"C-BIRD recognizes the diversity and complexity of rural areas across Europe in terms of needs and development solutions. However, there is no clear, single exclusive model behind rural development given the multiple development paths, which result from various combinations of forces. In addition, there is concern about the application of rural development policy in recently incorporated countries to the EU.As a rule, rural development in Europe is related to agricultural development. The ultimate objective of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is to guarantee and promote sustainability of rural areas in social, economic and environmental aspects. However, scarce empirical evidence exists on how such three-pronged goals are actually implemented and sustained in rural development processes and policy.This project will investigate the innovative role of cooperatives, and related rural actors (including academic institutions, commercial enterprises, NGOs, associations, etc.) in rural development as a useful tool to achieve such objectives and their importance in the “knowledge economy”. Five countries with strong agricultural cooperative sectors are involved: Spain, Italy, Ireland, Bulgaria and Serbia. Specific areas will be chosen in each country. Quantitative and qualitative and case study analysis will be carried out in exchanges between industry and academic institutions in order to identify successful models and also to investigate rural development strategies in recently incorporated EU countries."