Factsheeton2014-2020RuralDevelopmentProgrammefor.PDFVIP

Factsheet on 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme for Croatia The Croatian Rural Development Programme (RDP) was formally adopted by the European Commission on 26 May 2015, outlining Croatias priorities for using € 2.3 billion of public money that is available for the period 2014-2020 (€ 2 billion from the EU budget and € 0.3 billion of national funding). The main objective of the RDP is to restructure and modernise the farm and food sectors. It is expected that nearly 2 000 holdings will receive investment support, more than 5 000 farmers will receive start up aid for the development of small farms and around 1 000 young farmers will get support to launch their businesses. The programme also puts emphasis on the restoration, preservation and enhancement of biodiversity. There will be support for the conversion to, and maintenance of, organic farming on nearly 60 000 ha. Agri-environment-climate measures will be implemented on a further 40 500 ha. More than one tenth of the funds will be earmarked for energy production from renewable resources. Around 42 000 people will be trained to increase the knowledge and skills of those working in farming and forestry. Croatia will also implement the European Innovation Partnership. The programme aims to create more than 2 000 non-agricultural jobs through a process of diversification and development of small enterprises. 30 % of the rural population will benefit from improved infrastructure. Support for Rural Development is the 2nd Pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy, providing Member States with an envelope of EU funding to manage nationally or regionally under multi-annual, co-funded programmes. In total, 118 programmes are foreseen in all 28 Member States. The new RD Regulation for the 2014-2020 period