Developing a Territorial Approach for the CAP

In the context of the recent debate on the objectives, measures and funding of a post-2013 CAP, there is growing consensus that one of the rationales of a future policy will be to support the provision of public goods. As a contribution to this debate, the paper draws on several case study examples to illustrate where the territorial approach has been effective in supporting both the provision of environmental public goods and the generation of direct and second order social and economic effects. These include opportunities for rural tourism,recreation and the development of local markets, which over time, have generated further opportunities for public and private investments. In one example in which these positive linkages are very much in evidence, the territorial approach has been operationalised through the Italian LAG Delta 2000, and reinforced through subsequently securing a range of additional financial resources (regional incentives, ESF within EQUAL, cooperation programmes, EU youth programme and Cultura 2000).