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- Integrated regional policy approaches for strengthening endogenous regional development
support the realisation of innovative, ecological and socially acceptable projects in the mountain
areas, and help to extend development potential.
- A particular experience of Austria lies in the contribution of its integrated regional policy to the
maintenance of a multi-sectoral economic structure and the prevention of mono-sectoral tourist
use of the mountain area.
- On account of the high level of ecological sensitivity of the mountain area, the safeguarding and
support of the sustainable use of natural resources (in particular water and woodland) is of
particular importance. The integration of ecological prescriptions is of high priority in these areas
and guarantees a high level of social acceptance.
- Owing to its above-average costs, the provisions, safeguarding and operation of the social and
economic infrastructure in the mountain area requires particular attention and support from the
public authorities.
- In order to apply aid measures in conformity with objectives, the definition of mountain areas and
less-favoured areas need to be founded on naturally based small territorial units. Enterprise-
specific graduation of the agricultural and forestry enterprises, based on permanent natural
cultivation disadvantages calculated according to objective criteria, is of particular importance. In
Austria this was guaranteed through an enterprise-specific graduation of the mountain farms
according to categories of difficulty. An even more accurate graduation system (new mountain
farm registry) is on the point of completion.
- The level of direct payments to compensate for natural disadvantages should be graduated
according to the corresponding different levels of difficulty of farming, and be dependent on the
income situation of the farms.
- The small-farming structure in the mountain areas has particular tasks with regard to natural
elements and landscapes of the regions which go far beyond its agricultural significance. It is of
great importance to the maintenance of farming and its socially desirable “side-effects” in
providing amenities and therefore has to be supported by specifically designed production-
neutral direct payments.
- Owing to their equal contribution to the maintenance of settlement and the conservation and
shaping of the cultural landscape, full- and part-time farms should receive equal treatment both in
regard to direct payments and investment and infrastructure subsidies.