This article analyzes the rural development policy of the European Union for the programming period 2014-2020. In particular, the paper presents its new objectives, priorities and focus areas, and analyzes the menu of new measures provided for in Regulation no. 1305/2013. The rural development policy is developed in Italy through 21 regional rural development programs, and an horizontal national program relative to some measures that can better be managed at national level. The paper focuses in particular on the changes introduced in the new European rural development strategy, with particular reference to the integration with other EU structural policies, to the measures taken to ensure a better finalization and more efficiency, to the networking activity for the integration of spatial policies, innovation through the dissemination of knowledge, participation at regional and local level.
Keywords: Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, Rural Development, European Union, Second Pillar
Jel Code: R11, R58.