European rural development is closely linked to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and measures to support employment. Accordingly, support measures in this sector have been traditionally based on different legal instruments pursuing different objectives. These measures establish an integrated policy of sustainable rural development that ensures greater coherence between rural development and the prices and markets policy of the CAP and promotes all aspects of rural, development by encouraging all the local players to become involved. Rural development has thus become the second pillar of the CAP With its. links to agricultural activities and conversion, it is concerned in particular with: modernization of farms; safety and quality of food products; fair and stable incomes for farmers; environmental challenges; supplementary or alternative job- creating activities, in a bid to halt the drift from the country and to strengthen the economic and social fabric of rural areas; improvement of living and working conditions; and promotion of equal opportunities. The rural development measures designed to achieve these objectives have been divided into two categories: (1) flanking measures in the 1992 CAP reform: early retirement, agro environmental measures; a forestation; and the scheme for less-favored areas; (2) Measures to modernize and diversify farms: investment in farms; start-up schemes for young farmers; training; support for investments in processing and marketing plants; supplementary aid for forestry; promoting and restructuring agriculture. See: Agenda 2000; Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); rural workers organizations