THE IMPACT OF LAND CONSOLIDATION ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

In the paper, the authors analyse the significant impacts of implementing the land consolidation procedure, that is, the analysis of the impact of land consolidation on land that is largely used for agricultural purposes, and how the land consolidation process contributes to the rural development of a specific municipality or village. The said analysis is carried out on the basis of national, but also European legal regulations, considering that land consolidation as a legal institute is closely connected with the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy, which encourages increased land usability. In the context of European Union law, the Habitats Directive and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive will certainly be of importance, as well as the Regulation on the bodies within the system of management and control over the use of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The impact of land consolidation on rural development is of great importance, and EU funds, especially the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), play an important role in its development, by directly or indirectly influencing the implementation of the land consolidation procedure. The relevance of the topic is reflected in the fact that, from 1991 until today, not a single land consolidation procedure has been carried out in the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The implementation of land consolidation would significantly improve the economic usability of agricultural land and would encourage the renewal and development of rural areas whose existence and growth are based on agriculture as the primary activity of the rural population.