Co-operation in agriculture and rural development agreed
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş and vice-president of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Wilhelm Molterer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation in agriculture and rural development between 2014-2020.
The first of its kind in the field of agriculture, this MoU paves the way for common initiatives by both institutions to stimulate rural development and boost the utilisation of financial instruments supported by rural development funds.
Cioloş said: “This MoU will bring the agri-food sector closer to financial instruments needed to increase competitiveness and innovation. The financial instruments envisaged have a strong potential for supporting short supply chains, as well as for small farm structures and young farmers. Farmers will have easier access to funding to back their investment decisions, while member states and stakeholders will also greatly benefit from the EIB’s support and experience on financial instruments and strategic investment.”
Molterer said: “The EIB has longstanding experience in agriculture, rural development and food security financing. Long term lending conditions can encourage entrepreneurs in these sectors to implement business ideas that are difficult to finance out of the current short term cash-flow. And experience has shown that MoUs are very helpful reference guides for strengthening co-operation and developing future activities.”
The EIB said it will bring its experience in the development of financial instruments, which play an increasingly important role to support competitiveness and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural businesses. Under the MoU, the EIB will be able to advise member states and regions in defining investment strategies and projects. The EIB will also put emphasis on agriculture and rural businesses in its operational programme and its interventions.
The sort of instruments and interventions that might be covered are investments, pilot and demonstration projects, and innovative projects transferring research results and knowledge sharing (in line with the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability).
Another example of potential joint co-operation would be the development of financial instruments supporting green infrastructure in rural areas and forestry, as well as the possibility of using EU-level financial instruments such as COSME and Horizon 2020.
