European agricultural fund for rural development in the function of rural tourism development in the Republic of Croatia

Ruralni turizam razvija se uglavnom u prirodi, odnosno na selu, a isti ovisi o krajoliku, kulturi, naslijeđu i ruralnom životu. Njegovim razvitkom ostvaruje se ekonomski razvoj te razvitak područja, smanjuje se odljev ruralnog stanovništva, podiže se životni standard, a sve na načelima očuvanja prirodnih resursa i održivog razvoja turizma. Ponuda ruralnog turizma u Hrvatskoj je danas vrlo slaba, ali predstavlja razvojnu priliku za oživljavanje prostora. Budući da je ruralni turizam u Republici Hrvatskoj tek u začetcima, potrebna je priprema velikog broja kvalitetnih projekata kako bi se razvili prostori i turistima ponudili različiti turistički sadržaji. Postoje različite mjere financiranja projekata na nacionalnoj razini i na razini Europske unije. Europska unija nudi financijsku pomoć pojedinim politikama, među kojima je i Europski poljoprivredni fond. Fond je postavio svoj cilj jačanja politike ruralnog razvoja i olakšanja njene provedbu, što se ostvaruje kroz zaštitu okoliša ruralnih područja, poticanje promjene i jačanja ruralnog gospodarstva, jačanje konkurentnosti poljoprivrednog i podizanje kvalitete života u ruralnim područjima. Program financiranja za razdoblje 2014. – 2020. pridonosi ostvarivanju ciljeva strategije Europa 2020. Sredstva mogu koristiti poljoprivredne organizacije, poljoprivredni gospodarski subjekti, udruge za zaštitu okoliša, šumari i poljoprivrednici. Ukupna alokacija za Program ruralnog razvoja Republike Hrvatske 2014.- 2020. iznosi 2.383 milijarde eura, a jedan dio financira se iz fonda (2.026 milijardi eura, EPFRR), dok se ostatak financira iz proračuna Republike Hrvatske.Rural tourism is mainly developing in nature, in the countrysides, and it depends of landscape, culture, heritage and rural life. His development means economic development and development of the area, it decrease outflow of rural population, raising the standard of living, all on the principles of conservation of natural resources and sustainable development of tourism. The offer of rural tourism in Republic of Croatia is very weak, but it represents a development opportunity for revival of space. Since the rural tourism in Republic of Croatia is at the begging stage, there is a need to prepare a large number of quality projects to develop spaces and tourists to offer different tourist facilities. There are various project financing measures at national and European level. The European Union provides financial assistance to certain policies, including the European Agriculture Fund.The Fund has set its goal of strengthening rural development policy and facilitating its implementation, which is achieved through environmental protection of rural areas, encouraging change and strengthening the rural economy boosting agricultural competitiveness and raising the quality of life in rural areas. Financing program for the period 2014 – 2020 contributes to the achievement of the Europa 2020 strategy goals. Funds can be used by agricultural organizations, agricultural enterprises, environmental protection associations, foresters and farmers. Total allocation for the Rural Development Program of the Republic of Croatia 2014 – 2020 amounts to EUR 2.383 billion, while one part is funded from the Fund (EUR 2.026 billion, EPFRR), while the remainder is financed from the budget of the Republic of Croatia