Leader Axis Rural Development Policy by Jean-Michel Courades AGRI-F3

2 The Community strategic guidelines for axis 4 The EU priorities:  Use the Leader approach for introducing innovation in axis 1, 2 and 3 –better governance at the local level –endogenous development (local resources for growth and jobs) Key actions: local capacity building, public-private partnerships encouraging innovative approaches, cooperation and innovation, improving local governance by linking agriculture, forestry and the local economy

3 Roles of the Leader axis for the rural development national strategy plans  governance tool  endogenous development tool  integration tool  innovation tool  territorial tool

4 Conception of the Leader axis technical options  Possible implementation of measures (e.g. territorial measures)  Possible exclusion of measures  measures will have to be chosen out of the European ‘menu’ of measures. This has to be done for the thematic axes and can also be done for the LEADER-axis –Sub option A : measure implemented exclusively with the Leader method) –Sub option B :measure implemented in addition to the top down method

5 Transitional period (transition regulation)  New LAG/territory –Commitment with Lags from  Old LAG selected under Leader Axis –Committments with Lags from if no further commitment under previous programmes

6 Selection of local development strategy  selection procedure opened to all rural areas and ensuring competition between Lags  several calls for proposals if opened to new lags  No later than 2 years after approval of programs, later if additional calls for new lags  Procedure indicated in the programme – procedure and timetable for selecting the local action groups, including objective selection criteria planned maximum number of LAGs planned percentage of rural territories covered by local development strategies justification for selection of areas whose population falls outside the limits set out in Article 36(3) of this Regulation,  Detailed selection criteria approved later after consultation of the Monitoring Committee

7 Selection of local action groups (Art 62) Minimal criteria  Partnership related criteria  Be responsible for strategy implementation  Representative of partners from the various locally based socio-economic sectors  At decision-making level representation of the economic and social actors and civil society (at least 50 % of the local partnership)  (e.g. Chambers of trade, agriculture, or SMEs, NGOs, rural women association)  Ability to define and implement a development strategy;  Ability to administer public funds

8 Selection of local action groups (Art 62) Minimal criteria  Strategy related criteria –integrated local development strategy –Priority given to LDS integrating cooperation in old Member States  Territory related criteria –Coherent area –critical mass to support a viable development strategy –as a general rule greater than 5000 inhabitants and not exceeding inhabitants; derogations in properly justified cases.

9 Decision making process in the implementation of local strategy  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.  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 in the majority of MS

10 Eligible operations supported by local development strategies  Measure related operations  Operations outside the scope of the RD measures ; respecting the objectives of the three axis and the delimitation with other EU funds

11 Measure (c): Running the LAG, acquiring skills and animating the territory  Running costs within a limit of 20% of the total public expenditure of the local development strategy  Acquisition of skills –Operations eligible under Article 59 studies of the area concerned Training of the staff involved in the preparation and implementation of LDS  Animating the territory –Operations eligible under Article 59 Information measures on the area and LDS (technical assistance towards potential beneficiaries) Promotional events Training of leaders

12 Financial circuits  Payment to the final beneficiary (e.g. commune or local enterprise) –by the Paying Agency –by the LAG After payment the LAG can ask the reimbursement of EU contribution to the Paying Agency LAG Financial management should respect conditions approved with Paying Agency Paying Agency having paid the EU contribution to the LAG should ensure that all eligibility rules and conditions have been respected,

13 Eligibility rules and conditions for cooperation  Eligible costs : project development and implementation of a joint action including coordination costs for all areas  Role of Lead LAG  At least one partner selected under the Leader Axis, possible partners under partnerships funded under Article 59 e)

14 Cooperation procedures  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 ) –Advantages : better control on the respect of requirements (e.g. presence of a common action)  Coordination mechanism at EU level (submission of approved transnational projects to the Commission)

15 Cooperation Content of the programme –Procedure (LAG or MA selection) –Timetable –and objective criteria to select inter- territorial and trans-national cooperation projects.

16 Guide on the implementation of the Leader axis (July 2006)  Introduction  Defining a strategy for rural areas using the Leader approach  Designing the content of Leader Axis in the programme: Planning and resources  The selection of the local development strategies  How will the administrative, management and financial circuits be organised?