Approaches to the rural development problems in the European Union and in some of the Central and Eastern European countries

Utilisation of regional policy helps to reduce disparities among regions. The approaches to solving these problems in the European Union differ from the approaches practised in Central and Eastern European countries. The development of rural areas in the European Union is realised through the principles of regional policy and its instruments, i.e. Structural Funds, in co-operation with the Common Agricultural Policy. The applied assistance from the Structural Funds is aimed at the objectively defined areas. The situation of countries with many socio-economic problems is reflected in the weak demographic structures of these regions. Solutions of the problematic situation can be found in implementation of the approach supporting the development of multi-functional agriculture and a broader social and territorial context of economic development in all adopted tools of rural development. The way of supporting diversification of the competitive rural economic structure based on encouraging new activities leads also through integrated programmes. Regional policy realisation in the CEECs depends on the institutional framework created in the dependence of the habits applied by the past political regime of the relevant country. The basic issue for the sustainable development of rural areas can be seen in diversification of agricultural activities, creation of small firms and development of tourism together with sustaining the countryside specifics.