Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (repealed)Show full title

SECTION 3 U.K. Axis 3The quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy

Article 52 U.K. Measures

Support under this section shall involve:

(a)

measures to diversify the rural economy, comprising:

(i)

diversification into non-agricultural activities,

(ii)

support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises with a view to promoting entrepreneurship and developing the economic fabric,

(iii)

encouragement of tourism activities;

(b)

measures to improve the quality of life in the rural areas, comprising:

(i)

basic services for the economy and rural population,

(ii)

village renewal and development,

(iii)

conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage;

(c)

a training and information measure for economic actors operating in the fields covered by axis 3;

(d)

a skills-acquisition and animation measure with a view to preparing and implementing a local development strategy.

Subsection 1 U.K. Conditions governing the measures to diversify the rural economy

Article 53 U.K. Diversification into non-agricultural activities

The aid beneficiary referred to in Article 52(a)(i) shall be a member of the farm household.

Article 54 U.K. Support for business creation and development

The support provided for in Article 52(a)(ii) shall relate only to micro-enterprises as defined in the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC.

Article 55 U.K. Encouragement of tourism activities

The support referred to in Article 52(a)(iii) shall cover the following:

(a)

small-scale infrastructure such as information centres and the signposting of tourist sites;

(b)

recreational infrastructure such as that offering access to natural areas, and small-capacity accommodation;

(c)

the development and/or marketing of tourism services relating to rural tourism.

Subsection 2 U.K. Conditions governing the measures to improve the quality of life in rural areas

Article 56 U.K. Basic services for the economy and rural population

The support referred to in Article 52(b)(i) shall cover the setting up of basic services, including cultural and leisure activities, concerning a village or group of villages, and related small-scale infrastructure.

Article 57 U.K. Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage

The support referred to in Article 52(b)(iii) shall cover:

(a)

the drawing-up of protection and management plans relating to Natura 2000 sites and other places of high natural value, environmental awareness actions and investments associated with maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the natural heritage and with the development of high natural value sites;

(b)

studies and investments associated with maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the cultural heritage such as the cultural features of villages and the rural landscape.

Subsection 3 U.K. Training, skills acquisition and animation

Article 58 U.K. Training and information

Support under Article 52(c), shall not include courses of instruction or training which form part of normal education programmes or systems at secondary or higher levels.

Article 59 U.K. Skills acquisition, animation and implementation

The support referred to in Article 52(d) shall cover:

(a)

studies of the area concerned;

(b)

measures to provide information about the area and the local development strategy;

(c)

the training of staff involved in the preparation and implementation of a local development strategy;

(d)

promotional events and the training of leaders;

(e)

implementation by public-private partnerships other than those defined by Article 62(1)(b) of the local development strategy encompassing one or more of the measures under Article 52(a), (b) and (c).

Subsection 4 U.K. Implementation of the axis

Article 60 U.K. Demarcation

Where a measure falling within this section targets operations eligible also under another Community support instrument, including the Structural Funds and the Community support instrument for fisheries, the Member State shall set in each programme the demarcation criteria for the operations supported by the EAFRD and those supported by the other Community support instrument.