A European network for rural development was put in place in accordance with Article 52(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 for the networking of national networks, organisations, and administrations active in the field of rural development at Union level.

A European Innovation Partnership (‘EIP’) network was put in place in accordance with Article 53(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 to support the EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability referred to in Article 55 of that Regulation and to enable the networking of operational groups, advisory services and researchers.

It is therefore necessary to adopt rules setting out the organisational structure and operation of both the European network for rural development ( ‘the ENRD’) and the EIP network.

With a view to achieve the objectives of rural networking at the European level set up in Articles 52(2) and 53(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, and to carry out the tasks provided for in Articles 52(3) and 53(3) of that Regulation for the ENRD and the EIP network respectively, it is necessary to set up a Rural Networks' Assembly and to define its tasks and its structure, in accordance with the White Paper from the Commission entitled European governance, and in accordance with the Communication from the President to the Commission entitled Framework for Commission expert groups: horizontal rules and public register ( ‘Framework for Commission expert groups’).

The Assembly should notably promote exchange and networking among public and private entities active in rural development and innovation for agricultural productivity and sustainability. It should ensure coordination between the ENRD and the EIP network, provide the strategic framework for their activity, including the thematic work, and ensure appropriate monitoring and assessment of the same activity. It should propose the members of the Steering Group.

The Assembly should be composed of national rural networks, managing authorities, paying agencies, organisations active in the field of rural development at Union level, LEADER local action groups, agricultural advisory service providers active in innovation support services linked to operational groups and research institutes active in innovation activities linked to operational groups.

In order to guarantee an open, transparent and balanced representation, the members of the Assembly who are organisations active in the field of rural development at Union level should be those appointed within the civil dialogue group on rural development in accordance with Commission Decision 2013/767/EU (hereinafter ‘civil dialogue group on rural development’).

With a view to ensure an effective and efficient organisation of the activity of the ENRD and of the EIP network, in accordance with the opinions of the Assembly, it is necessary to set up a Rural Networks' Steering Group and to define its tasks and its structure.

The Steering Group should notably prepare, implement and follow-up the activities of the ENRD and of the EIP network. It should coordinate the thematic work of the networks and ensure coordination of the work of the Assembly with that of other expert groups and committees established in the context of rural development and of the European Structural and Investment Funds.

The Steering Group should be composed of managing authorities and/or national rural networks, EU-wide organisations active in the field of rural development, national authorities in charge of the evaluation of rural development programmes, agricultural advisory service providers and/or agricultural research institutes.

With a view to maintain an open and regular exchange between the ENRD, the EIP network and the civil dialogue group on rural development, the chairperson and the vice-chairpersons of the civil dialogue group should be enabled to take part in the meetings of the Steering Group as observers.

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the Assembly and of the Steering Group should be laid down.

Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Commission Decision 2008/168/EC provides for the organisational structure of the European Network for Rural Development for the period 2007-2013. That Decision should therefore be repealed.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Rural Development Committee,