THE ROLE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT IN SLOVENIA

Rural development policy was one of the key issues and priorities for Slovenia on its way to European Union. The policy, which is created under the framework of EU rules, comprises several measures, which are to be co-financed by the EU funds. Compensatory payments for less favoured areas and agri-environmental measures are instruments which significantly contribute to environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development of rural areas in Slovenia. A successful implementation of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) and its measures in Slovenia depends of many items including administrative structure, provision of information, monitoring of progress, integration with other policy objectives and the financial resources available.