Rural development in the EU : statistical and economic information : report 2011

Rural areas dominate the territory in most of the 27 Member States of the European Union and are home to a significant share of the population. Agriculture and forestry are crucial for land use and the management of natural resources, and different landscapes shape the identity and character of rural areas. At the same time, average income is lower in rural areas than in cities; there are fewer jobs and services. The EU's Rural Development policy seeks to overcome the challenges that rural areas are facing by improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry, protecting the environment and enhancing the quality of life in rural areas. In order to assess policy needs and impacts, information is needed on the situation in rural areas. For this reason, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development regularly prepares a comprehensive set of information on rural areas and the implementation of the EU's rural development policy. This report provides, at national and regional levels, statistical and economic information covering the three objectives of Rural Development policy 2007-2013. An overview of the Rural Development budget over the 2007-2013 period is included, together with information on the financial monitoring of RD programmes in the EU-27 and in Candidate Countries.