Prerequisites for the selection of indicators for monitoring and evaluation of the regional development of rural areas

This study aims to identify the main challenges facing the modelling of indicators for monitoring and evaluation of regional rural development in Bulgaria. The main prerequisites and assumptions for objective definition of reliable indicators for studying the processes of regional rural development are formulated. An overview is made of the existing normative documents that regulate the creation and use of indicators for the diagnosis of regional rural development and that are used by the European Commission for measuring certain processes in the regional development of rural agriculture. The paper concludes by proposing an approach for developing a grounded system of indicators for the analysis and evaluation of regional rural development that respects the principles of democratic and equitable participation of stakeholders in this process.