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Abstract
The basic question concerns the place of rural development en relation to agricultural development first, then em relation to regional and local development. Rural development answers to specific situations and needs in rural areas. It concerns mainly regions where agriculture used to have a major role that it cannot fulfill anymore, both for job creation and planning of land use. Rural development programmes, cofinanced by Community funds, try to launch a new dynamic in rural areas, not being limited to the improvement of conditions of production and marketing of agricultural products, but diversifying activities towards other sectors and ensuring services and support to maintain good conditions of life, not excluding an inevitable dependency of rural areas towards urban areas for different services. Some rural areas have stabilised or even increased their population and foud new vocations, triying to answer to new needs of our society. They are supported in their actions, both by public intervention both at national and Community levels.