European Commission proposal on the future rural development policy of the European Union (EU) for the next programming period of 2014 -2020, was presented by Ms. Albena Taneva by the General Directorate "Agriculture and Rural Development" to the EC proposed by the chairman of the MA Program. This happened during the regular meeting of the Monitoring Committee to the program, which was held in Sofia. Priorities in the new period will be associated with knowledge transfer in agriculture and forestry sector, which includes investments in knowledge and skills of employees in the agricultural sector, innovations, as well as strengthening the role of research and development activities. The next priority is related to the organization of the food chain and risk management in agriculture, which will aim at strengthening and integrating primary producers of agricultural products in the food chain. It will have to deal with environmental risks as a tool that will be oriented to restoration and prevention of natural disasters. Greater role and place will be devoted to maintaining and improving ecosystem associated with agricultural and forestry sector in terms of biodiversity / landscape, water management, soil management, reduction of emissions. We will be working actively for the effective utilization of resources from agriculture and forestry sectors to move towards a low carbon economy in the sector. In the next period will be invested in the competitiveness of agriculture. It will involve the restructuring of farms and the inclusion of younger people. Opportunity for job creation and rural development will be among the priorities of the program.
"For the first time the country will have the opportunity to participate from the very beginning in the process of preparing overall strategic framework that will define objectives and key actions in each fund and especially that related to agriculture and rural development" pointed out Mrs. Taneva. An account for the progress of our country on the utilization of funds under the Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013 was given at the meeting.