Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

CHAPTER III U.K. Technical assistance and networking

Article 51 U.K. Funding technical assistance

1. In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 the EAFRD may use up to 0,25 % of its annual allocation to finance the tasks referred to in Article 58 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, including the costs for setting up and operating the European network for rural development referred to in Article 52 and the EIP network referred to in Article 53 at the Commission's initiative and/or on its behalf.

The EAFRD may also finance the actions provided for in Article 41(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1), in relation to Union quality scheme indications and symbols.

Those actions shall be carried out in accordance with Article 58 of Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2) and any other provisions of that Regulation and of its implementing provisions that are applicable to this form of execution of the budget.

2. At the initiative of the Member States up to 4 % of the total amount of each rural development programme may be devoted to the tasks referred to in Article 59 of Regulation (EC) No 1303/2013 and costs related to preparatory work for the delimitation of areas facing natural or other specific constraints referred to in Article 32.

Costs relating to the certification body referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 shall not be eligible under this paragraph.

Within that 4 % limit an amount shall be reserved for establishing and operating the national rural network referred to in Article 54.

3. In case of rural development programmes covering both less-developed regions and other regions, the EAFRD contribution rate for technical assistance referred to in Article 59(3) may be determined by taking into account the predominant type of regions, by their number, in the programme.

Article 52 U.K. European network for rural development

1. A European network for rural development for the networking of national networks, organisations, and administrations active in the field of rural development at Union level shall be put in place in accordance with Article 51(1).

2. Networking through the European network for rural development shall aim to:

(a) increase the involvement of all stakeholders, and in particular agricultural, forestry and other rural development stakeholders in the implementation of rural development;

(b) improve the quality of rural development programmes;

(c) play a role in informing the broader public on the benefits of rural development policy.

(d) support the evaluation of rural development programmes.

3. The tasks of the network shall be to:

(a) collect, analyse and disseminate information on action in the field of rural development;

(b) provide support on evaluation processes and on data collection and management;

(c) collect, consolidate and disseminate at Union level good rural development practices, including on evaluation methodologies and tools;

(d) set up and run thematic groups and/or workshops with a view to facilitating the exchange of expertise and to supporting the implementation, monitoring and further development of rural development policy;

(e) provide information on developments in rural areas of the Union and in third countries;

(f) organise meetings and seminars at Union level for those actively involved in rural development;

(g) support the national networks and transnational co-operation initiatives and the exchange concerning actions and experience in the field of rural development with networks in third countries;

(h) specifically for local action groups:

(i)

create synergies with the activities carried out at national or regional level, or at both by the respective networks with regard to capacity building actions and exchange of experience; and

(ii)

cooperate with the networking and technical support bodies for local development set up by the ERDF, the ESF and the EMFF as regards their local development activities and transnational co-operation.

4. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts, setting out the organisational structure and operation of the European network for rural development network. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 84.

Article 53 U.K. European Innovation Partnership network

1. A EIP network shall be put in place to support the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability referred to in Article 55, in accordance with Article 51(1). It shall enable the networking of operational groups, advisory services and researchers.

2. The aim of the EIP network shall be to:

(a) facilitate the exchange of expertise and good practices;

(b) establish a dialogue between farmers and the research community and facilitate the inclusion of all stakeholders in the knowledge exchange process.

3. The tasks of the EIP network shall be to:

(a) provide a help desk function and provide information to key actors concerning the EIP;

(b) encourage the setting up of operational groups and provide information about the opportunities provided by Union policies;

(c) facilitate the setting up of cluster initiatives and pilot or demonstration projects which may relate, inter alia, to the following issues::

(i)

increased agricultural productivity, economic viability, sustainability, output and resource efficiency;

(ii)

innovation in support of the bio-based economy;

(iii)

biodiversity, ecosystem services, soil functionality and sustainable water management;

(iv)

innovative products and services for the integrated supply chain;

(v)

opening up new product and market opportunities for primary producers;

(vi)

food quality, food safety and healthy diet;

(vii)

reduce post-harvest losses and food wastage.

(d) Collect and disseminate information in the field of the EIP, including research findings and new technologies relevant to innovation and knowledge exchange and exchanges in the field of innovation with third countries.

4. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts, setting out the organisational structure and operation of the EIP network. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 84.

Article 54 U.K. National rural network

1. Each Member State shall establish a national rural network, which groups the organisations and administrations involved in rural development. The partnership referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 shall also be part of the national rural network.

Member States with regional programmes may submit for approval a specific programme for the establishment and the operation of their national rural network.

2. Networking by the national rural network shall aim to:

(a) increase the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of rural development;

(b) improve the quality of implementation of rural development programmes;

(c) inform the broader public and potential beneficiaries on rural development policy and funding opportunities;

(d) foster innovation in agriculture, food production, forestry and rural areas.

3. EAFRD support under Article 51(3) shall be used:

(a) for the structures needed to run the network;

(b) for the preparation and implementation of an action plan covering at least the following:

(i)

activities regarding the collection of examples of projects covering all priorities of the rural development programmes;

(ii)

activities regarding the facilitation of thematic and analytical exchanges between rural development stakeholders, sharing and dissemination of findings;

(iii)

activities regarding the provision of training and networking for local action groups and in particular technical assistance for inter-territorial and transnational co-operation, facilitation of co-operation among local action groups and the search of partners for the measure referred to in Article 35;

(iv)

activities regarding the provision of networking for advisors and innovation support services;

(v)

activities regarding the sharing and dissemination of monitoring and evaluation findings;

(vi)

a communication plan including publicity and information concerning the rural development programme in agreement with the Managing Authorities and information and communication activities aimed at a broader public;

(vii)

activities regarding the participation in and contribution to the European network for rural development.

4. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts, laying down rules for the establishment and operation of national rural networks and the content of the specific programmes referred to in paragraph 1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 84.

(1)

Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1).

(2)

Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).