Strategic guidelines for rural development 2007-2013

The European Parliament adopted, by 552 votes to 67 with 6 abstentions, a legislative resolution approving the proposal for a Council decision amending Decision 2006/144/EC on the Community strategic guidelines for rural development (programming period 2007 to 2013).

The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Luis Manuel CAPOULAS SANTOS (PES, PT) on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

The sole amendment, adopted in the framework of the consultation procedure, stipulates that, in the agrifood chain and forestry sector investment support should help to develop innovative and more sustainable ways of replacing fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, including by means of second-generation agrofuels, whereby it must be ensured that food production is not reduced in consequence and that the energy balance of the farm concerned is improved overall.