Improving the Integration between Rural Development Programs and Spatial Planning Tools

Abstract

Rural Development is one of the major policies of the European Union, representing a key pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) are the main instruments through which Member States channel funding to farmers, addressing competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and the diversification of rural economies. This paper draws on the case of the Rural Development Program of the Piedmont Region (North-West Italy) to investigate its potential interaction with spatial planning tools. After outlining the structure and aims of RDPs, the paper analyses the integration issue in the Italian context and presents results from a review of two planning tools recently adopted by the Piedmont Regional Government and the Province of Turin. The findings highlight possible synergies between rural development and spatial planning policies, and point to emerging aspects relevant for further research on territorial governance.