Reform history

2. This Regulation complements the provisions of Part Two of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council (¹).

(b)"region" means a territorial unit corresponding to level 1 or 2 of the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS level 1 and 2) within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (²);

(i)"animal diseases" means diseases mentioned in the list of animal diseases established by the World Organisation for Animal Health or in the Annex to Council Decision 2009/470/EC (³);

(a)fostering innovation, cooperation, and the development of the knowledge base in rural areas;

(b)strengthening the links between agriculture, food production and forestry and research and innovation, including for the purpose of improved environmental management and performance;

(c)fostering lifelong learning and vocational training in the agricultural and forestry sectors.

(a)improving the economic performance of all farms and facilitating farm restructuring and modernisation, notably with a view to increasing market participation and orientation as well as agricultural diversification;

(b)facilitating the entry of adequately skilled farmers into the agricultural sector and, in particular, generational renewal.

(a)improving competitiveness of primary producers by better integrating them into the agri-food chain through quality schemes, adding value to agricultural products, promotion in local markets and short supply circuits, producer groups and organisations and inter-branch organisations;

(b)supporting farm risk prevention and management.

(a)restoring, preserving and enhancing biodiversity, including in Natura 2000 areas, and in areas facing natural or other specific constraints, and high nature value farming, as well as the state of European landscapes;

(b)improving water management, including fertiliser and pesticide management;

(c)preventing soil erosion and improving soil management.

(a)increasing efficiency in water use by agriculture;

(b)increasing efficiency in energy use in agriculture and food processing;

(c)facilitating the supply and use of renewable sources of energy, of by-products, wastes and residues and of other non food raw material, for the purposes of the bio-economy;

(d)reducing green house gas and ammonia emissions from agriculture;

(e)fostering carbon conservation and sequestration in agriculture and forestry;

(a)facilitating diversification, creation and development of small enterprises, as well as job creation;

(b)fostering local development in rural areas;

(c)enhancing the accessibility, use and quality of information and communication technologies (ICT) in rural areas.

The analysis shall be structured around the Union priorities for rural development. Specific needs concerning the environment, climate change mitigation and adaptation and innovation shall be assessed across Union priorities for rural development, in order to identify relevant responses in these three areas at the level of each priority;

(i)appropriate targets are set for each of the focus areas of the Union priorities for rural development included in the programme, based on the common indicators referred to in Article 69 and, where necessary, on programme specific indicators;

(ii)relevant combinations of measures are selected in relation to each of the focus areas of the Union priorities for rural development included in the programme, based on a sound intervention logic supported by the ex ante evaluation referred to in point (a) and the analysis referred to in point (b);

(iii)the allocation of financial resources to the measures of the programme is justified and adequate to achieve the targets set;

(iv)specific needs linked with specific conditions at regional or sub-regional level are taken into account and concretely addressed through adequately designed combinations of measures or thematic sub-programmes;

(v)an appropriate approach towards innovation with a view to achieving the Union priorities for rural development, including the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability, towards the environment, including the specific needs of Natura 2000 areas, and towards climate change mitigation and adaptation is integrated into the programme;

(vi)measures have been taken to ensure the availability of sufficient advisory capacity on the regulatory requirements and on actions related to innovation;

(i)a table setting out, in accordance with Article 58(4), the total EAFRD contribution planned for each year. When applicable this table shall indicate separately within the total EAFRD contribution the appropriations provided for the less developed regions and the funds transferred to the EAFRD in application of Article 7(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013. The planned annual EAFRD contribution shall be compatible with the Multi-annual Financial Framework;

(ii)a table setting out, for each measure, for each type of operation with a specific EAFRD contribution rate and for technical assistance, the total Union contribution planned and the applicable EAFRD contribution rate. Where applicable, this table shall indicate separately the EAFRD contribution rate for less developed regions and for other regions;

(i)the designation by the Member State of all authorities referred to in Article 65(2) and, for information, a summary description of the management and control structure;

(ii)a description of the monitoring and evaluation procedures, as well as the composition of the Monitoring Committee;

(iii)the provisions to ensure that the programme is publicised, including through the national rural network referred to in Article 54;

(iv)a description of the approach laying down principles with regard to the establishment of selection criteria for operations and local development strategies that takes into account relevant targets; in this context Member States may provide for priority to be given to SMEs linked to the agriculture and forestry sector.

(v)in relation to local development, where applicable, a description of the mechanisms to ensure coherence between activities envisaged under the local development strategies, the "Cooperation" measure referred to in Article 35, and the "Basic services and village renewal in rural areas" measure referred to in Article 20 including urban-rural links;

(i)a change in the programme strategy through a change of more than 50 % in the quantified target linked to a focus area;

(ii)a change in the EAFRD contribution rate of one or more measures;

(iii)a change of the entire Union contribution or its annual distribution at programme level;

(i)the introduction or withdrawal of measures or types of operations;

(ii)changes in the description of measures, including changes of eligibility conditions;

(iii)a transfer of funds between measures implemented under different EAFRD contribution rates;

However, for the purposes of points (b)(i) and (ii), and point (b)(iii)where the transfer of funds concerns less than 20 % of the allocation to a measure and less than 5 % of the total EAFRD contribution to the programme, the approval shall be deemed to be given, if the Commission has not taken a decision on the request after a period of 42 working days from the receipt of the request. That period shall not include the period starting on the day following the date on which the Commission has sent its observations to the Member State and ending on the day that the Member State responded to the observations.

(i)Regulation (EU) 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁴);

(ii)Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (⁵);

(iii)Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁶);

(iv)Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91 (⁷);

(v)Part II, Title II, Chapter I, Section 2 of Council Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as concerns wine.

(i)the specificity of the final product under such schemes is derived from clear obligations to guarantee any of the following:

—specific product characteristics,

—specific farming or production methods, or

—a quality of the final product that goes significantly beyond the commercial commodity standards as regards public, animal or plant health, animal welfare or environmental protection;

(ii)the scheme is open to all producers;

(iii)the scheme involves binding product specifications and compliance with those specifications is verified by public authorities or by an independent inspection body;

(iv)the scheme is transparent and assures complete traceability of products; or

3. Support under point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be subject to the formal recognition by the competent public authorities of Member States that a natural disaster has occurred and that this disaster or measures adopted in accordance with Council Directive 2000/29/EC (⁸) to eradicate or contain a plant disease or pest have caused the destruction of at least 30 % of the relevant agricultural potential.

(i)young farmers;

(ii)non-agricultural activities in rural areas;

(iii)the development of small farms;

2. Limitations on ownership of forests provided for in Articles 22 to 26 shall not apply to the tropical or subtropical forests and to the wooded areas of the territories of the Azores, Madeira, the Canary islands, the smaller Aegean islands within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (⁹), and the French outermost regions.

5. Member States may continue support for setting up of producer groups even after they have been recognised as producer organisations under the conditions of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 (¹⁰).

1. In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 the EAFRD may use up to 0,25 % of its annual allocation to finance the tasks referred to in Article 58 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, including the costs for setting up and operating the European network for rural development referred to in Article 52 of this Regulation and the EIP network referred to in Article 53 of this Regulation at the Commission's initiative and/or on its behalf, of which up to EUR 30 567 000 in current prices shall be allocated to the Structural Reform Support Programme established by Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council (¹¹) for use within the scope and purpose of that programme.

The EAFRD may also finance the actions provided for in Article 41(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (¹²), in relation to Union quality scheme indications and symbols.

Those actions shall be carried out in accordance with Article 58 of Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (¹³) and any other provisions of that Regulation and of its implementing provisions that are applicable to this form of execution of the budget.

(i)create synergies with the activities carried out at national or regional level, or at both by the respective networks with regard to capacity building actions and exchange of experience; and

(ii)cooperate with the networking and technical support bodies for local development set up by the ERDF, the ESF and the EMFF as regards their local development activities and transnational co-operation.

(i)increased agricultural productivity, economic viability, sustainability, output and resource efficiency;

(ii)innovation in support of the bio-based economy;

(iii)biodiversity, ecosystem services, soil functionality and sustainable water management;

(iv)innovative products and services for the integrated supply chain;

(v)opening up new product and market opportunities for primary producers;

(vi)food quality, food safety and healthy diet;

(vii)reduce post-harvest losses and food wastage.

(i)activities regarding the collection of examples of projects covering all priorities of the rural development programmes;

(ii)activities regarding the facilitation of thematic and analytical exchanges between rural development stakeholders, sharing and dissemination of findings;

(iii)activities regarding the provision of training and networking for local action groups and in particular technical assistance for inter-territorial and transnational co-operation, facilitation of co-operation among local action groups and the search of partners for the measure referred to in Article 35;

(iv)activities regarding the provision of networking for advisors and innovation support services;

(v)activities regarding the sharing and dissemination of monitoring and evaluation findings;

(vi)a communication plan including publicity and information concerning the rural development programme in agreement with the Managing Authorities and information and communication activities aimed at a broader public;

(vii)activities regarding the participation in and contribution to the European network for rural development.

(i)are informed of their obligations resulting from the aid granted, and maintain either a separate accounting system or an adequate accounting code for all transactions relating to the operation;

(ii)are aware of the requirements concerning the provision of data to the Managing Authority and the recording of outputs and results;

| 28(8) | Agri-environment-climate | 600 (¹) | Per ha per year for annual crops |

| 900 (¹) | Per ha per year for specialised perennial crops | | |

| 450 (¹) | Per ha per year for other land uses | | |

| 200 (¹) | Per livestock unit ("LU") per year for local breeds in danger of being lost to farmers | | |

| 29(5) | Organic farming | 600 (¹) | Per ha per year for annual crops |

| 900 (¹) | Per ha per year for specialised perennial crops | | |

| 450 (¹) | Per ha per year for other land uses | | |

| 30(7) | Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments | 500 (¹) | Per ha per year maximum in the initial period not exceeding five years |

| 200 (¹) | Per ha per year maximum | | |

| 50 (²) | Per ha per year minimum for Water Framework Directive payments | | |

| 250 (¹) | Maximum per ha per year | | |

| 450 (¹) | Maximum per ha per year in mountain areas as defined in Article 32(2) | | |

| 34(3) | Forest-environmental and climate services and forest conservation | 200 (¹) | Per ha per year |

| (¹)Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources(OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1). (^*1)These amounts may be increased in duly substantiated cases taking into account specific circumstances to be justified in the rural development programmes. (^*2)This amount may be decreased in duly substantiated cases taking into account specific circumstances to be justified in the rural development programmes. NB:  The aid intensities are without prejudice to Union State aid rules. | | | |

| (^*1)Member States need only check fulfilment of this criterion against those of the thresholds that are relevant to the specific situation of an area | | |

| RD priority 3: promoting food chain organisation, including processing and marketing of agricultural products, animal welfare and risk management in agriculture TO 5: promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management | 3.1.  Risk prevention and risk management: the existence of national or regional risk assessments for disaster management. taking into account climate change adaptation | — A national or regional risk assessment with the following elements shall be in place: — — A description of the process, methodology, methods and non-sensitive data used for risk assessment as well as of the risk-based criteria for the prioritisation of investment; — A description of single-risk and multi-risk scenarios; — Taking into account, where appropriate, national climate change adaptation strategies. |

| RD priority 5: promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy in the agriculture and food sectors and the forestry sector TO 4: supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors TO 6: Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency | 5.1  Energy efficiency: Actions have been carried out to promote cost-effective improvements of energy end use efficiency and cost-effective investment in Energy efficiency when constructing or renovating buildings. | — The actions are: — — Measures to ensure minimum requirements are in place related to the energy performance of buildings consistent with Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and the Council (¹). — Measures necessary to establish a system of certification of the energy performance of buildings consistent with Article 11 of Directive 2010/31/EU — Measures to ensure strategic planning on energy efficiency, consistent with Article 3 of Directive 2012/27 EU of the European Parliament and the Council (²). — Measures consistent with Article 13 of Directive 2006/32/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (³) on energy end-use efficiency and energy services to ensure the provision to final customers of individual meters in so far as it is technically possible, financially reasonable and proportionate in relation to the potential energy savings. |

| RD priority 6: promoting social inclusion poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas TO 2: Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, information and communication technologies (Broadband target) | 6. Next Generation Network (NGN) Infrastructure: The existence of national or regional NGA Plans which take account of regional actions in order to reach the Union high-speed Internet access targets, focusing on areas where the market fails to provide an open infrastructure at an affordable cost and of a quality in line with the Union competition and State aid rules and to provide accessible services to vulnerable groups. | — A national or regional NGN Plan is in place that contains: — — a plan of infrastructure investments based on an economic analysis taking account of existing private and public infrastructures and planned investments; — sustainable investment models that enhance competition and provide access to open, affordable, quality and future proof infrastructure and services; — measures to stimulate private investment. |

(¹) Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (see page 549 of this Official Journal).

(²) Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, p. 1).

(³) Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field (OJ L 155, 18.6.2009, p. 30).

(⁴) Regulation (EU) 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1).

(⁵) Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (OJ L 189, 20.7.2007, p. 1).

(⁶) Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 (OJ L 39, 13.2.2008, p. 16).

(⁷) Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91 of 10 June 1991 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatized wines, aromatized wine- based drinks and aromatized wine-product cocktails (OJ L 149, 14.6.1991, p. 1).

(⁸) Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1).

(⁹) Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 (OJ L 78, 20.3.2013, p. 41).

(¹⁰) Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (see page 671 of the Official Journal).

(¹¹) Regulation (EU) 2017/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of the Structural Reform Support Programme for the period 2017 to 2020 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 1305/2013 (OJ L 129, 19.5.2017, p. 1).

(¹²) Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1).

(¹³) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).