Rural sustainable growth in the context of the structural and environmental programmes of the national strategic development plan (NSDP) 2007 – 2013

The EU policies on the environment aim at a high level of protection and take into account the diversity of situations in various regions in the European Union. They are based on precautionary principles, on preventive actions and on remediation of environmental disasters. An action package is adopted concerning the modernization of farms, the improvement of the forests’ economic value, the value increase of agricultural and forestry products, processes and technologies in agriculture for food and forests, the improvement and development of agricultural and forestry infrastructure, the restoration of agricultural production potential being destroyed by natural disasters as well as the introduction of specific prevention measures. Particularly forestry, which is an integral part of rural development, is provided for sustainable forest management and for its multifunctional role. Forests provide multiple benefits: they provide raw materials for renewable and environmentally friendly products, play an important role in economic prosperity, biological diversity, the global carbon cycle, the water balance, the erosion control and the prevention of natural hazards. Forests provide also social and recreational services. The support of rural development contributes to the achievements of the following objectives, through concrete measures, which are specialized on a later stage in specific programs.
• Competitiveness improvement of agriculture and forestry
• Improvement of the environment and the countryside
• Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of rural economy