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This MAP Position Paper contains theresult of a six-step Delphi method (i.e. desk research and context analysis, interviews, interview analysis, MAP survey, survey analysis, validation of results) that theSpanishSHERPA MAP focusing on Aragón, called Innovation in Rural Development in Aragón (IDRA)(made up from stakeholders in the field of science, policy and society), used to discuss what the desirable, probable and realistic future would be for their territory by investigating main current themes for rural areas in the MAP region, opportunities and potential challenges in the next 20 years, visions for rural territories by 2040 and perceived challenges in reaching the visions.

This report has been prepared by Areté s.r.l. – Research & Consulting in Economics in cooperation with Arcadia Int., Agra CEAS Consulting Ltd and Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (European, Olive oil is considered as a food category at high risk of non-compliances and frauds, due to its high economic value compared to other food products. Conformity checks performed by national competent authorities aim at ensuring that marketing standards for olive oils are complied with on the EU market. This study investigates how conformity checks in the olive oil sector are conducted at Member State level across the EU, to identify the related problems and bottlenecks and to propose solutions to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Member States generally consider that the EU conformity checks system for olive oils is globally fit for purpose. However, the study identifies some challenges and difficulties in implementing conformity checks on olive oils at Member State level: these derive from national specificities (e.g. multiple competent authorities involved in the system; insufficient funding; lack of skilled staff; etc.), or concern the overall timing to perform the checks and in particular the organoleptic assessment of olive oils through tasting panels. The proposed solutions aim at improving the training of staff, the performance of organoleptic assessment and the labelling of olive oils. Potential solutions to ensure traceability in the olive oil sector are also discussed.

The objective of this evaluation study is to carry out an assessment of the rules of the agricultural State aid (SA) framework 2014-2020 regarding eight aid measures. They concern aid mitigating risks inherent to the agricultural sector, aid for prevention & restoration of damages to forests and forestry investments and investments in processing agricultural products into non-Annex I products in rural areas. The study examines the choices made by the Member States with regards to State aid clearance and the appropriateness of the rules set forward, their efficiency, effectiveness (in terms of balance of positive effects with the negative effect on competition and trade within the internal market) and coherence. The study finds that for compensatory agricultural risk management measures, State aid responds to needs of the agricultural sector and addresses market failures specific to the different events. The effects of the support go beyond the direct effects on beneficiaries; contributing also to CAP objectives and public health policies. The effects on competition and trade are limited. Aids in the forestry sector and processing of agricultural products into non-Annex I are framed by the rural development regulation (RDR). The limited negative effects are outweighed by the positive effects of the aid in particular on rural development objectives. The rules of the agricultural SA instruments are coherent with other concerned EU policies and overall with the RDR. For forestry measures, the integration into the agricultural block exemption leads to real simplification of SA clearance and reduced administrative burden. For processing of agricultural products into non-Annex I products coherence with RDR needs to be further developed.