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As part of the European Movement for Rurality (MER), PURPLE joined other European networks in a meeting with Agriculture Commissioner Ciolos on 21 November 2013.

The meeting was in response to a letter to the Commissioner co-signed by 13 networks pointing out the need for the continuation of a strong Rural Development policy for rural and peri-urban areas and their communities in the new CAP for 2014-20. Rural and peri-urban ares cannot and do not depend solely on agricultural production and environmental support, important though these are. They require access to a wider range of opportunities to bring about more balanced development, sustain and enhance the quality of life of local communities and to enable them to play a full part in Europ'e future success.  This means realising their full potential for innovation and diversification, as locations for inftastructure and esential resoiurces.

Commissioner Ciolos responded by reassuring participants of his continued commitment to Rural Development policy. He commended the new tools which will be available in the CAP and regional policy for territorial development which will be available from 2014 in particular ITIs, and recognised that it is important that urban-rural linkages and more functional area approaches are included in these new tools.  However he reminded everyone that the subsidiarity rules place a limit on the capacity of the Commission to act directly.  They have proposed tools and measures in the new regulations, but it is up to the Member States to decide whether to take these up in national programmes.  He offered to improve communication on these in order to increase awareness and to compile indicators to track the performance of rural areas.  The EIP (European Innovation Partnership strategy) on agriculture and innovation could be deployed for example focusing on social innovation and using the cooperation measure of the EAFRD along with Horizon 2020 and he welcomed a collaboration on development of tenders in this field which will be published by DG AGRI in 2015.

Mr Michel Gregoire, President of PURPLE, stressed the need for wider recognition that Europe's peri-urban areas have a specific kind of development which encompass a mix of rural and urban. They require adapted policies and tools at European level in order to realise their full potential.  He invited Commissioner Ciolos to attend the next PURPLE General Assembly which will take place in the Drome area of Rhone-Alpes on 12 and 13 June, 2014.