in general” (LV Ministry)
 “Discussion on the future on Common
Agricultural Policy (rural development) after
2013 with different partners may lead to better
understanding of different positions and
support new solutions which better meet
ongoing challenges. “ (PL)
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score:

 Innovation in rural area – different

approach in each country, ie. need for
exchange know-how, best available
technologies and experiences
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score: Innovation
 “Innovation in rural areas - is a topic where greater co-operation in our
region is needed to become more competitive, efficient and sustainable.
“(LV Ministry)
 “Innovation in rural areas – before further discussions- to create a
common opinion on understanding – what is meant in each country`s
rural areas with a term “innovations”.

 “Innovation in rural areas – One of the main objectives of the rural

development policy is improving the competitivness of agriculture and
forestry by supporting restructuring, development and innovation. In the
context of globalisation and openness the move of the agricultural sector
to market orientatation adds to competitive pressure. The increased
openness requires restructuring and innovation from the agricultural
sector. The agricultural sector must seize the opportunities offered by new
technologies and innovation to meet evolving demand both in Europe and
globally. Rural development is one of the main instruments in providing
necessary tools in increasing the cometitivness of the agricultural sector”
(EE Ministry)
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score: Research coordination
 “There are a lot of scientific research on Rural
development topic, it has to be coordinated, to
get the best out of it” (LV, NRN)
 “Research coordination there is need to review
and list all studies made and in the process on
Baltic Sea in the region. This could help in
avoiding duplication of activities and in
coordinating future activities, especially in terms
of limited resources (both, in human and
financial). (EE Ministry)”
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score:

 Agriculture – different types of

agricultural structures, objectives and
impact; possible common actions
(advisory system, environmental
protection?)
flagship project “Sustainable rural development”
- results: following issues have obtained the highest
score:

 Climate – input from agricultural and

rural development, mitigation and
adaptation actions in RDP.
Actions proposed
 “The Polish Baltic Regional Rural Network (Pomeranian,
West -Pomeranian and Mazursko- Warmińskie) Units in
cooperation with the Central Rural Network Unit would
like to organise a conference within the project in 2010.
(Date and location to be fixed). PL NRN”
Other suggestions
 “Cooperation between local action groups: to encourage national
and transnational cooperation between LAGs. For national
cooperation Estonian Rural network unit has been organised
different seminars where LAGs have had a possibility to
exchange their experiences. Different international events
encourage cooperation with LAGs in other member states.

 CAP after 2013: Exchange of views, in different international

events there could be some seminars related to CAP after 2013
to prepare some common positions.(EE NRN)”
Other suggestions
 “There are contacts established between
Finnish and Swedish LAGs as well as Finnish
and Estonian LAGs. Estonian LAGs have also
made study visits in Sweden. Many Leader
areas focus on local food so these already
existing contacts should be used.(SE NRN)”
 “Research coordination- creation of reasearch
databasis (LV NRN)”.
Summary
 Events
 (SE March seminary on ferry; May Rural Parliament;
 Conference in PL - 2010;
 23-25 NOV in Hiiumaa, EE;)
 Strengthening the LAG cooperations including studies
visits;
 Database
 Reaserch working groups on different practical problems
 CAP discussion during different international events
CONCLUSIONS and QUESTIONS

 All respondents agree on inventory

approach; - what should be the next
step?
 The priority areas has been identified -
 How many of priority area do we need?
(3-5?)
 Some concrete actions has been
proposed
 What should be the next step?