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The Italian “National Rural Network”

Workshop on Successful Work of Managing Authorities

Budapest – 15th April 2008

Riccardo Passero

r.passero@politicheagricole.gov.it

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In this presentation:

2007 – 2013 programming period

The role of Italian National Rural Network (financed within 4 % Technical Assistance; art 66 EC Reg. 1698/2005)

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Italian Programming system

Need for strategy and governance

Regions RDP programming within national strategy (NSP)

In some Regions: Provinces are entitled to set some programming choices (delegation of competences) within Regional strategy (RDP)

Subsidiarity in the implementation

How RDP measures have to be implemented ?

Starting from the administrative level closer to the farmer (21 Regions; in some cases Provinces) The use of T.A (human resources and training) supports such approach

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Italian Programming system 1 national strategy (Ministry) NSP 21 RDPs managed by

Regions

Further decentralization in some Regions, i.e: Tuscany Emilia Romagna Lombardy Campania

Involvement of local authorities (Provinces; Mountain Communities)

RDP programming possibility to add “second class” priorities to Regional “first class priorities” set in RDPs

Implementation of some RDP measures (depending from delegated competences at Regional level)

• Concerning 2000-2006 RDPs management, Italy experienced 100% financial efficiency on resources allocated on whole programming period (4.624 Billions of Euro).

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2121 Rural Development Rural Development Programmes Programmes 11 National Programme RURAL NETWORKNational Programme RURAL NETWORK

1616 RDP « Competitiveness»: 4,110RDP « Competitiveness»: 4,110 Billions of €Billions of € 55 PSR « Convergence »:PSR « Convergence »: 4,141 4,141 Billions of €Billions of € 11 National Rural Network: 0,041 Billions of €National Rural Network: 0,041 Billions of €

______________________________Total EAFRD quotaTotal EAFRD quota 8,2928,292 Billions of €Billions of €

National Resources National Resources 8,3958,395 Billions of € Billions of € (*)(*)

______________________________ Total resources 16,68716,687 Billions of €Billions of €

(*)(*) of which 1,487 of which 1,487 Billions ofBillions of € (8,9% of the total) come € (8,9% of the total) come from REGIONAL RESOURCESfrom REGIONAL RESOURCES

The 2007 – 2013 scenarioThe 2007 – 2013 scenario

CompetitivenessCompetitiveness

ConvergenceConvergence

Phasing outPhasing out

Phasing inPhasing in

NATIONAL balance among axis (21 RDPs)

Axis 1: 39,0% Axis 2: 43,2% Axis 3: 14,7% Leader 6,7% Technical Assistance: 3,1% (of which National Network 0,5%)

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Resources allocation per axis in Italian RDPs

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013

• Art 67 EC Reg. 1698/2005 establishes the European Rural Network • Art 68 EC Reg. 1698/2005 establishes National Rural Networks • Art 66 (3 par) : MS with regionalized programming system NRN as

a single Programme

ITALIAN NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK good timing

Decision of Approval C(2007) n. 3824, 14th August 2007

BEFORE ALL ITALIAN RDPs ability to start activities in 2008

FIRST “NRN Programme” approval in EU

BUDGET 83 millions of EURO (50% EAFRD)

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013

• Programme (Decision of Approval C(2007) n. 3824, 14th August 2007)

• Action Plan (implementing document for 2007 – 2013) approved by Monitoring Committee on March 2008

• Annual Plans (list of activities for the year; related organization, implementation and costs)

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013• NRN Key element of national policy defined in NATIONAL STRATEGIC

PLAN (NSP)

MAIN CHALLENGES

• Widening the participation in Rural development Policies (RDPs address and NRN activities)

• Overcoming national differences ( human resources’ skills, RDP management, procedures, monitoring & evaluation)

• International dimension (exchange of experiences, good practises, innovations)

NRN ADDED VALUE

TO ENHANCE NSP and RDP : PERFORMACES, IMPACTS, FINANCIAL EFFICIENCY (N+2) rule, INTEGRATION AMONG POLICIES

Better Knowledge and Visibility of Rural Development Policies’ role and

impacts

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013WHICH MEMBERS ?

OPEN and INCLUSIVE approach

• According to art. 68 (1) National Partners:

– ALL administrations engaged in RD (national, regional, GAL, etc.)

– ALL organizations engaged in RD (professional, environmental, technical, cultural, chambers of industry-commerce, cooperatives, other networks; NGO’s)

• European Rural Network and every relevant international partners (international organizations, Think Thanks, NGO’s, other NRN)

• LIST of 15 Networks having a role to play in rural areas (i.e Consumers, Universities, Euro Info Centres, National contact points of VI-

VII° EU Research Programme, European Business and Innovations Centres (BIC), Interact, EUROPE DIRECT centres, etc…. )

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HOW TO MAKE NRN? INCLUDING “Key actors” as NRN MEMBERS and organizing the

competences they can give participation to NRN activities through THEMATIC TASK FORCES

THEMATIC WORKING GROUPS set by Italian NRN: LEADER Approach, MONITORING and EVALUATION FARM COMPETITIVENESS ENVIRONMENT and CROSS COMPLIANCE (soil, water resources, climatic

changes, agro-energies, biodiversity) FORESTS LANDSCAPE CHANGE, INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING (among measures, food chains) INTEGRATION among RD and OTHER POLICIES YOUNG FARMERS and equal opportunities

INTEGRATING NRN with other NETWORKS (national / international; official and not) IN ORDER TO EXPAND NRN activity results

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NRN members: formal institution

Art. 41 (4) EC Reg. 1974/2006 : 31/12/2008 deadline for establishing the Network

National procedure: through NATIONAL STANDING FORUM (action 1.2.1) formal Ministry Act (related publicity)

Possibility to widen this list at Regional Level (Regions can formally identify further members, relevant at regional level, by 31/12/2008)

Open approach: other / further members can be part of NRN

“Ministry” ad “National Unit for Animation and Coordination” classify such members in thematic tasks forces in order to provide bestefficiency in action implementation

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Italian NRN organization

Strutture della Rete Rurale Europea e della Rete rurale nazionale

EU Rural NetworkCoordinationCommittee

LeaderSub-committee

Evaluation expertcommittee

Thematic workinggroup

EU Rural NetworkCoordinationCommittee

LeaderSub-committee

Evaluation expertcommittee

Thematic workinggroup

Gestione & CoordinamentoUNAC

Task forcetematiche

Task forceRete Leader

Task forceMonit&Valutazione

Gestione & CoordinamentoUNAC

Task forcetematiche

Task forceRete Leader

Task forceMonit&Valutazione

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Italian NRN organization

Unità di Gestione & Coordinamento

TFTTemi strategici

& Supporto ai PSR

Ambiente &Condizionalità

Unità di supporto orizzontale

Task forceRete Leader

Task forceMonitoraggio & Valutazione

Segreteria tecnica del“Tavolo permanente di partenariato” e

dello “Osservatorio interregionalesull’evoluzione delle zone rurali”

Staff Comunicazione ed organizzazione Eventi

StaffLegale

StaffSegreteria

Staff Traduzioni & interpretariato

Foreste

Paesaggio

Integrazione fraSR e altre politiche

Giovani

Pari opportunità

Progettazione Integrata e di filiera

Competitività

Risorse idriche

Suolo

Cambiamenti climatici

Bioenergie

Biodiversità

StaffSistemi informativi

TFTCooperazione

TFTBuone pratiche& Innovazioni

Unità di Gestione & Coordinamento

TFTTemi strategici

& Supporto ai PSR

Ambiente &Condizionalità

Unità di supporto orizzontale

Task forceRete Leader

Task forceMonitoraggio & Valutazione

Segreteria tecnica del“Tavolo permanente di partenariato” e

dello “Osservatorio interregionalesull’evoluzione delle zone rurali”

Staff Comunicazione ed organizzazione Eventi

StaffLegale

StaffSegreteria

Staff Traduzioni & interpretariato

Foreste

Paesaggio

Integrazione fraSR e altre politiche

Giovani

Pari opportunità

Progettazione Integrata e di filiera

Competitività

Risorse idriche

Suolo

Cambiamenti climatici

Bioenergie

Biodiversità

StaffSistemi informativi

TFTCooperazione

TFTBuone pratiche& Innovazioni

Organizzazione UNAC – Rete rurale nazionale

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Italian NRN organization

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Italian NRN organization The Regional Sites

Independence and demarcation from proper RDP Technical Assistance (concerning activities and human resources) BUT strong coordination with RDP Managing Authorities

Regional Sites have to implement at least art 68 mandatory actions and national strategic actions (targeting NSP objectives)

Free choice in implementing actions at requests (R) Bilateral agreements Ministry – Regions on Regional sites organization in terms of human resources and structures involved (3 options: full; partial; minimal implementation of Regional Sites)

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Human resources involved in NRN activities

• Ministry and Regional officials: involved in specific activities (TTF)

• Human resources coming from Ministry’s Technical Assistance Institutes

• For specific know-how further national and international human resources

• Outsourcing of some actions or activities (calls) : when special support is needed

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013 Art. 68 EC Reg. 1698/2005 + Art 41 EC Reg. 1974/2006

Mandatory elements of the Network(a) structures needed to run the network (max. 25% art 41 EC Reg. 1974/2006);(b) action plan containing at least : • identification and analysis of good transferable practices and the provision of

information about them, • network management, • the organisation of exchanges of experience and know-how, • the preparation of training programmes for local action groups in the process of

formation, • technical assistance for inter-territorial and transnational cooperation.

ITALIAN NRN ACTION PLAN

MANDATORY ACTIONS + further ACTIONS necessary for fully reaching the 3 global objectives and National Strategic Plan targets

Some actions are at Regional Request (R)

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013

3 GLOBAL OBJECTIVES

1) IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNANCE 2) STRENGTHENING OF THE MANAGERIAL

AND PLANNING CAPACITIES3) DIFFUSION OF GOOD PRACTISES AND

KNOWLEDGE

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NRN ACTIONS

1) IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNANCE

1.1.1 Horizontal support to Administrations engaged in the Rural Development Programme implementation

1.1.2 Support to the establishment of the “National monitoring and evaluation system”

1.2.1 A national standing forum on partnership

1.2.2 Inter-regional workshops for development (R)

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NRN ACTIONS2) STRENGTHENING OF THE MANAGERIAL AND

PLANNING CAPACITIES

2.1.1 Preparation of training programmes for Local Action Groups in the process of formation

2.1.2 Organisation of exchanges of experience and know-how

2.1.3 Workshops on pilot ideas and integrated projects (R)

2.2.1 Technical assistance to inter-territorial and trans-national cooperation

2.2.2 Technical assistance to cooperation among institutions (R)

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NRN ACTIONS3) DIFFUSION OF GOOD PRACTISES AND KNOWLEDGE

3.1.1 Identification and analysis of transferable good practices/innovations and relevant information

3.1.2 Transfer of good practices and innovations and relevant placement into different contexts (R)

3.2.1 Supporting the promotion of services in favour of farmers (some actions R)

3.2.2 Information on contents and results achieved by CAP and Rural Development Policies

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NRN ACTIONSNETWORK MANAGEMENT (12,6%)

4.1.1 Implementation, management and operation of Network’s structures

4.1.2 Network’s Communication Plan and publicity of interventions

4.1.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the Network

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NRN FINANCIAL PLAN

anno 2007 anno 2008 anno 2009 anno 2010 anno 2011 anno 2012 anno 2013 Totale2007 - 2013 %

I linea di intervento 1 7.052.867,55 7.014.312,25 6.803.443,35 6.909.606,17 6.841.423,17 6.815.605,31 6.764.002,15 48.201.259,95 58,13II linea di intervento 2 1.514.188,66 1.505.911,18 1.460.639,48 1.483.431,71 1.468.793,41 1.463.250,55 1.452.171,80 10.348.386,79 12,48III linea di intervento 3 2.033.477,72 2.022.361,49 1.961.563,92 1.992.172,71 1.972.514,23 1.965.070,45 1.950.192,26 13.897.352,78 16,76IV linea di intervento 4 1.532.388,04 1.524.011,07 1.478.195,24 1.501.261,41 1.486.447,18 1.480.837,69 1.469.625,79 10.472.766,42 12,63

12.132.921,97 12.066.595,99 11.703.841,99 11.886.472,00 11.769.177,99 11.724.764,00 11.635.992,00 82.919.765,94 100,00 6.066.460,99 6.033.298,00 5.851.921,00 5.943.236,00 5.884.589,00 5.862.382,00 5.817.996,00 41.459.882,97 50,00

5.265.688,13 5.236.902,66 5.079.467,42 5.158.728,85 5.107.823,25 5.088.547,58 5.050.020,53 35.987.178,42 43,40

Linee di intervento

Totale parziale di cui FEASR

di cui obiettivoConvergenza

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013

EU RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY

• MAKING EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE MORE COMPETITIVE

• SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • More DIVERSIFICATION & better QUALITY of LIFE

Interaction among National Rural Networks tool for Enhancing Rural Development Policy performances and impacts

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NATIONAL RURAL NETWORK 2007 - 2013WHAT THE ITALIAN RURAL MODEL CAN OFFER ?

• 21 administrative models from which it is possible to get several administrative and managing solutions;

• RDPs implementation in a wide range of “agricultural and environmental systems” possibility to transfer experiences in other contexts

• Agriculture based on “quality products”, “diversification”, “organic and integrated agriculture”, “strong cooperative association of farmers”

CONCERNING THE NETWORK (use of Technical Assistance)

“More NRN action plans in the Member States will be similar and compatible, bigger will be the effects and results of the networking activity; this will allow to create synergies for tackling common problems and improving public policies effectiveness”

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www.politicheagricole.it/SviluppoRurale

Thank you for attention

r.passero@politicheagricole.gov.it