By this study, the intention of the authors is to analyze the state of the agriculture in two New European Union (EU) Member States, the influence of the European structural funds, the perspectives of the rural economies in the frame of the new European regulations and the tendencies in rural...

This paper examines if broadband Internet access (‘broadband’) developments enhance regional cohesion in ten New Member States (NMS-10) of the European Union. It focuses on broadband developments in these countries financed from Structural Funds (SF). The importance of their impacts...

Sustainable rural development is one of the social, economic and territorial cohesion aspects of the European Union. In the current financial perspective 2007-2013 rural areas development is supported by the Common Agricultural Policy, which does not always contribute to improvement of their...

The study investigates the convergence of labour productivity in 204 NUTS2 regions of the EU-15 between 1995 and 2006. The main objective of our work was to assess whether and to what extent European Union (EU) policies (Regional Policy and Common Agricultural Policy) have been effective in...

EU Accession has had the most impact on the agricultural sector and rural dwellers’ living conditions. Currently the first phase of EU Structural Funds benefits is coming to an end. The objective of this study is to provide an international overview on how to make use of rural development...

The paper presents the utilization of selected European Union funds in the Zbuczyn community, Siedlce poviat. Studies conducted in rural communities show that possibilities exist for developing initiatives to support local development. The work outlines activities of local authorities and...

The article deals with the problems of financing the development of non-agricultural activities in rural areas. The programme SOP RMFSRD measure ‘diversification of agricultural activities and activities close to agriculture to provide multiple activities or alternative incomes’ was analyzed...

The position of Polish agriculture in the global food market. The Polish food sector in the first years of membership. The monitoring and analysis of changes in the Polish food supply chain. Polish agricultural holdings in the first years of membership – efficiency and competitiveness. The...

Hungary can benefit from the resources of the European Union’s Structural Funds, inter alia the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) from 1st January 2004. However the preparation has started much earlier, in 2000. Nowadays, the use of the Structural Funds within the...

The European Union’s cohesion policy and its Structural Funds are key delivery mechanisms to achieve the priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth but there is evidence that rural areas may be receiving an inadequate share of this funding. In the period 2014 to 2020,...