Impact assessment of the EU structural funds to support regional economic development in rural areas of Germany

Rural areas in Germany have been subject to major structural changes in agriculture and other economic sectors due to the combined effects of CAP reform and socio-economic adjustments resulting from German reunification. By comparing the different approaches to assistance for rural economic development in the two groups of rural areas the paper will focus on the following topics: analysis of initial conditions with respect to agricultural, demographic and economic indicators; design of the delivery system for financial assistance with regard to strategic aims and the policy mix of the programmes; organizational and operational aspects of the required system for monitoring and evaluation of operations according to EU regulations; indication of intended and immediate impacts of some measures, e.g. changing conditions on the labour markets in different types of rural areas. Conclusions will be drawn from comparison of observable changes based on experiences with impact assessment and evaluation of support schemes in the two different types of rural areas during the current phase 1989–1993 with a view to the next phase of the reform of the EU structural funds 1994–1999.