Research object – economical subjects, which have used SAPARD support in Lithuania. Research aim – to evaluate the usage of the support funds for rural regional development. Objectives: 1. Based on the analysis of the scientific literature, to overview the theoretical aspects of the regional politic. 2. Identify the types of the support funds and their principles. 3. To analyse the distribution of the support between the Lithuania regions. 4. To identify the advantages and disadvantages of the support in the region of Panevėžys. Research methods: analysis, synthesis, data analysis, survey research, interview, graphic presentation. Based on the analysis of Lithuanian and foreign scientific literature sources, the review of types of European Union support funds and their principles is presented in the paper. Besides, it is presented the evaluation of the significance of support funds to the rural regional development and analysis of SAPARD funds distribution in Lithuanian regions, paying the biggest attention to the investigation of advantages and disadvantages of the above mentioned support.