Rural Development Program in Slovenia. The Regional Disparities Perspective/доклад на 87 семинаре ЕААЕ, Assessing Rural Development Policies of the CAP, Vienna, Austria, 21-23 April 2004

Slovenia is characterised by very specific conditions for agriculture (approx. 80 % of territory defined as LFA), extremely heterogeneous geographic features and therefore also by huge regional divergence – especially in rural areas (representing at least three-quarters of the state’s territory). Heterogeneity, mosaic structure and relatively good preserved environment and traditional patterns are general characteristics of Slovene rural areas and we consider the mentioned as development potential for the vast part of Slovenian rural areas. In the last decade, huge regional disperities have actually arisen. Although the agriculture has lost its importance in economy, the newly proposed Rural Development Programme (for time period 2004 – 2006) is based on agricultural and agri-environment measures and ignores the multifunctional character of rural areas.