USE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUNDS IN SELECTED CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

The goal of the article was to present the differences in the use of rural development plans implemented in Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia in the period 2007-2013. The research was conducted using mainly descriptive and comparative methods on the basis of statistical data published in local databank by Polish Central Statistical Office and data gathered by Agricultural Paying Agencies and Ministries of Agriculture. In the first part the main indicators comparing agriculture and rural development plans in analyzed countries and the main strategic objectives within 4 priority axes of implemented rural development plans were presented. Than the varied structure of use of RDPs in analyzed countries was presented with detailed spending characteristics under all measures. In general the structure of RDPs use was similar to the average in all EU-27 countries with a higher share of axis 1 in Poland than in other countries. In two countries (Czech Rep. and Slovakia) the highest amount of funds was spent on modernisation of agricultural holdings, while in Poland the highest amount was spent on structural pensions supporting early retirement of farmers. Three measures of high share in all three countries were: agri-environment payments (in Czechia 1/3 of all funds), natural handicap payments (31 % of all expenditures in Slovakia) and modernisation of agricultural holdings.

Keywords: Central Europe, EU funds absorption, local development, rural areas, Rural Development Program.

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.108