The Leader approach in EU rural development policy

1. European Commission The Leader approach in EU rural development policy Leader+ Contact Point Martin Law Odense, 24 November 2006

2. Historical development: • Originally, a sectoral policy designed to improve agricultural structures • With time, inclusion of territorial elements • => featuring the multiple role of agriculture (economic-social-environmental)=> placing agriculture in the wider context of the rural economy • Rural development policy as the second pillar of the EU’s common agricultural policy (Agenda 2000) • The 2003 reform • EU-enlargement of 2004

3. From Leader I to Leader+and beyond

4. Liens Entre Actions de Developpement de l’Economie Rurale – evolution • Leader I – experiment • Leader II - laboratory: limited to Obj. 1, 6 and 5b regions, innovation, pilot actions, introduction of transnational cooperation • Leader+ - maturity phase: whole rural territory eligible; new evaluation criteria: n. of jobs created, sustainable impacts; quality projects; transferability; strategies based on a unifying theme and complementary with other EU funded programmes; reinforced role of networks and transnational cooperation • Leader axis – methodological approach to the mainstream RD programming

5. What is Leader? • Bottom – up approach • Public & private partnership forming a Local Action Group • Integrated local development plan • Area - based approach • Cooperation • Networking • Innovation

6. Leader assets • Adaptable to different socio-economic contexts • Effective by bringing actors together and bridging the gap between top-down policy and local needs • Conveys responsibility to local people and contributes to the capacity building especially in fragile areas • Success story which is not afraid of failures ...

7. New Policy Framework 2007-2013 • Balance between continuity and reform: • => Most support measures continued • => Overall architecture simplified- 1 single funding source- 1 single programming, management and control framework • => More flexibility for Member States and regions

8. Three core objectives: • Improving the competitiveness of the farm and forestry sector through support for restructuring, modernisation/innovation and quality production • Enhancing the environment and the countryside through support for land management • Improving the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of economic activity

9. Objective 1: Increasing Competitiveness • Measures aiming at improving human potential:vocational training/information; setting up of young farmers; early retirement; management, relief and advisory services, ... • Measures aiming at restructuring, modernisation and innovation:investments to improve production, processing and marketing structures (and infrastructures), innovation, cooperation • Measures aiming at improving the quality of agricultural production and products:adaptation to new EU-standards; participation in food quality schemes; promotion for quality products

10. Objective 2: Land management/environment • Measures targeting the sustainable use of agricultural land: mountain areas and other areas with handicaps; Natura 2000 areas; agri-environment; … • Measures targeting the sustainable use of forestry land:first afforestation; first establishment of agro-forestry systems; Natura 2000 areas; forest-environment; restoring forestry production potential and introducing prevention actions; ...

11. Objective 3: Improving quality of life and diversifying the economy • Measures aiming at the diversification of the rural economy:on farm diversification to non-agricultural activities; support for micro-enterprises; rural tourism • Measures aiming at the improvement of the quality of life:Basic services; village renewal; conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage (natural and cultural) • Training and capacity building

12. Rural development 207-2013 Leader approach Axis 1 Competi-tiveness Axis 2 Environment and Countryside Axis 3 Economic divers. + Quality of life Simplification : Single set of programming, financing, monitoring, auditing rules Simplification: single set of programming, financing, monitoring, auditing rules Rural development fund

13. Rural development policy 2007-13 Programme balance • Axis 1: « Competitiveness »,at least 10% of EU programme funding • Axis 2: « Land management », at least 25% • Axis 3: « Wider rural development », at least 10% • Axis 4: « Leader approach », at least 5% (but counts also for the thematic axis)

14. Rural development policy 2007-13 Programming steps: • EU strategic guidelines setting out the EU priorities under the three core objectives • National strategy plans translation of the EU priorities to the national situation and ensuring complementarity with other policies • National or regional rural development programmes articulating the four axes

15. Rural development policy 2007-13 Funding of the policy: • Co-financing (50% and 75%, increased by 5% if delivered through Leader) • Funding of the EU part through the new « European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development » (EARDF) • Financial perspective 2007-2013 • => Original proposal: 89 Bio €=> Final compromise: 69,75 Bio € • Modulation: => compulsory (5%) => optional (up to 20%)

16. Reasons to strengthen rural development policy in the future: • Rural development measures allow targeted, proactive actions • Rural development policy works in a flexible and de-centralised way, in a framework of partnership • Rural development policy is perceived positively by the public • Rural development policy can be defended as “Green Box” compatible

17. …and finally! • Tusind tak for jeres opmærksomhed