Green light for EUR 250 million rural development programmes for the Czech Republic

In a letter to the Czech Agriculture Minister, EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler confirmed agreement on the country's Operational Programme for Rural Development and Multifunctional Agriculture. The programme, covering the whole territory of the Czech Republic, except the capital of Prague, includes a broad range of ambitious rural development measures which give a special emphasis to the replacement of outdated technologies, increase of competitiveness, consolidation of land ownership, protection of environment as well as to the stabilisation of existing work places in the Czech rural areas. The financial allocation is significant. The European Union's contribution, € 173.9 million during the period 2004-2006, will be complemented by national public funding of € 76.7 million. This political agreement concludes the Commission negotiations to launch the Structural Funds Programming for the Czech Republic for the period 2004-2006.