The development of a new Rural Development Programme (RDP) under Pillar 2 of the new Common Agricultural Policy will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. On 14 January, I announced details in relation to proposed measures for inclusion in the new RDP. These proposed measures are now the subject of a public consultation. Following examination of the feedback received as part of this consultation, an ex-ante evaluation incorporating a Strategic Environmental Analysis and an Appropriate Assessment will be carried out on the proposed RDP measures by independent, external evaluators.
In keeping with the timelines agreed at EU level, it is intended to submit a draft of the new RDP to the European Commission in the second quarter of 2014. This draft will then form the basis for detailed discussions over a number of months with the European Commission. Once the RDP has been agreed with the Commission, approved measures will be launched in accordance with the normal annual budgetary procedures. It is expected that the first approved measures will be launched in 2014, with other measures coming on stream in 2015.