This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland gets good deal on rural development
21/06/2005
Scotland's strategy to enhance the rural economy has been underpinned by European Ministers.
The Council of Ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, agreed new Rural Development Regulations which will enhance the competitiveness of rural businesses, give scope for greater diversification and support environmental land management.
Speaking in Luxembourg, Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The agreement reached today gives us the means to take forward our pioneering approaches to strengthen rural businesses and enhance the management of our countryside.
"It provides the basis for spending on agri-environment schemes, rural diversification and regeneration projects, tree planting schemes, and help to the agriculture industry to improve its business prospects up to 2013.
"This deal will help us to deliver innovation in our rural economy, enabling businesses to develop new technologies and new products, for example the potential for developing new bio-fuels which will help to protect the environment.
"It supports opportunities for greater local collaboration to add value to rural businesses and it provides support for food businesses which provide important jobs to sustain rural communities and contribute to growing the wider Scottish economy.
"Important work remains to be done, including a deal to continue protection beyond 2010 for our remote and less favoured areas.
"While total funding available is contingent on agreement over the EU budget, the deal overall is a significant improvement on earlier proposals which would have restricted funding to deliver these improvements."