Realities and Opportunities How LEADER contributes to Rural Development in the CEE Region? LEADER France General Assembly 8 June 2011, Strasbourg, France Dr. Pal Hajas,Director, LAG Cserhatalja, Hungary, Member of ELARD Council, Elected Vice President of CEE-LEADER Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

LEADER is implemented in 10 MS: Estonia (26), Latvia (43), Lithuania (51), Poland (338), Czech Republik (134), Slovakia (29), Hungary (96), Romania (80),Bulgaria (55 applicant), Slovenia (33) Under preparation in 1 Candidate country: Croatia Possibly implemented in 1 IPA country: Serbia Transnational cooperation is possible in 6 „Globally eligible” country: Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Turkey Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

LEADER is moving in 4 phases/speed: HU, PL since 2003 (experimental LEADER) HU, PL, LT, LV, EE, CZ, SK, SLO Agri-RD OP and (2015) RO, BG: 2010/ (2013) HR: 2010 – 2013 (2015) SRB: (2015) No visible progress with „globally eligible” neighbours Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

Constraints: –Great enthousiasm and high expectation at early stage –Slow progress in selection of LAGs and programme implementation –Enormous buerocracy (MA, PA) –Political ambitions in some countries –Low level national and regional organization among LAGs abd RD Communities –Little understanding in EU-West… –Importance of TNC not acknowledged Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

Identified shortcomings: 1.Eventual political (public) involvement 2.Too much interference by the MAs 3.Superdominance by the Paying Agencies 4.LAG offices act like an outposted PA day waiting time for reimbursementof operational expenses 6.Extremely long delays in launching TNC projects 7.Non-recovery of financial expenses Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

Identified success: 1.LAGs created, RD communities formed, training provided, animators trained, 2.LAG offices obtained accreditation 3.Initial networking has been done 4.Regional and transnational cooperation initiated 5.EAFRD funds (Axis III and IV) administered. 6.RD communities better prepared to work together. 7.Hopefully MAs understand better the LEADER principles Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

What should be done now? 1.More visible All-European LEADER implementation guidance to MAs and PAs! 2.Constant follow-up with national authorities to provide much more autonomy to LAGs 3.Unified procedure to control intolerable, hostile working practice of Paying Agencies 4.Accelerated Regional and Transnational Cooperation and exchange of best practices 5.Extend LEADER method and modality to related territorial development actions. Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

What do we need from partner LAGs in EU-West? 1.Active partnership and in-depth understanding of CEE LEADER situation 2.More consultation on „problems” and „solutions”, through transferring good practices 3.Support us with supplying evidences of proper relationship with MAs and PAs 4.Introduce more TNC project proposals Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

How to proceed with CEE- LEADER? 1.We are forming / proclaming CEE-LEADER Network (International Association) by 1 July 2011 in Poland 2.Members already joined / expressed interest from Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia. 3.Applying membership in ELARD Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe

Contact to CEE-LEADER 1.Registered office: Kulterulet 095., Kozard, Hungary (3053) Tel: Fax: Mobile: Sate of the Art - LEADER in Central and Eastern Europe