Complexity and variable uptake of CAP (Pillar 2) measures and rural diversity of the EU provide significant challenges for evaluation. The rationale of indepth case study analysis as an essential complement to formal evaluation techniques is illustrated with comparative studies of employment...

New 2007-13 planning framework of the EU keeps using economic criteria (GDP) to identify those regions requiring priority attention (convergence objective). Although these criteria are useful for the overall Regional Policy, nevertheless it might result some planning failures of the strategies...

Although there are steps in the direction that the application of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) instruments in different regions has to take account of the territorial dimension, these have to be further improved. This aspect attains particular relevance in ecologically sensitive areas. The...

In 2007 in every European Union region, involved in the planning of Rural Development Plan (RDP), an independent evaluator should asses the impact of the plan in term of value added and productivity. Each region has adopted different methodologies but few of them have followed the indications of...

The paper investigates the selection mechanisms of rural development policy using a survey among farmers in the Southern Great Plain region characterising by the high level of unemployment and strong agricultural background. We focus on the farmers social-economic characteristics explaining of...

This case study evaluation aims to explore employment impacts of the reformed East Wales RDP in East Wales, a UK region which is highly spatially differentiated. It concentrates on analysis of documentary evidence and representative in-depth interviews which support an evaluative interpretation...

The overall objective of the present paper is to identify and analyse the territorial factors that influence the economy and demography of rural areas in Catalonia. The paper begins with a definition of the different rural typologies, and then proposes an innovative methodology combining tools...

Measures for rural development should be adapted to the specific regional conditions and national programs should allow for different regional priorities. However, decision-making for policy measures often takes place under special conditions with many concerned actors, unstructured decision...

Changes in EU agricultural policies towards an increased focus on rural development issues raise questions regarding the economic impact of local and regional spatial competition. Farmers are typically price takers in the traditional markets for the major agricultural products. This is, however,...

This study was undertaken with the primary purpose of assessing the welfare gain to local residents resulting from olive trees. A secondary but important aim was to underline the multifunctional role of olive farming. In fact, we know that olive plantation has potentially socially benefits. In...