Examples and Challenges   LEADER in Germany Examples and Challenges BAG LAG - German LEADER Association Dr. Hartmut Berndt

Content From 13 to 321 LEADER in Germany since 1991 and in the current period Two LEADER-Projects from the LAG Göttinger Land - The Bioenergy-Villages - Friedland-Garden The LEADER Reality LEADER in the EAFRD-Frame The LEADER Characteristics Chances - Requirements - Perspectives Conclusion

From 13 to 321 LEADER in Germany since 1991 Number of LAGs in Germany Funding 2014 - 2020: 12 % of EAFRD ≈ 1.133 Billion € (EU-Funding)

LEADER 2014–2020: Number of LAGs in the Federal States EAFRD and LEADER 2014 – 2020 in Germany 21 14 13 Regional Development Programmes (RDPs) 13 very different regulations e.g. LAG-Budget varies from 1.5 to 30 Mio. € / LAG in some States LEADER covers the complete rural area 41 23 14 28 30 15 24 20 LEADER 2014–2020: Number of LAGs in the Federal States 4 18 68

LEADER-Project “Bioenergy-Villages” The Concept Waste Heat ≈ ca. 40% Electricity Village-Heat-Grid Heat Biomass Generator Engine Heat-Facility Plant Gas Wood Heat 5

LEADER-Project “Bioenergy-Villages” The part of LEADER: initiating the project management and networking financing: subsidies for the feasibility studies: LEADER+ subsidies for investment: LEADER 2007-2013 Positive effects: decreasing of fossil fuel consumption generating local Income rising the value of the houses in the village strengthening self-confidence of the village people Very high level of participation Result: 4 more Bioenergy-villages 12 million € ≈430 houses connected

Transit Camp Friedland Necessary requirement: high level of participation The village of Friedland has a long history as a welcome point called “Gateway to Freedom” for more than 4 million people who came (back) to Germany: Prisoners of war after 1945 German emigrants from Eastern Europe (Russia) Refugees

No matter what age and nationality, everyone can participate in FriedlandGarten. Native inhabitants of Friedland as well as inhabitants of the transit camp are invited to play a part in the community garden.

Together the people take care of the plants and get to know each other while working.

FriedlandGarten is not only a place for work FriedlandGarten is not only a place for work. It’s a place for everyone to meet, learn about our nature and to celebrate and enjoy what has been harvested together.

The LEADER Reality LEADER in the EAFRD-Frame EAFRD-Reset Paper of the Saxon State Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture

EAFRD-Reset Paper of the Saxon State Ministry of the Environment and Agriculture „The second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy has run into a bureaucratic dead-end.“

Risk Atmosphere of Fear and Mistrust EU-Level Commission The regulations get more and more complicated and produce a dramatic rise of bureaucratic expenditure EU-Level Commission It is nearly impossible to keep an overview and comply with all regulations National Level Paying Agency All levels fear of the control system and following sanctions The financial risk is eventually passed down from the upper levels to the beneficiary National Level Authorisation Authority Private beneficiaries withdraw from their application, because of the tremendous expenditure, the responsibility and risk, they have to bear! Beneficiary

What LEADER should provide What LEADER is the only participative funding method which can motivate and activate local people to find local solutions for their specific needs What LEADER should provide Space and resources to support local strategies and local activities with new creative ideas for a better and sustainable life in rural areas What LEADER needs (after 2020) Trust and courage to give responsibility for strategy and implementation to the local level (LAG) without excessive bureaucratic demands and unbearable financial risks for the LAG and the beneficiaries

Let’s strengthen LEADER! Our villages and the people in our rural areas are worth to campaign for them. Let’s strengthen LEADER! German LEADER Association (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der LEADER-Aktionsgruppen e.V., BAG LAG) c/o LEADER-Regionalmanagement Göttinger Land Dr. Hartmut Berndt Reinhäuser Landstraße 4 - D-37083 Göttingen  0049 551 52 52 422 - hartmut.berndt@baglag.de