A Review on Rural Development Planning Evolutions in Europe Union in 21st Century: Lessons for Iran

Agriculture sector has an important portion of EU economy, with 3.8% of jobs and 4.4% of GDP. Negative rate of rural population growth is a risk for rural planners and shows the importance of new perspective for rural development in the EU. So, from the beginning of 21st century, there has been a new attitude towards rural and agricultural development in member states. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), LEADER Approach and approved rural development programs for 2000-2006 and 2007-2013 periods are among the main rural development programs in this century. Coordination of rural development programs in national level with high level of policy making for development of rural regions in member states and conformity with the rules related to budget of any sections of program are the most important attitudes of new rural development landscape in the EU. In this article, we tried to survey the past and present rural development planning system in member states, its future perspective as well as effectiveness and importance of agricultural development programs in rural development process.