FROM SUBSIDIES TOWARDS INVESTMENTS: CHANGES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

The article deals with changes of rural development policy in the Czech Republic. Special attention is paid to the last programming period and comparison of LAG areas supported and not supported from The Rural Development Programme. Ability to obtain financial support from the Rural Development Programme and Regional Operation Programme of supported LAG is evaluated and compared to the rest of rural areas in the NUTS II "Jihovychod". Rural areas covered by supported LAG are in general more successful in application and realisation of EU projects, but the difference is not statistically significant. Projects supported from the Regional Operational Programme are based on the strategy of NUTS II. Consequently touristic destinations of (inter)-national importance are supported and finances are more concentrated in selected rural areas. Only about 5 % of financial support goes to the Leader initiative, although projects realized trough Leader are in consensus with the new rural paradigm.