Rural development applies highly targeted solutions to the significantly varied challenges faced by rural areas around the EU, and is therefore intrinsically more complex than direct payments.
Maaelu arengu poliitikas rakendatakse väga sihipäraseid lahendusi ELi maapiirkondade väga erinevate probleemide suhtes ja seetõttu on see oma olemuselt palju keerulisem kui otsetoetused.