Transcript Leader Axis Rural Development Policy 2007-2013 by Jean-Michel Courades AGRI-F3 Definition of « Mainstreaming »  “Mainstreaming generally describes the transfer to and integration.

Leader Axis
Rural Development Policy 2007-2013
by Jean-Michel Courades AGRI-F3
Definition of « Mainstreaming »
 “Mainstreaming generally describes the transfer to
and integration in the wider policies of the EU,
member states and/or regions, of the lessons drawn
from a particular experience of innovation.
 Mainstreaming LEADER in 2007-2013 describes
the transfer of all of the LEADER approach to
mainstream rural development programs.
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The Community strategic guidelines
for axis 4
The EU priorities:
 Use the Leader approach for achieving strategic
objectives of one or several axis
– better governance at the local level
– endogenous development (local resources for
growth and jobs)
Key actions: local capacity building, public-private partnerships,
networking and cooperation, mutually supportive actions
between agriculture, the environment and the wider rural
economy and population, sustainability
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Roles of the Leader axis for the rural
development strategy
= governance tool
= innovation tool
= territorial tool
= integration tool
= endogenous development tool
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Innovation
 Most of the 1000 LAG in Europe will still
exist in 2007 and be the engine for
developing innovative actions in rural areas.
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Conception of the Leader axis
Local strategy implementation ensuring experimentation on
intervention
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any operation within the scope of the 3 axis objectives is eligible and
respecting the delimitation with other EU funds
it means that operation do not necessarily correspond to one of the
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If project enters into the scope of application of one of the measures
eligibility conditions of the measure apply.
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Conception of Leader Axis
 The various policy options
 wider thematic and geographical scope of
application)
– Application to the 3 axis
– Geographical application (application on a
wider scale for certain MS only)
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Wider thematic application of Leader
Axis ?
 The LEADER-axis is a horizontal,
methodological axis, which will have to be
implemented in one or more of the vertical,
thematic axes. In terms of content, choices
will thus have to be made were LEADER
can be best applied
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Policy options : geographical application
Continuing with the same and/or with different
areas?
 EU governance objective : to increase the
number of selected Lags in MS regions not
totally covered
 To increase the critical mass of existing
Lags if recommended by Mid term
evaluation :
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Council Regulation relevant provisions
 Specific chapter / Section on axis 4 (Articles 61 to
65)
– Definition of Leader approach and local action
group (Art. 61 and 62)
– Leader measures and conditions (Art. 63 to 65)
 Other chapters
– Balance between objectives (Art.17)
– EARDF contribution (Art.70)
– Technical assistance: Networking (Art. 67 and
68)
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Definition of the Leader approach
at programme level
(Art 61)
a)
area-based approach *
b)
bottom-up approach*
c)
public-private partnership*
d)
integrated approach *
e)
innovation
f)
cooperation
g)
networking *
* mandatory at Local action group level as well
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Delivery system measures
(Art 63)
a) Implementing local development strategies to achieve the obejctive
of one or more of the 3 axis
b) Cooperation
c) Running the local action group, acquisition of skills and animating the
territory .
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Leader activities of the National Rural
Network
 Mandatory LAG participation (and
corresponding eligible expanditure)
 Skills acquisition (e.g. training programme
for LAG being established)
 Support to cooperation (e.g. cooperation
meetings)
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Balance between objectives (Art.17)
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Leader axis budget :
– At least 5 % of total EARDF contribution in the old MS
– At least 2,5% in the new MS.
– Romania and Bulgaria (2,5% from 2010)

Budget of Leader axis will be split into 3 axis to calculate the
contribution for each axis.
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EARDF contribution (Art.70)
increased participation + 5%
 80 % of public expenditure in regions covered by the
convergence objective
 55 % of public expenditure in other regions
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Decision making process in the implementation of
local strategy (2007-2013)
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procedure for the selection of operations by the local action groups,
and description of the financial circuits applicable for local action
groups shall be described in the programme.
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Bottom up principle to respect : Individual projects/operations
selected by local action groups (assessment of project relevance
toward local strategy)
Eligibility checks (legal control) made by the Managing
Authority/Paying Agency in the majority of MS
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Adoption of projects
 LAG :
– Local calls for proposals (transparency and equal
treatment with objective selection criteria)
– Selection of projects among list of submitted projects
(quality assessment in relation to the local development
strategy)
 MA/PA
– Ex- ante eligibility checks
– Formal approval by MA/PA
 Notification to project owner/grant agrement (MA/PA or LAG)
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Project Selection criteria
 Quality assessment
– Relevance and added value for the local
development strategy
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Role of LAGs
 Information and meetings with potential
beneficiaries
 Technical assistance for project
development
 Reception and eligibility assessment of
proposals
 Selection of projects by the private-public
partnership (selection committee)
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Cooperation
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Inter-territorial cooperation
Transnational cooperation
– Within EU
– With rural territories in third countries
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Cooperation procedures
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Can be integrated in local development strategy
– Advantages : coherent with the bottom up approach; quicker
procedure since local action groups select the projects (Art.62.4);
cooperation is coherent with the strategy
If not integrated in local strategy, authorization by the managing
authorities (submission possible until 31.12.2003)
– Advantages : better control on the respect of requirements (e.g.
presence of a common action)
Coordination mechanism at EU level
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