Italian Rural Network

Rural development is managed in Italy in a decentralized manner by the country's autonomous communities through 21 rural development programs (RDP), which are financed through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and national contributions. The RDPs establish the priority strategies and measures to be adopted to respond to the needs of the specific geographical area to which they refer. Financing of rural development through the EAFRD falls within the general framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds), which also include the Regional, Social, Cohesion and Fisheries Development funds. All these funds are managed at national level, by each EU Member State, on the basis of Association Agreements, which are strategic plans that describe the investment objectives and priorities of each country.