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LEADER is one of the longest standing, most successful and popular European-wide initiatives.

This EU Rural Review explores how the seven LEADER principles are interpreted today by people who have been deeply involved with implementing LEADER in rural communities across Europe.

The articles show how the principles work in practice, how they deliver results and ensure sustained performance over time, and how they are adaptable to deal with the emerging challenges and opportunities facing rural areas.

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EU Rural Review 29 - LEADER Achievements

This issue of the EU Rural Review examines the role of networking in rural development policy. It traces how networking has evolved to become a defining characteristic of rural development in Europe. 

All types of rural stakeholders interact in today’s increasingly diverse networking ecosystem. The publication concludes by considering how Networking will continue to evolve under the future policy environment.

For more about networking check out ‘networX’, the largest gathering of rural networking practitioners organised under the current programming period.

The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, the primary aim of which is to promote, develop and strengthen all types of family-oriented agriculture as a socially valuable, economically viable and environmentally sustainable model.

Innovation is at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy, which aims to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Today, European farmers are faced with the dual challenges of having not only to produce more, but also to do so in a sustainable manner. The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) sees innovation as a key driver of sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Rural Europe plays a central role in the provision of environmental services such as preserving biodiversity, contributing to climate regulation—by reducing emissions and sequestering carbon, protecting water quality and availability, preserving soil functionality and air quality, reinforcing resilience to flooding and/or fire and maintaining landscape values.

Networking is a policy instrument within the framework of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – otherwise known as Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Experience shows that networks are an effective means of informing, inspiring and empowering local people in rural communities.

Rural development Financial Instruments: opportunities, experiences and challenges for the implementation of EU Rural Development policy.

How Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) are contributing to the promotion of local food production and short supply chains.