Resource information
Rural Networks have been implemented as an instrument to enhance EU rural developmentpolicies in the funding period 2007-2013. Gaps in European programme documents concerningthe networks’ purpose and their evaluation led to a survey of the National Network Unitsbeing conducted in 2010. Besides investigating how these gaps are bridged nationally, the surveyaimed to provide an overview of the development of the networks, of the initial experiencesand challenges faced in running the networks, and to assess their potential impact. Empiricalfindings show that the networks probably support rural development (policies) and createadded value. However, ways of demonstrating this impact in quantitative terms are lacking.Member states tend to stick closely to the specifications provided by the Commission andrarely go beyond them even if they are inadequate – even though this is legally possible. As aresult, one purpose originally envisaged for the networks, namely to contribute to improvinggovernance, is neglected. The paper provides proposals for modifying EC Regulations so asto enhance rural networks’ impact and points to the need for further theoretical researchcorroborating the networks’ value and increasing their effectiveness.
