European Policy Delivery in English Rural Areas (2004)

Type of project/activity:

Consultancy provided to CGA Consultants Ltd (UK) who were the project managers. THE EIESP carried out the French case-study.

Objectives:

The objectives of the project are to:

create an understanding of the EU decision-taking process and review all the relevant EU policy areas likely to have the greatest rural impact;
assess the ways in which rural needs have been considered in recent EU policy initiatives;
select relevant EU legislation and conduct in-depth analysis and case studies, comparing implementation and delivery in the UK with other member states.
Background:
Many of the issues facing rural England are shared across the EU, only differing in degree. These common problems are being tackled throughout Europe. The tools for doing so are contained in both domestic and EU-led interventions. Their effectiveness depends to a great extent on the way they are strategically managed by Member States, co-ordinating domestic and European initiatives, and providing appropriate delivery mechanisms. The project will provide a better understanding of the interaction between EU policy making and its implementation in the UK and other member states.

Partners:

The project is managed by CGA Consultants Ltd (UK).

Main activities:

The EIESP participated in the second phase of the project, providing the comparative perspective on France concerning the two European directives selected: the working time directive and public procurement. It involved a desk study and a telephone survey. The aim was to examine how the directives had been transposed into French law and any issues arising specific to rural areas. The study also examined whether or not there are mechanisms of the "rural proofing" type implemented in the UK in order to take into consideration the specificities of rural areas in the transposition process.

Client:

The Countryside Agency (UK)

Expected outcomes, reports/documents:

Interim and Final Reports were drafted by CGA Ltd for the client.