1. The LEADER in Europe- The LEADER in Hungary Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary 2007-2013/2015 Kozard, Hungary, 29. 07. 2010. Dr. Pal Hajas & Tamas Bakallar (Cserhátalja LEADER LAG)

2. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary, 2007- 2013/2015 Location:

3. LEADER+: 2005-2006:South-Cserhat, 15 villages, 14,500 LEADER: 2007-2010:Cserhatalja 25 villages and 1 Town, 34,500 inhabitants Paszto microregion: 1 LAG Nograd county: 3 LAGs (plus one…) North Hungary region: 19 LAGs Hungary: 96 LAGs Europe: 2200>> 2400 LAGs

4. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary First proposal: June 2007 by municipalities, 15 mayors Organizational aim: 30-40 villages, 50,000 people Reality: 114 members, 1/3-1/3-1/3 public-civil- commercial. Format: Nonprofit Ltd. 12 shareholder community, 12 shares (1,200,000 Forints) Individual share: EUR 40.00 Other form: Association, annual membership fee. In Hungary: 40% Nonprofit Ltd., 60% Association Cserhatalja: Submitted to County Court: 30 May 2008.

5. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Preparation of Rural Development Strategy: September 2007-May 2008 (Euragro Team) Submitted to the Managing Authority: 31 May 2008 Court approval of the Company: 01.08.2008 Ministry Approval of LAG: 26.09.2008 Start-up date: 15 October 2008 Eligibility for cost coverage by EU: 1 October 2008

6. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary LAG Budget: Axis III: EUR 2,362,490 + Mgmt:EUR 416,910 Axis IV: EUR 1,044,168 + Mgmt: EUR 267,195 2008-2013 + 2 years: 2015 Management fee: 15% Axis III + 20% Axis IV. Staff cost: 74% Material, equipment, other: 26%

7. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Legal site and Office address are different. Legal site: Paszto (10,000 population) Office: Kozard (180 population) Staff: 1 LEADER manager (Overall LEADER Coordinator)1 LEADER manager (Overall LEADER Coordinator) 1 LEADER Assistant (Administration, Networking)1 LEADER Assistant (Administration, Networking) +1 LEADER Assistant from February 2009 (Field Officer)+1 LEADER Assistant from February 2009 (Field Officer) +1 Director from June 2009+1 Director from June 2009 +1 LEADER Assistant (Tourism) from July 2009+1 LEADER Assistant (Tourism) from July 2009 +2 LEADER Project Managers from July 2009+2 LEADER Project Managers from July 2009

8. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Office facility: 80 sq m office, fully furnished, equipped with safety- security devices (accredited by the Paying Agency) LAN, 4 desktops PC, 5 notebooks, 2 printers, 2 scanners, other mail registration ADSL + WiFi Approved access to National IIER database. ISDN phone-fax, 6 cellular phones in a network No car

9. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary LAG Forums and Official bodies: Assembly: Twice a year (one is an extended for all members) Project decision making board: 12 members, elected by the Assembly for 5 years Supervisory committee: 5 members, elected by the Assembly for 5 years Chairman/Director: elected by the Assembly for 5years 12 shareholders community: their elected leaders form the Presidium. Suggested meeting 2-3 per year Contact with members: Village Forums, Community events, Newsletters, approx. 10 per year

10. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary LAG Communication: Personal Email and website: www.cserhatalja.eu www.cserhatalja.eu Printed matters, leaflets, occasional flyers Newsletter: electronic Articles in regional and national media Advertisements

11. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Mobilisation of LAG members: Attendance to regional and village festivals Farmers with local products Local artists and crafts Tradition and folk groups (singing, dancing) Gastronomy events, Festivals Regional and national tourism fairs

12. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Eligibility Natural persons, their associations Public bodies, their associations, civil organizations, commercial companies, churches. Local residents Legal site or affiliate sites registered in the LAG territory

13. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Eligibility for payment: Payment request submitted within time limit Proper accounting report Original, confirmed financial documents on eligible cost Evaluation Team’s approval Clean tax record

14. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Specialities: LAGs relation to the Managing Authority MA is controlling the entire process Ready to elevate, promote but also to punish LAGs with deducting their entitlements! No real harmony, too much politics involved MA is not familiar with the requirements of rural communities

15. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Specialities: LAGs relation to the Paying Agency PA is unfriendly, dominant power, challenging partners, distance 200 km. Not helpful, but looking for reasons to cause discomfort to LAGs Extremely buerocratic, slow Not having any understanding with rural beneficiaries’ problems

16. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Specialities: Both the MA and PA are frequently politically motivated Their staff is selected by „friendly connections” instead of professional conduct Multilayer effect: LAGs should „satisfy” the local Rural Development Office and the Regional Coordinator, appointed by the MA.

17. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Difficulties: LAGs are obliged to borrow money for their operational activities, interest rates: 10-13%! Loans repaid when PA clear the operational cost payment, generally after 6 months Interest cost and bank charges are non-eligible costs for reimbursement! Members are reluctant to cover interest and non-eligible costs.

18. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Difficulties: All forms are published in protected Adobe pdf, hence an average beneficiary is unable to handle! Form filling software costs cca. 350 Euros. All data accessible through internet only

19. The LEADER in Europe - Cserhatalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary

20. LEADER process biggest problems MA and PA disrespects beneficiaries and rural communities Suspect all stakeholders and applicants Suspect all LAG actions

21. LEADER Transnational Cooperation Projects and Project Proposals Along Birds’ Routes: Ecotourism and Rural culture CULTRURAL: International exchange programs entrepreneurs in the fields of foods, tourism and culture, and village associations International market for regional products: Organization of international markets for regional products. Exchange of knowledge and experience regarding regional products

22. Along Birds’ Routes Theme: Ecotourism, rural culture, nature and biodiversity Cultural exchange program Lead Partner/Coordinator: Cserhátalja LAG, Kozard, Hungary Potential LAGs: Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Poland, Netherland, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia

23. CULTRURAL CULTRURAL

24. Theme Cultural exchange program in the the fields of foods, tourism and culture, and village associations Target Group The target group of the project consists of the current and future entrepreneurs in the fields of foods, tourism and culture, and village associations located in the LAG areas.

25. Project Goals Project Goal: Promote learning by doing. The aim of the project is to promote learning: by cooperation, comparison and doing. The project offers entrepreneurs tools for professional growth, networking, and for creating new products

26. Partners Lead Partners / Coordination: Lead Partners / Coordination: KKTM LAG and the Union for Rural Education and Culture (MSL) from Finland. Submitted Letter of Intent: Submitted Letter of Intent: Cserhatalja LAG, Abaúj LAG, Borsod Torna Gömör Mente LAG Trakai LAG from Lithuania Possible potential partners Possible potential partners Montagna LAG from Italy Agentura pre rozvoj Gemera from Slovakia

27. Expected results Entrepreneurs will benefit from each others’ skills and experiences and form local networks. Entrepreneurs will benefit from each others’ skills and experiences and form local networks. Cooperation with the European Leader groups will enable the formation of international networks. Cooperation with the European Leader groups will enable the formation of international networks. Cooperation strengthens the entrepreneurs’ working ability, sense of community and European identity and adds high level of quality of their products. Cooperation strengthens the entrepreneurs’ working ability, sense of community and European identity and adds high level of quality of their products.

28. Budget and Duration Estimated total budget: 150.000 EUR (VAT included) Estimated total budget: 150.000 EUR (VAT included) Project Duration: 29 month Project Duration: 29 month Costs include: travel expenses, experts, purchased services, marketing and promotion costs (mostly printing). Costs include: travel expenses, experts, purchased services, marketing and promotion costs (mostly printing). Also includes: administration, project monitoring and project evaluation. Also includes: administration, project monitoring and project evaluation.

29. International market for regional products International market for regional products

30. Theme: promotion of local and regional products on a national and international scale. Target Group(s): LEADER areas in Europe which are involved with regional products LEADER areas in Europe which are involved with regional products Producers of regional products in Twente and other LEADER areas Producers of regional products in Twente and other LEADER areas Prospective buyers of regional products Prospective buyers of regional products Tourists in the respective LEADER areas Tourists in the respective LEADER areas

31. Project priorities Priorities and objectives Organize one or more international markets for regional products. Organize one or more international markets for regional products. Exchange of knowledge and experience regarding regional products is the second spearhead. Exchange of knowledge and experience regarding regional products is the second spearhead.

32. Partners Lead Partners / Coordination: Lead Partners / Coordination: LAG Zuid Twente from the Netherlands Submitted Letter of Intent: Submitted Letter of Intent: Cserhatalja LAG and Abaúj LAG Potential partners from: Potential partners from: Estonia, Belgium, France, Greece, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Spain

33. Implementation and expected results The proposed activities and expected results are: 4 exchange opportunities between collaborating LAGs, producers and key actors involved 4 exchange opportunities between collaborating LAGs, producers and key actors involved 3 international markets in different LEADER regions 3 international markets in different LEADER regions Identification of logistic arrangement that are required Identification of logistic arrangement that are required List of prospective participants (producers) per LEADER area and list of products to be exchanged List of prospective participants (producers) per LEADER area and list of products to be exchanged Develop methods to interactively exchange knowledge and experience between producers / LAG's Develop methods to interactively exchange knowledge and experience between producers / LAG's Increase attention of international media for regional products Increase attention of international media for regional products An overview of various opportunities to exchange products between farmers An overview of various opportunities to exchange products between farmers Draw up a business plan for the organization of international markets for regional products Draw up a business plan for the organization of international markets for regional products Collect, process and disseminate information. Collect, process and disseminate information.

34. Budget and Duration Estimated total budget: € 190.995 (VAT included) Estimated total budget: € 190.995 (VAT included) Project Duration: approx. 24 month Project Duration: approx. 24 month Costs include: travel expenses, experts, purchased services, marketing and promotion costs (mostly printing), organization of market days Costs include: travel expenses, experts, purchased services, marketing and promotion costs (mostly printing), organization of market days Also includes: administration, project monitoring and project evaluation. Also includes: administration, project monitoring and project evaluation.

35. Cserhátalja LEADER Nonprofit Kft. Dr. Pal Hajas, Chairman/Director Mr. Jozsef Kodak, Director Mr. Tamas Bakallar, LEADER Manager assistant Külterület 095. Kozard, Hungary, H-3053 Tel: +36-30-718-0912, Fax: +36-32-491-076 E-mail: info@cserhatalja.eu info@cserhatalja.eu Web: www.cserhatalja.eu www.cserhatalja.eu