The first meeting of the Rural Networks’ permanent Sub-group on LEADER and Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) took place in Brussels on 21 April 2015.
The Sub-group discussed priority themes with regard to LEADER/CLLD and exchanged experience on how these themes can be addressed by rural networks in the near future. There was a general consensus that much of the relevant experience and tools already exist in the different Member States; the challenge is to identify and share this information to help LEADER/CLLD be more effective and simpler in the 2014-2020 period.
The Sub-group brings together representatives of Managing Authorities, National Rural Networks, Local Action Groups (LAGs) and European organisations with the aim to monitor and analyse the implementation of the LEADER measure in Rural Development Programmes, to foster transnational co-operation, to identify common issues and good practices in LEADER/CLLD and to stimulate peer learning and capacity building of LEADER/CLLD actors.
The first meeting was attended by 105 participants representing all 28 EU Member States, as well as EU-level organisations and the European Commission. Information was provided on the state of play of LEADER 2007-2013 implementation and plans for LEADER/CLLD in the 2014-2020 period.
Participants discussed eight priority themes for LEADER/CLLD:
- Approaches to multi-funding: benefits of multi-funding, rural-urban co-operation, integration of funds at the level of strategy and projects
- Delivery systems: simplification, umbrella schemes, roles of MA/PA/LAG in delivery
- Capacity building for LAGs, including the use of preparatory support
- How to support TNC effectively: supporting tools, Member State administrative rules, potential co-operation cluster
- Measuring the success of LEADER/CLLD, monitoring and evaluation methods and systems, self-evaluation
- LEADER/CLLD as a tool to achieve local development priorities: creating jobs, targeting the young or the elderly, addressing depopulation, poverty and social inclusion
- LEADER/CLLD and innovation: the need for flexibility in implementation rules and recognition that innovation may be social as well as technical
- LAGs as communicators: how to reach policy-makers, but most importantly how to increase awareness and engagement amongst local populations
Background documents
