Leader+ Observatory Seminar “Leader in the New Member States” November Tihany, Hungary Germany - how to handle Networking under EAFRD European Commission

HOW TO HANDLE NETWORKING IN GERMANY Administrative Conditions  Confirmation of the hosting structure used in LEADER II and +  Transition and preparation phase under the old program L+ in 2007  Start of the new program 1. January 2008 What does EAFRD want?  EAFRD regulation demands an intensive support of target groups in the LEADER axis (Art.68) Present situation: In Germany 148 Local Action Groups, about Beneficiaries under VO 1257/1999 (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, EAGGF)

HOW TO HANDLE NETWORKING IN GERMANY General Considerations (I)  Axis 3 and 4 are strengthening the regional development approach  The networking approach for the LEADER-Axis will be similar as it was in L+, but more ambitious (phase oriented, ILE groups/Art 59 integrated - about 240 groups expected)  Innovation as key issue and the possibilities to combine projects financed by different funds like e.g. ESF are not given any more

HOW TO HANDLE NETWORKING IN GERMANY General Considerations (II)  To coach or train people you need a contact person as counterpart. LEADER-action groups create new organisation structures with the aim to carry out integrated projects. They are usually run by a manager - face-to-face contact is the basis for successful networking. That is not automatically given in the other axes and the institutions behind the measures  In Germany, as a big member state, all “EAFRD relevant” institutions, groups or initiatives of the axes 1, 2 and 3 can not be included in a manageable network structure. Most probably sectoral project approaches will be usual in axes 1, 2 and more or less also in axis 3.

HOW TO HANDLE NETWORKING IN GERMANY Networking: 3 levels in Germany General approach: Check of the institutions and procedures according to their relevance for networking Level 1: A ”Mini Google” on the web: information about institutions which "produce" standardised content (Programmes and Projects). At least: What are they doing, which measure of EAFRD is concerned, to whom you can talk.

HOW TO HANDLE NETWORKING IN GERMANY Level 2: Best practice level: Identification of innovative actions by "scanning" the “as relevant” checked institutions and universities in all axes. Information on and exchange of innovative, not standardized projects / procedures ("innovative actions"). Level 3: Networking of integrated approaches which are more than funding single projects ("integrated actions"), partly developed with cooperation partners, Full network services provided by NNU for example: training, transferability, thematic development