Use of the European Union funds to aid the rural development in Lithuania

Since Lithuania has joined the European Union in May 2004, population of rural areas starting to receive significant financial aid from the European budget. Largest share of EU financiers is going to be redistributed as the direct payments constituting in 2004 55 per cent of EU level. Programmes and finances, targeted directly to support the rural development, are considered in the so-called programming documents, prepared by the Government and approved by the European Commission. These are: National Plan for Rural development 2004- 2006, including 7 measures of rural development; Single Programming document for 2004-2006 aiming to outline and prioritize the use of structural funds in Lithuania, including the agricultural and fisheries part which is laid down as the priority 4 comprising 10 measures. 611, 8 mln. Euro are foreseen to aid the rural development in Lithuania in 2004-2006, adding additional 622,0 mln. Lt. foreseen under the structural support. Analysis of the applications for year 2004 calls show that the EU aid is going to be fully absorbed by Lithuanian farmers.