Better policies by identifying rural impacts
Rural proofing guarantees that the legislation being prepared works effectively and as intended also in rural areas and does not cause unintended negative effects. By identifying impacts of new legislation early enough and systematically, the quality of the legislation can be improved and its practical implementation can be strengthened, as well as equality between people and regions can be secured.
Rural proofing is a key instrument of rural policy also internationally. It has been put to use by, among others, the European Commission.
Our work in a key role in the development of legislation drafting
Natural Resources Institute Finland has developed rural proofing in several research projects, and our scientists were involved in writing guidelines for Finnish law drafters for rural proofing. With our expertise, we have also supported the EU Commission's thematic working group on rural proofing and thus promoted the development and utilization of assessment of rural impacts at the EU level.
Rural proofing offers guidance to consider the outcomes of policies in rural areas
By using rural proofing, it is possible to avoid problems in rural areas, such as those that arose from, for example, the wastewater regulation of 2004, the taxi reform of 2017, or the expansion of compulsory schooling in 2020, when rural impacts were not comprehensively assessed.
Rural proofing has developed into a simple and flexible tool that helps to make better decisions and better legislation and to ensure that there is no need to use resources on remedial efforts afterwards. Informed decisions, made by using the method as a decision support tool, are also more acceptable.
Natural Resources Institute Finland has significant role in improving policy effectiveness
Within the scope of the Rural Policy Council, a more detailed information package for the assessment of the rural impacts has already been prepared based on the rural proofing guidelines. In addition, a checklist for rural proofing of traffic related issues is being completed.
Rural proofing method is strongly put into practice, as the need for more precise decision-making is significant. Natural Resources Institute Finland supports this work and continues to develop the evaluation method with its partners.
“The contribution of the experts of the Natural Resources Institute Finland to the development of the rural proofing mechanism has been significant. Social impacts on rural areas are currently more often assessed as part of legislation processes," says Secretary-General Antonia Husberg from The Rural Policy Council.
