summary
Spain’s recent long period of vigorous growth did not sufficiently reach rural areas as evidenced by the resulting pattern of population concentration in larger cities to the detriment of rural areas and the backwardness of rural areas with regards to many economic and social indicators. However, paradoxically, as the period of dynamic national growth comes to an end and the national economy confronts the effects of the current international financial crisis, rural areas can become a new source of employment and wealth creation, while contributing solutions to environmental challenges. This requires a new approach to rural policy, which takes advantage of the application of EU rural development programmes but goes beyond them.
The new Law on Sustainable Development of Rural Areas (LDSMR) and the merging of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) with the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), evidence the intention to shift policy towards better coordinating the efforts of different ministries and administrations to fully address the challenges and opportunities of rural areas. For such aims to become reality, important governance priorities are:
- the provision of “rural proofing” tools and balanced representation to the newly created Inter-Ministerial Commission (CIDRS) and the Council for Sustainable Rural Development (CDRS) in order to obtain true commitment and engagement from the authorities involved;
- the homologation and institutionalisation of instruments of diagnosis and evaluation across the different regions without limiting innovation; and
- the active engagement of civil society in the process. Based on the LDSMR, the Program for Sustainable Rural Development (PDRS) will for the first time, design multisectoral policies to cope with the challenges of rural areas.
In this context, four priorities are important to be considered:
- dealing with depopulation, ageing, and social challenges in rural areas;
- further diversifying the rural economy and making it internationally competitive;
- fostering rural-urban linkages and promoting a balanced development of peri-urban areas; and
- addressing environmental concerns and promoting a sustainable development for rural areas.