1. Guidelines for the administration of axis 4 LEADER 17th July 2014, Nitra Mgr. Veronika Korčeková, MA Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic

2. Content of the presentation 1.Introduction 2.Characteristics of LAG 3.The selection of LAGs 4.Skills acquisition, animation (Measure 3.5) 5.Implementation of LDS (Measure 4.1) 6.Cooperation projects (Measure 4.2) 7.Running of LAGs (Measure 4.3) 2

3. Abbreviations RDP - rural development programme LAG – local action group LDS – local development strategy MA – managing authority PA – paying agency 3

4. 1. Introduction Guidelines for the administration of Axis 4 LEADER approved on 10 April 2008 14 amendments, most recent 2nd June 2014 reasons - legislative changes, various additions, clarifications of information and procedures 15 chapters and 19 annexes 4

5. 1. Introduction Overview of chapters Chapters no. 1, 2, 3 - general conditions concerning LAGs Chapters no. 4, 5, 6 and 7 – description of individual measures: - Measure 3.5 Skills acquisition, animation and implementation of LDS - Measure 4.1 Implementation of LDS - Measure 4.2 Implementation of cooperation projects - Measure 4.3 Running costs of LAGs Chapter no. 8 – projects´ evaluation and selection procedure Chapters no. 9, 10, 11 - the payments, control and monitoring system Chapters no. 12, 13, 14, 15 – changes of LDS, guidance for public procurement, definitions Annexes: outline of LDS, the selection criteria of LDS, measures implemented under Axis 4, forms of calls, contracts, declarations, limits for eligible costs etc. 5

6. 2. Characteristics of LAG Legal form of LAG -civic association under Law 83/1990. An association is established through the registration by the Ministry of Interior. The structure of the LAG - LAG is a public-private partnership, where the decision-making bodies must be representatives of the public sector (max. 50% of the total votes). LAG is composed of the following bodies: The supreme body The executive body The statutory body The supervisory body 6

7. 2. Characteristics of LAG The Supreme body - composed of all members of the association The Executive body - "LAG Management" The Statutory body – president of LAG The Supervisory body - e.g. Review Commission 7

8. 3. The selection of LAGs Two calls: - 1st on 4 April 2008, 15 LAGs approved - 2nd on 30 October 2009, 14 LAG approved Evaluation and selection procedure: 1. Administrative control a. Formal check b. Eligibility check 2. The selection committee of MA a. Evaluation by external evaluators b. The approval process by the selection committee 8

9. 3. The selection of LAGs LAG eligibility criteria (objective selection criteria) territory of the Slovak Republic 50% rule legal form and mandatory bodies population 10,000 - 150,000 inhabitants municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants are not supported contiguous rural territory existence od LDS evidence of the formation of the LAG territory LAG members placement innovative approaches 9

10. 3. The selection of LAGs Qualitative assessment of individual parts of the strategy partnership building evaluation of the analytical part assessment of the strategic framework evaluation of the implementation framework participation of women, young people under 30 years old, farmers and marginalized groups monitoring and evaluation cooperation projects rurality of the area 10

11. 3. The selection of LAGs Results of the selection process - 29 LAGs, equally distributed in each county 11

12. 3. The selection of LAGs Basic data on LAGs Profile of average LAG in SK The supreme body of the LAG operates a total of more than 1,100 members representing public entities and private and civil sector 12 Nr. of LAGs Nr. of munici palities % of municipal ities of SK Nr. of inhabita nts of LAGs %. of inhabitants of SK in LAGs Area of LAGs (km2) % of area of SK 2954318,8617 63311,449 023,5918,4 Nr. of inhabitantsArea covered km2 Population density inh./km2 21 298311,278,96

13. 4. Skills acquisition, animation (Measure 3.5) -Capacity buiding, activation of citizens, preparation of strategies before the selection of LAGs -Activities: informing about the region, informing, propagation -Call annnounced on 2nd May 2008, application were received until end of July 2008 -16 public-private partnerships applied -13 projects were approved, 844 227,- EUR 13

14. 5. Implementation of LDS (Measure 4.1) Strategies are implemented through projects under various measures defined in LDS The procedure for selecting projects: -Announcement of calls -Receiving of applications in LAG -Check at the LAG level -Check at the PA level 14

15. 5. Implementation of LDS (Measure 4.1) a) Announcement of calls - done by the LAG b) Receiving of applications in LAG - done by the LAG c) Check at the LAG level - Formal check- LAG manager -Project selection- Selection committee d) Check at the PA level - Administrative check, making official decision, signing contracts, payments 15

16. 5. Implementation of LDS (Measure 4.1) During the project implementation: - requests for payment to the PA by beneficiary - check on the spot and transfering payments by PA - monitoring report of the projects at the final payment by beneficiary Eligible activities and costs 3.1 Diversification into non-agricultural activities = M311 3.2 Encouragement of rural tourism = M313 3.3 Trainings and information activities = M331 3.4 Group actions: the renovation and development of villages, infrustructure and services 3.4.1 Basic services for the rural population = M321 3.4.2 Renovation and development of villages = M322 Annex no. 6 to Guidelines 16

17. 6. Cooperation projects (Measure 4.2) cooperation, innovation, knowledge exchange and transfer from the LEADER approach Via Measures of Axis 3 of the RDP 2 types of the cooperation: - Inter-territorial cooperation - Transnational cooperation (TNC) 17

18. 6. Cooperation projects (Measure 4.2) Role of LAGs: - coordinating LAG/ coordinator LAG Slovakia, project partner General rules - at least one LAG, open to public-private partnerships -implementation of a joint action by each partner -outcomes are publicly available -TNC -LAGs are applying rules from the RDP of their country, -MA communicate to the EC approved projects 18

19. 6. Cooperation projects (Measure 4.2) Activities – Joint marketing of LEADER groups in various regions – Protection of the common cultural heritage – Capacity building – Running costs and administration related to the project 19

20. 6. Cooperation projects (Measure 4.2) Administration on the measure Announcement of calls – Calls were announced in November 2010, april 2011, december 2011 and may 2013 – Calls were time limited, project applications were received in the certain dates Selection of the projects – Done by the PA for both inter-territorial projects and TNC – Selection criteria – annex no. 15 54 projects so far (25 Inter-territorial, 29 TNC) TNC with Czech republic, Hungary, Poland, France 20

21. 6. Cooperation projects (Measure 4.2) Eligible costs – At two stages: – Stage 1: For the preparation and coordinating work – Stage 2: For the realisation of the project – Categories of expenditures: – Running of the LAG and administrative activity – External expenditures – Internal expenditures – Personal expenditures (Stage 1) – Travel costs, diets, accommodation – Coordination of the joint project`s realisation (Stage 2) – Implementation of the activities from the axis 3 (Stage 2) 21

22. 7. Running of LAGs (Measure 4.3) Eligible activities – Running of the LAG office – Administrative activities – Creating LDS – Studies and analysis aimed at updating LDS – Promotion activities and informing – Monitoring and regular evaluation – Keeping of the documentation – Trainings, conferences, seminars, workshops for the members of the LAG Management and LAG members – Capacity building of the LAG 22

23. 7. Running of LAGs (Measure 4.3) Eligible costs 2 types: – Running costs and administrative expenditures – Costs related to capacity building (minimum 15 % of the measure budget) Costs for this measure are eligible for the support within a limit of 20 % of the total public expenditure of the LDS 23

24. Last but not least... Public procurement – Governed by the law no.25/2006 – More detailed info in annex no.17 Control – Administrative checks – Control on the spot Monitoring – monitoring reports by the final request for payment 24

25. Thank you for your attention! veronika.korcekova@land.gov.sk