Contact Day – Flemish Rural Network22 April 2008, Brussels

The added value of Cooperation under Leader+

Martin Law, Team Leader, Leader+ Observatory Contact Point

European Commission

The European Leader+ Website http://ec.europa.eu/leaderplus

Main menu: Contact details of all Leader+ actors (in ‘Who’s who’) Documents of the European Leader+ events Leader+ country data sheets Publications in pdf-format (Magazine and Flash News) Publication materials/communication package Library / Archives / FAQ etc.

Interactive Tools:

Monitoring Indicators database Leader+ Infobank LAG Database Database of transnational cooperation projects Partner Search Tool: Instrument for encouraging transnational cooperation European database of Leader+ good practices Leader Competence Pool Events calendar Subscription form for publications

Number of LAGs under Leader+

Number of Leader+ LAGs per Member State (Total of 1 153)

149148 145140133

7057 56 52

4028 25 22 20 17 12 12 10 10 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Member State

Nu

mb

er

of

L+

LA

Gs

Selected theme under Leader+

Natural and cultural resources most popular – 34%

New know-how and new technologies least popular – 13%

Themes chosen by all LAGs

13%

30%23%

34%

Use of new know-howand new technologies

Improving the quality oflife in rural areas

Adding value to localproducts

Best use of natural andcultural resources

Transnational cooperation under Leader+(based on data from January 2008)

Total of 383 registered projects

Origin of projects ?

The highest numbers of projects are coming from:

UK (15%) France (15 %) Finland (12 %) Germany (12 %) Italy (11 %)

*concerns projects where a national LAG is a lead partner

Number of all registered TCP per MS*

56

55

48

45

41

37

29

27

11

10

9

7

4

3

1

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

UK

FR

FI

DE

IT

ES

IE

PT

AT

SW

DK

BE

NL

GR

LU

Me

mb

er

Sta

te

Number of projects

Transnational cooperation under Leader+(based on data as at 1 January 2008)

LAGs’ involvement in the leadership:

The most active LAGs:Ireland, Sweden, Finland and UK

Why?

Share of national LAGs* involved in TNP as Lead partner

60%58%

40%

33%30% 29%

26% 25%23%

19%17%

13% 12% 11%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

IE SW FI UK BE PT FR LU IT ES DK AT DE NL GR

M ember State

Sh

are

of

nat

ion

al L

AG

s (%

)

Transnational cooperation under Leader+

Who are the partners?:

At least 464 LAGs are involved in cooperation, with an average 4 per project

Approximately 15% of them are not Leader+ LAGs: LAGs financed under previous Leader programmes Partnerships financed under national programmes (PRODER, POMO)

Other bodies involved in the cooperation: Tourism and development agencies, associations (environmental,

educational, heritage), local and regional authorities, universities and research institutes.

Transnational cooperation under Leader+

Where do the partners come from?

All EU-15 MS

New Member states: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus and Romania

Azerbajdjan, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, Lebanon, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Morocco, Mozambique, Norway, Switzerland, Russia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey etc…

Transnational cooperation under Leader+

On which themes do they cooperate?

Predominant theme: best use of natural and cultural resources

Two next most popular themes chosen: quality of life, use of new know-how and new technologies

Least popular: adding value to local products

Themes chosen for all TCP

21%

26%17%

36%

Use of new know-how andnew technologies

Improving the quality of life inrural areas

Adding value to local products

Best use of natural andcultural resources

Transnational cooperation under Leader+:comparison between LAG theme and TCP theme

Natural and cultural resources is most popular in both cases

Use of new know-how and new technologies is more popular when part of a TCP – Why?

Themes chosen

18%

28%

15%

39%

13%

30%

23%

34%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Use of newknow-howand new

technologies

Improving thequality of lifein rural areas

Adding valueto local

products

Best use ofnatural and

culturalresources

Themes chosenfor TCP

Themes chosenby all LAGs

Transnational cooperation with NMS under Leader: the challenges

LAG selection procedures have been terminated only recently in 3 NMS (PL, LV, EST), 4 other NMS (CY, SK, SL, MT) do not provide financial support for cooperation at all

Very short time for implementation of projects

Low budget assigned per LAG

Little previous experience

Structures which could assist are still under development

Transnational cooperation under Leader+EU-15: some examples

Magazine 2: Austria + Germany: Training for cultural guides and regional museum management. 3 LAGs

Important project aspects:- Strong basis for cooperation based on linking history and culture with

tourism and employment - Visit to Italy where similar project already implemented- Clarification of approval procedures at national level- Agreement of leading LAG and its financial role- Agreement between LAGs re. areas of competence and responsibility- Understanding of need to prepare for market entry: publicity materials,

web-site etc.

Provides a sustainable basis for future cooperation and a ‘best practise’ example

Transnational cooperation under Leader+EU-15: some examples

Magazine 3: France + Germany: EURO LAND ART: 2 LAGs

Important aspects:- Common project idea provides the regions with a modern and

creative image- Idea developed together: importance of setting up early

meetings project goals, and a clear steps and responsibilities- Need for site visits in both regions and adapt the project to

reflect the different cultural differences: common branding on marketing materials; publicity for each partner in each country

- Create awareness by showing both differences and similarities of each region by involving local actors: chefs; writers; and naturalists etc.

- Project served two regions with very similar: languages; culture; natural resources and economic needs.

- Evaluation and general analysis to decide to continue

Transnational cooperation under Leader+EU-15: some examples

Magazine 4: France + Spain: GRUS: ornithological tourism network: 15 LAGs (incl. non-Leader+)

Important aspects:- Based on a Leader II project: but a more focussed target group- Based on common zones of special interests: awareness of

nature conservation required for all participating LAGs- Language barriers and cultural differences had to be overcome- Development of: common tourist packages/management

systems to be later adapted for different sites- Exploitation of new technologies for common use

Cooperation and networking

Successful lessons from past project experiences

Putting people in touch with each other (communication, during events, through technology)

Many documents, publications, guidelines & presentations available which record best practices

Partner-search tools, seminars and transnational support programmes

Advisers and key experts who can provide help and advice.

Cooperation under Leader+EU-15: lessons learned

Some of the challenges and pitfalls experienced under Leader+ Be prepared: make sure you understand a common language and appreciate

cultural differences Take time to explore the project idea and understand what is involved: take

advantage of any funds for preparatory work; in some MS Leader funds are available for pre-development of projects

Don’t underestimate the time needed to do certain things Be aware of technical (programming) differences with regard to national

procedures and timing! Have a very clear structure and clear responsibilities between the different

partners – leading LAG very important if more than 2 partners Don’t set too ambitious targets – project can be done in several phases Don’t reinvent the wheel! Look to see what already is being done in similar

areas; on similar themes, and with similar tools to achieve similar aims – Leader+ Observatory: databases on web-site, Magazine, seminars – all provide ideas and help

Conclusions

Results of networking and cooperation under Leader: More professionalism

more experience (LAGs and local actors): involved in mature projects with tangible results at different stages of development

A longer term vision (phases, greater ambition, economic turnover)

Tangible outcomes in more sectors than before: from only (nearly) tourism only to tourism + culture + craft + economy

Greater proactivity among the local actors: not only as participants but in definition, implementation and development of the projects, and therefore real bottom-up

Stronger partnerships: local, specialized partnership (women entrepreneurs, typical quality craftsmen, specific

tourism provider...) between areas involved around 1 project, then another, then another --> the spiral of

cooperation

Provides a strong platform for the benefit of all involved

Cooperation under Leader+

Dank U wel voor uw aandacht !