1. LEADER in Hungary New Hungary Rural Development Program 2007-2013 Rural Leaders Autumn Workshop „Adult Education for Rural Development – Inspirations from Europe” 08. 11. 2009 Starbienino, Poland Dr. Pal Hajas (Euragro, Kozárd, Hungary) Inspired Rural Development

2. Background Experience in „experimental” LEADER in Hungary Few selected areas in 2003: 16 RD Communities approved Small resources, few projects based on municipalities’ participation Poor LEADER identity 2004: Birth of the Hungarian LEADER Alliance, an NGO in RD.

3. Inspired Rural Development Background Experience in LEADER+ in Hungary Fast Preparation in 2005: 70 LAGs approved with high Government influence. In rush campaign, LEADER+ became part of the AVOP (Agricultural and Rural Development Operative Programme) … and lost it’s identity Good initiative with low level of professional freedom in Group formation, designing and planning.

4. Inspired Rural Development Background Experience in LEADER+ in Hungary Heavily centralized measures introduced in project tendering and application Extremely difficult, complicate and anti-LEADER style process in project implementation and long delayed payment to beneficiaries. Frustrated beneficiaries, disappointed coordinators

5. Inspired Rural Development Preparation New RD and LEADER cycle in Hungary: 2007- 2013 Great enthousiasm for RD Community formation and double-triple expansion of networked communities and population RD and LEADER funds supposed to be 6-10 times higher than the present LEADER Plus budget (3-5 Million Euros/LAG) Hope in a democratic and professional planning process.

6. Inspired Rural Development Preparation New RD and LEADER cycle in Hungary: 2007- 2013 The Government imposed a centralised RD Office Network above rural communities in 2007 The Government invented a software-based centralized planning process in 2007 The RD strategic planning is a buerocratic nightmare for rural and planners: forcefully imposed and inappropriate centralized database lead to wrong conclusions

7. Inspired Rural Development Preparation New RD and LEADER cycle in Hungary: 2007- 2013 All 96 LAGs have been approved on 26-09-2009 Narrow avenue for local communities in strategic planning Axis III. Project application closed on 12.01.2009 Axis IV: Open since 1 October 2009 Super-centralized role of the Ministry and the Paying Agency - LAGs ha no or little autonomy

8. Cserhatalja RD Community and LEADER LAG Nograd County North Hungary 60-80 Km from Budapest

9. Cserhatalja LAG (Nonprofit Ltd.) State of RD and LEADER planning in Kozard Area: The RD Community has been formed in December 2007 with 114 members: 25 villages and 1 small town, 35,000 population (15 villages and 14,500 population in LEADER+) Nearly equal 1/3-1/3-1/3 share of public, private and civil stakeholders

10. Cserhatalja LAG Priorities and Measures: Foster local and regional economic development and improvement of local employment Facilitate agriculture and rural industrial development, support services, environment and water management and support SMEs in technological improvementFacilitate agriculture and rural industrial development, support services, environment and water management and support SMEs in technological improvement Encourage local processing of food productsEncourage local processing of food products Support better use of natural resources, forestry, biomass utilisation and wildlife managementSupport better use of natural resources, forestry, biomass utilisation and wildlife management Support biodiversity and organic agricultureSupport biodiversity and organic agriculture Facilitate development of rural information systemsFacilitate development of rural information systems

11. Cserhatalja LAG Priorities and Measures: Improve local livelihood and quality of rural life Improvement of availability and access to basic rural servicesImprovement of availability and access to basic rural services Facilitate conditions for healthy lifestyleFacilitate conditions for healthy lifestyle Strengthen cohesion within and among rural communities and reinforce ties of young people to their rural living spaceStrengthen cohesion within and among rural communities and reinforce ties of young people to their rural living space Preservation of local architectural and cultural heritage and promote rural artPreservation of local architectural and cultural heritage and promote rural art Promote and further develop cultural, sport and outdoor recreational activitiesPromote and further develop cultural, sport and outdoor recreational activities

12. Cserhatalja LAG Priorities and Measures: Human resource development and strengthening local social capital Develop basic and technical knowledge for local population through formal and non-formal educationDevelop basic and technical knowledge for local population through formal and non-formal education Promote sustainable forms of local community and sub-sectoral cooperationsPromote sustainable forms of local community and sub-sectoral cooperations Improve environmental sensitivityImprove environmental sensitivity Facilitate equal opportunity for underpriviledged groupsFacilitate equal opportunity for underpriviledged groups

13. Cserhatalja LAG Priorities and Measures: Develop rural tourism, hospitality and associated services Promote environment-friendly rural tourism forms, i.e. eco-tourism, green ways, and encourage development of innovative tourism productsPromote environment-friendly rural tourism forms, i.e. eco-tourism, green ways, and encourage development of innovative tourism products Develop local and regional tourism information services and support better access of stakeholders to tourism marketingDevelop local and regional tourism information services and support better access of stakeholders to tourism marketing Coordinate local and regional tourism activities and synchcronization with strategic development plansCoordinate local and regional tourism activities and synchcronization with strategic development plans Support development of cultural, gastronomy, wine and festival tourismSupport development of cultural, gastronomy, wine and festival tourism

14. Cserhatalja LAG Priorities and Measures: Support development of regional marketing Elaborate regional strengths and opportinities and create region’s image in order to achieve better regional identityElaborate regional strengths and opportinities and create region’s image in order to achieve better regional identity Undertake territorial, products and services marketingUndertake territorial, products and services marketing Encourage investment to primary sectors (agriculture, fruit, dairy, meat, local industries and services, tourism, etc.)Encourage investment to primary sectors (agriculture, fruit, dairy, meat, local industries and services, tourism, etc.)

15. Cserhatalja LAG Priorities and Measures: Facilitate inter-territorial and transnational cooperation Promote public, private and civil societies participation in wider cooperation with communities within the countryPromote public, private and civil societies participation in wider cooperation with communities within the country Promote transnational cooperation in selected priority areas and exchage of experiences, goods and servicesPromote transnational cooperation in selected priority areas and exchage of experiences, goods and services Facilitate access to good practicesFacilitate access to good practices

16. Cserhatalja LAG Transnational Project Areas: Better use of natural resources in rural areas Develop cooperation in innovative forest and wildlife managementDevelop cooperation in innovative forest and wildlife management Promote water harvesting projectsPromote water harvesting projects Develop new forms of eco-friendly tourism, sport and recreation activitiesDevelop new forms of eco-friendly tourism, sport and recreation activities Develop project for Maria Spiritual Pilgrimage TrailDevelop project for Maria Spiritual Pilgrimage Trail Develop biodiversity conservation projects in harmony with EU RD plans (Axis 2 in particular)Develop biodiversity conservation projects in harmony with EU RD plans (Axis 2 in particular)

17. Cserhatalja LAG Transnational Project Areas: Promote local processing of food products Diversify farmers household activities in promoting traditional food processingDiversify farmers household activities in promoting traditional food processing Organize regional farmers product sales pointsOrganize regional farmers product sales points Develop local product exchanges among cooperating project partnersDevelop local product exchanges among cooperating project partners Better use of indigenous plants and rare breeds for local products in traditional gastronomy and rural tourismBetter use of indigenous plants and rare breeds for local products in traditional gastronomy and rural tourism

18. Cserhatalja LAG Transnational Project Areas: Preparation of village development plans Implement active and forward looking rural development programs through village development planningImplement active and forward looking rural development programs through village development planning Acquire guidance in VDP process from experienced LEADER communities of LEADER Plus periodAcquire guidance in VDP process from experienced LEADER communities of LEADER Plus period

19. Cserhatalja LAG Transnational Project Areas: Develop cultural routes for better protection of folklore and cultural heritage Identify cultural routes for boosting regional tourismIdentify cultural routes for boosting regional tourism Select sites for „Land Art” conceptSelect sites for „Land Art” concept Organize folklore events, cultural festivals for young people.Organize folklore events, cultural festivals for young people.

20. Cserhatalja LAG Transnational Project Areas: Agreed Trans-European Tourism Project: „Along Birds’ Routes” Identify routes from North to South, like the migratory birds commuteIdentify routes from North to South, like the migratory birds commute Objective: connect people and boost regional tourismObjective: connect people and boost regional tourism Select sites for „ornitological” tourismSelect sites for „ornitological” tourism Organize folklore events, cultural festivals for young people.Organize folklore events, cultural festivals for young people. Promote rural gastronomy and local product marketPromote rural gastronomy and local product market

21. Cserhatalja LAG Transnational Project Areas: Agreed Trans-European Tourism Project: „Along Birds’ Routes” Interested countries: Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Spain,PortugalInterested countries: Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Spain,Portugal Possibility for 3 sub-projects:Possibility for 3 sub-projects: North Europe to S-West Europe (Spain-Portugal)North Europe to S-West Europe (Spain-Portugal) North Europe to S-Europe (Slovenia-Italy)North Europe to S-Europe (Slovenia-Italy) North-Europe to S-East Europe (Bulgaria-Greece)North-Europe to S-East Europe (Bulgaria-Greece)

22. Cserhatalja LAG Regional LEADER Day and Transnational Project Meeting Date: 18-19. 09. 2009 Venue: Kozard Apple Valley, Hungary Theme: Local Products, gastronomy and folklore show

23. 2. European LEADER EXPO Trans-European LEADER Festival, Products, Tourism and Cultural Fair March 2010, Budapest Organized by: Hungarian LEADER Alliance ELARD Support: Ministry of Agriculture and RD, Hungary

24. Cserhatalja LAG Contact: Dr. Pal Hajas, Chairman Mr. Jozsef Kodak, Director Ms. Monika Tabori, Manager assistant 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 Thank you!