ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the issue of rural serviceability, including its multiple expressions and problems associated with it. Regarding its public expressions, minimum levels and standard of public services are assessed. The countryside faces the need to deliver services to a dispersed population. Ageing, availability of retail services and public administration illustrate the complex set of problems facing policy-making. The notion of multi-functional rural areas has long recognised different and competing interests for services in the countryside that go beyond the farm gate. However, past rural development policy has traditionally been unduly focused on prescribing and assessing services connecting agricultural producers and customers. This has produced gaps in terms of service provision and rural serviceability, with rural service provision and rural serviceability not being tackled in a comprehensive manner. Challenges regarding public service provision are discussed in the general context of EU Rural Policy-making across diverse settlement structures and countries.
