The Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007 - 2013
The Rural Development Programme is made up of a range of measures that help in the achievement of the rural development policy objectives set out in Council Regulation (EC) 1698/2005 that regulates support provided for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
After an extensive consultation process with local rural actors and stakeholders, the difficulties and priorities of local rural areas have been highlighted in the National Rural Strategy Plan which then where translated into specific targets to be supported under the Rural Development Programme for this current programming period.
Although the regulation mentioned previously sets out common objectives and principles (referred to as the ‘Axes’ in the Programme) under which support to rural areas has to be provided in the Rural Development Programmes of the EU, it provides flexibility and targeted approach such that individual programmes focus directly on the needs and priorities of that particular territory.
The three main objectives of the Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013 are:
Enhancing the economic viability through investment and modernisation;
Preserving the rural environment and the countryside;
Support the wider rural economy and quality of life in rural areas.
The overall objective of Malta’s Rural Development Programme is to promote multifunctional agriculture within a wider framework of integrated rural development so as to achieve the sustainable development of rural areas in Malta. The main focus is to explore the potential of the agricultural and rural sectors, the diversification of the rural economy while ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of the environment.
The primary rural policy objective for the current programming period for the Maltese territory is to have a deliverable programme that values the strengths of local agriculture and rural sectors and that at the same time recognises and addresses their needs and weaknesses in order to help these sectors become more sustainable.
To view The Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007 – 2013 CLICK HERE
Consultation Process
Funding
National Strategy Plan
The 5 Axes of the Rural Development Programme
Consultation Process
The Rural Development Programme is the fruit of an intensive consultation process which started in 2005. Various workshops, seminars and one-to-one meetings were organised and conducted by the Ministry in order to formulate the National Rural Development Strategy Plan 2007-2013 and subsequently the Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007-2013.
Funding
The total public funding for the Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007-2013 amounts for €101,611,140. The national contribution (i.e. from the Maltese Government) is of €23,957,785 while that from the European Union amounts to €77,653,355 financed from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The budget is divided between the five axes of the programme wherein each axis is allocated a share to be used under a number of measures that should lead to the realisation of the final objectives of the Rural Development Programme. The distribution of the budget at measure level is as follows:
Public aid by measure under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013
Axis 1 – Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector:
Measure |
|
Euro |
Measure 111 |
Vocational training and information schemes |
1,160,000 |
Measure 114 |
Use of advisory services |
3,000,000 |
Measure 115 |
Setting up of advisory services |
600,000 |
Measure 121 |
Modernisation of agricultural holdings |
14,820,000 |
Measure 123 |
Adding value to agricultural products |
7,000,000 |
Measure 124 |
Cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture and food sector |
1,000,000 |
Measure 125 |
Infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture |
5,200,000 |
Measure 132 |
Participation of farmers in food quality schemes |
1,200,000 |
Measure 133 |
Information and promotion activities |
670,000 |
Measure 142 |
Setting up of producer groups |
990,000 |
Total Axis 1 |
|
35,640,000 |
Axis 2 – Improving the environment and the countryside:
Measure |
|
Euro |
Measure 212 |
Natural handicap payments in other areas with handicaps |
14,500,000 |
Measure 214 |
Agri-environment payments |
10,525,000 |
Total Axis 2 |
|
25,025,000 |
Axis 3 – Improving the quality of life in rural areas:
Measure |
|
Euro |
Measure 313 |
Encouragement of tourism activities |
11,536,667 |
Measure 323 |
Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage |
21,000,000 |
Measure 341 |
Skills acquisition, animation and implementation |
450,000 |
Total Axis 3 |
|
32,986,667 |
Axis 4 – Building local capacity:
Measure |
|
Euro |
Measure 41 |
Implementation of Local Development Strategies |
2,600,000 |
Measure 421 |
Inter-territorial and trans-national cooperation |
500,000 |
Measure 431 |
Running costs, acquisition of skills and animation |
775,000 |
Total Axis 4 |
|
3,875,000 |
Axis 5 – Technical Assistance:
|
Euro |
Technical Assistance |
4,084,473 |
|
Euro |
Total Public funding (Malta Government EU) |
101,611,140 |
National Strategy Plan
The National Strategy Plan for Malta translates the EU strategy into targets and priorities according to the local situation. This Plan, which covers the period between 2007 and 2013, has been prepared in close collaboration with rural stakeholders and the EU Commission based on EU strategic guidelines and takes into consideration the economic, social and environmental aspects of rural sectors in Malta and the priorities and needs of rural areas.
These together with the EU strategic guidelines and other National strategies lay down the basis of the National Rural Strategy for Malta which include the targets, objectives and indicators to be addressed locally.
This plan was then used as a reference tool for the drafting of the Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007-2013.
The 5 Axes of the Rural Development Programme
The Rural Development Programme for the current programming period is based on five main priority areas which are more commonly known as ‘Axes’. Each Axis include a set of measures by which the objective of the particular Axis shall be reached.
Axis 1: Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector – building and improving human capacity and supporting investments to increase competitiveness in the agricultural and agro-food sectors.
Axis 2: Improving the environment and the countryside – targeting environmental challenges in a sustainable manner.
Axis 3: Improving the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy – encouraging new ways and methods that will improve rural areas and promote the diversification of rural products.
Axis 4: LEADER – introducing a new approach of local governance in a more targeted manner.
Axis 5: Technical Assistance – successfully implementing the Rural Development Programme.