European rural development under the Common Agricultural Policy's 'Second Pillar': Institutional conservatism and innovation

Dwyer, Janet; Ward, Neil; Lowe, Philip; Baldock, David

Abstract

The EU Rural Development Regulation (RDR) was launched in 2000 as the new 'second pillar' of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), promoting sustainable rural development. The rhetoric surrounding the Regulation emphasized decentralized, participative delivery and a territorial and multi-sectoral focus - relatively new and unfamiliar principles for the CAP. Evidence from a European study of RDR Programmes is used to evaluate how this experiment has performed in the initial years, highlighting the need for further institutional adaptation to enable effective delivery. The relevance of lessons learned in the design and delivery of EU regional policy is also highlighted. The prospects for more effective adaptation are assessed in the light of the most recent sets of CAP reforms.

Citation

Dwyer, J., Ward, N., Lowe, P., & Baldock, D. (2007). European rural development under the Common Agricultural Policy's 'Second Pillar': Institutional conservatism and innovation. Regional Studies, 41(7), 873-888. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343400601142795

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2007
• Journal: Regional Studies
• Print ISSN: 0034-3404
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0591
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 873-888
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343400601142795
• Keywords: Common Agricultural Policy, rural development, regional development, institutional learning
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1024406
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00343400601142795
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Food and Farming Janet Dwyer planned, drafted and edited the paper with editorial contributions from the co-authors. Co-author 3 provided suggestions on structure, reference material and re-drafted some paragraphs. The other co-authors offered minor corrections only.