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Abstract
Rising energy prices for fossil fuels, the unreliable supply of energy imports during the last
winters and – concerning the 12 new members states (NMS) – the demand by the European
Union (EU) for developing National Renewable Energy Action Plans have stimulated the
national discussion and political action on renewable energy (RE) among all European countries.
Particularly among the 12 NMS the share of RE has increased during the last years. Among
the candidate and potential candidate countries (CC and PCC) the discussion on RE has just
started. When looking at the impact of RE on agricultural and rural development the effects
are relatively small. An expansion of rape seed cultivation and, to a smaller extent, of the
production of wood pellets could be observed. But overall the impact of RE on agricultural
and rural income and employment seems to be marginal up to now. Whether it will be so in
the future, depends on national policies and support programme as none of the various types
of RE is competitive to fossil fuels for the time being.