Transcript TITRE EN MAJUSCULES

European Commission
Contact Day – Flemish Rural Network
22 April 2008, Brussels
The added value of Cooperation under Leader+
Martin Law, Team Leader, Leader+ Observatory Contact Point
The European Leader+ Website
http://ec.europa.eu/leaderplus
Main menu:
 Contact details of all Leader+ actors (in ‘Who’s who’)
 Documents of the European Leader+ events
 Leader+ country data sheets
 Publications in pdf-format (Magazine and Flash News)
 Publication materials/communication package
 Library / Archives / FAQ etc.
Interactive Tools:
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Monitoring Indicators database
Leader+ Infobank
LAG Database
Database of transnational cooperation projects
Partner Search Tool: Instrument for encouraging transnational cooperation
European database of Leader+ good practices
Leader Competence Pool
Events calendar
Subscription form for publications
Number of LAGs under Leader+
Number of Leader+ LAGs per Member State (Total of 1 153)
140
140
133
120
100
70
80
57 56 52
60
4
3
0
CY
M
T
20
BG
28 25
22 20 17
12 12 10 10
EE
40
40
0
0
0
0
Member State
RO
SK
SI
LT
LU
CZ
SW
LV
DK
BE
IE
FI
NL
G
R
PT
AT
UK
IT
HU
FR
DE
ES
0
PL
Number of L+ LAGs
160 149 148 145
0
Selected theme under Leader+
Themes chosen by all LAGs
 Natural and cultural
resources most popular –
34%
34%
Use of new know-how
and new technologies
13%
Improving the quality of
life in rural areas
 New know-how and new
technologies least popular
– 13%
30%
Adding value to local
products
23%
Best use of natural and
cultural resources
Transnational cooperation under Leader+
(based on data from January 2008)
Number of all registered TCP per MS*
Total of 383 registered projects
LU
GR
Origin of projects ?
4
BE
7
DK
Member State





3
NL
 The highest numbers of projects are coming
from:
UK (15%)
France (15 %)
Finland (12 %)
Germany (12 %)
Italy (11 %)
1
9
SW
10
AT
11
PT
27
IE
29
ES
37
IT
41
DE
45
FI
48
FR
55
UK
56
0
10
20
30
40
Number of projects
*concerns projects where a national LAG is a lead partner
50
60
Transnational cooperation under Leader+
(based on data as at 1 January 2008)
LAGs’ involvement in the
leadership:
Share of national LAGs* involved in TNP as Lead partner
70%
 The most active LAGs:
Ireland, Sweden, Finland and
UK
 Why?
Share of national LAGs (%)
60%
60%
58%
50%
40%
40%
33%
30%
30% 29%
26% 25%
23%
19%
20%
17%
13% 12%
11%
10%
5%
0%
IE
SW
FI
UK
BE
PT
FR
LU
IT
Member State
ES
DK
AT
DE
NL
GR
Transnational cooperation under Leader+
Who are the partners?:
 At least 464 LAGs are involved in cooperation, with an average 4 per
project
 Approximately 15% of them are not Leader+ LAGs:
 LAGs financed under previous Leader programmes
 Partnerships financed under national programmes (PRODER, POMO)
 Other bodies involved in the cooperation:
 Tourism and development agencies, associations (environmental, educational,
heritage), local and regional authorities, universities and research institutes.
Transnational cooperation under Leader+
Where do the partners come from?
 All EU-15 MS
 New Member states: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia,
Malta, Cyprus and Romania
 Azerbajdjan, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, Lebanon, Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Morocco, Mozambique, Norway, Switzerland,
Russia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey etc…
Transnational cooperation under Leader+
On which themes do they
cooperate?
Themes chosen for all TCP
Use of new know-how and
new technologies
 Predominant theme: best use of
natural and cultural resources
21%
Improving the quality of life in
rural areas
36%
 Two next most popular themes
chosen: quality of life, use of new
know-how and new technologies
Adding value to local products
26%
 Least popular: adding value to
local products
17%
Best use of natural and
cultural resources
Transnational cooperation under Leader+:
comparison between LAG theme and TCP
theme
Themes chosen
45%
 Natural and cultural
resources is most popular
in both cases
and new technologies is
more popular when part
of a TCP – Why?
34%
35%
28%
30%
30%
Themes chosen
for TCP
23%
25%
20%
 Use of new know-how
39%
40%
15%
18%
13%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Use of new Improving the Adding value Best use of
know-how quality of life
to local
natural and
and new
in rural areas
products
cultural
technologies
resources
Themes chosen
by all LAGs
Transnational cooperation with NMS under
Leader: the challenges
 LAG selection procedures have been terminated only recently in 3 NMS (PL,
LV, EST), 4 other NMS (CY, SK, SL, MT) do not provide financial support for
cooperation at all
 Very short time for implementation of projects
 Low budget assigned per LAG
 Little previous experience
 Structures which could assist are still under development
Transnational cooperation under
Leader+EU-15: some examples
 Magazine 2: Austria + Germany: Training for cultural guides and
regional museum management. 3 LAGs
 Important project aspects:
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Strong basis for cooperation based on linking history and culture with
tourism and employment
Visit to Italy where similar project already implemented
Clarification of approval procedures at national level
Agreement of leading LAG and its financial role
Agreement between LAGs re. areas of competence and responsibility
Understanding of need to prepare for market entry: publicity
materials, web-site etc.
 Provides a sustainable basis for future cooperation and a ‘best practise’
example
Transnational cooperation under
Leader+EU-15: some examples
 Magazine 3: France + Germany: EURO LAND ART: 2 LAGs
 Important aspects:
-
-
Common project idea provides the regions with a modern and creative
image
Idea developed together: importance of setting up early meetings
project goals, and a clear steps and responsibilities
Need for site visits in both regions and adapt the project to reflect the
different cultural differences: common branding on marketing
materials; publicity for each partner in each country
Create awareness by showing both differences and similarities of each
region by involving local actors: chefs; writers; and naturalists etc.
Project served two regions with very similar: languages; culture;
natural resources and economic needs.
Evaluation and general analysis to decide to continue
Transnational cooperation under
Leader+EU-15: some examples
 Magazine 4: France + Spain: GRUS: ornithological tourism
network: 15 LAGs (incl. non-Leader+)
 Important aspects:
-
Based on a Leader II project: but a more focussed target group
Based on common zones of special interests: awareness of nature
conservation required for all participating LAGs
Language barriers and cultural differences had to be overcome
Development of: common tourist packages/management systems to
be later adapted for different sites
Exploitation of new technologies for common use
Cooperation and networking
Successful lessons from past project experiences
 Putting people in touch with each other (communication,
during events, through technology)
 Many documents, publications, guidelines &
presentations available which record best practices
 Partner-search tools, seminars and transnational support
programmes
 Advisers and key experts who can provide help and advice.
Cooperation under Leader+EU-15:
lessons learned
Some of the challenges and pitfalls experienced under Leader+
 Be prepared: make sure you understand a common language and appreciate cultural
differences
 Take time to explore the project idea and understand what is involved: take
advantage of any funds for preparatory work; in some MS Leader funds are available
for pre-development of projects
 Don’t underestimate the time needed to do certain things
 Be aware of technical (programming) differences with regard to national procedures
and timing!
 Have a very clear structure and clear responsibilities between the different partners –
leading LAG very important if more than 2 partners
 Don’t set too ambitious targets – project can be done in several phases
 Don’t reinvent the wheel! Look to see what already is being done in similar areas; on
similar themes, and with similar tools to achieve similar aims – Leader+ Observatory:
databases on web-site, Magazine, seminars – all provide ideas and help
Conclusions
Results of networking and cooperation under Leader:

More professionalism
 more experience (LAGs and local actors): involved in mature projects with tangible results at different
stages of development
 A longer term vision (phases, greater ambition, economic turnover)

Tangible outcomes in more sectors than before: from only (nearly) tourism only to tourism + culture + craft
+ economy
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Greater proactivity among the local actors: not only as participants but in definition, implementation and
development of the projects, and therefore real bottom-up

Stronger partnerships:
 local, specialized partnership (women entrepreneurs, typical quality craftsmen, specific tourism provider...)
 between areas involved around 1 project, then another, then another --> the spiral of cooperation
Provides a strong platform for the benefit of all involved
Cooperation under Leader+
Dank U wel voor uw aandacht !