Supporting rural development from structural funds in new EU member states

EU Accession has had the most impact on the agricultural sector and rural dwellers’ living conditions. Currently the first phase of EU Structural Funds benefits is coming to an end. The objective of this study is to provide an international overview on how to make use of rural development support within the new EU Member States. It also seeks to determine the importance of rural development in national development programmes, and the nature of measures intended to improve the quality of rural life, and whether these can possibly mesh with the objective indicators of agriculture.