1. European LEADER Association for Rural Development
ELARD
European LEADER Association for Rural Development
President Kristiina Tammets

2. The ELARD network
International non-profit organization founded in 1999
Founded by 5 European national informal LEADER networks:
French LEADER Network - LEADER France
Greek LEADER Network - Eλληνικό Δίκτυο LEADER
Irish LEADER Network - Comhar LEADER na hEireann
Italian LEADER Network - AssoLEADER
Spanish LEADER Network – REDR
CZECH REPUBLIC, CROATIA, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GREECE, HUNGARY, IRELAND, ITALY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, MACEDONIA, POLAND, PORTUGAL, SCOTLAND (individual LAGs), SERBIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN
Member networks in 21 countries representing more than 1250 LAGs

4. LEADER evolution
Source: DG AGRI Provisional budget data

5. 2014-2020 Indicative allocation of budget for LEADER
Breakdown by sub-measure

6. Expected number of selected LAGs and average budget (total public)
Source: DG AGRI SFC Database

7. Comparing CLLD in ESI Funds
Total CLLD budget
(EU contribution)
No. of MS
concerned
Expected no. of
LAGs
EMFF
€ 500 M 20
300
EAFRD
€ M 28
2500
ERDF
€ M 16
Info not
available o
ESF 13
€ 700 M
Source: Information received from DGs, December 2015

8. MS planning to support multi-funded strategies
Multifunding: MS
YES:
19 MSs
ALLOWED
AT, BG, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU IT, LT, LV, PL, PT, SE, SI, SK and UK
NOT ALLOWED
BE, CY, EE, HR, IE, LU, MT NL and RO
NO:
9 MSs
Source: ENRD CP - Screening of 28 approved Partnership Agreements and sample of 26
RDPs

9. ESI Funds used to support LEADER/CLLD
Category MS 4
Multi-fund
Mono-fund
EAFRD, ERDF, ESF & EMFF
BG, DE, ES, FR, GR, IT, PL, PT, SE, UK 10
EAFRD, ERDF
& ESF
CZ, HU
EAFRD, ERDF
& EMFF SI
EAFRD, EMFF
& ESF LT 10
EAFRD &
EMFF
CY, DK, FI, LV
EE, HR, IE, RO 4
EAFRD & ERDF
AT, SK
4 Funds
3 Funds
2 Funds
1 Fund
Only EAFRD
BE, LU, NL, MT
Source: ENRD CP - Screening of 28 approved Partnership Agreements and 26 sample RDPs

10. Number of RDPs Containing Theme Innovation 16 14 11 9 8 7 6 5 3
Environment
Services (advisory, basic & availability)
Cooperation & Collective actions
Business & Entrepreneurs
Culture & Heritage
Agriculture
Tourism
Employment
Community
Food
Diversification
Social Inclusion
Forestry
Renewable Energy
Climate Change 16 14 11 9 8 7 6 5 3

11. Aims of ELARD
this is another version of the previous slide – more structured (readable?) text
campaigns to spread the philosophy, principles and reach of the LEADER method grounded in the eight specific features
…in order to achieve SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT
represents the interests and needs of local action groups in front of other international, European, and national institutions to liaise with other stakeholders and institutions
One of the most important aims of ELARD is to:
"campaign to spread the philosophy, principles and reach of the LEADER method grounded in the eight specific features in order to achieve sustainable rural development across Europe".
The association aims also to:
"represent the interests and needs of its members in front of other international, European, and national institutions to liaise with other stakeholders and institutions working towards an integrated rural development and to influence EU policies in favour of rural development".
…in order to INFLUENCE EU and national POLICIES in favour of INTEGRATED rural development

12. Activities of ELARD NETWORKING POLICY-RELATED WORK
Services and support for members
Organising trainings, seminars, events
Communication tools (website, newsletter, social media)
Cooperation with ENRD CP on tools
LEADER dissemination
Presence in Brussels (Participation to events/meetings)
Seats on EU level committees/groups
Cooperation with other EU-level NGOs
TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION PLATFORM
RUNNING AND PARTICIPATING IN PROJECTS
Exchange of good practice
Promotion of TNC
Help with partner search
Expertise; link to LEADER dissemination
Raising the revenue of the organisation
Example: ACORD Project in Bosnia,
ENPARD Georgia

13. Main aims of the Estonian presidency 2016/17,
(Portuguese and Czech vice-presidencies)
To defend the principles of the LEADER/CLLD approach in view of the development for the post 2020 period in European and national policies;
To contribute to the analysis of the multi-funded approach bringing forward the experiences of CLLD implementation;
To develop a strong platform with other EU level organisations defending Rural Development;
To strengthen ELARD members network and involve new members.

14. Presence of ELARD in committees/groups
on EU level
EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (ENRD)
Rural Networks Assembly,
Rural Networks Steering Group,
Leader/CLLD sub-group,
EIP-AGRI
Civil Dialogue Group for Rural Development (DG AGRI),
Structured Dialogue Group for the ESI Funds (DG REGIO)
Steering Group, Coordination Group
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUROPEAN RURAL PARLIAMENT (ERP)
EUROPEAN COUNTRYSIDE MOVEMENT (ECM)

15. Current key policy documents
ELARD LEADER/CLLD DECLARATION
to be developed for and at the ELARD conference in Estonia in November 2016
EUROPEAN RURAL MANIFESTO
developed at the European Rural Parliament gathering in Schärding/Austria,
November 2015
RURAL AGENDA POST 2020
an iniciative of the European Countryside Movement - draft being developed

16. Policy work - key issues 1
Territorial cohesion in different funds, programs and institutions in rural development. Holistic development involves rural-urban linkages, lager scale of involvement of people and institutions (bottom-up clusters);
Quality of the programs and the conditions having continuity considered being very important;
To assure that there are clear and visible achievements of implementing the programs. Evaluation is key issue for this period;
The role of monitoring committees is crucial to guarantee the needed amendments in RDPs to assure necessary flexibility and implementation accordance with real needs;
These are the most crucial issues that have been mentioned throughout different meetings, events

17. Policy work - key issues 2
Innovation is strong focus for this programming period. We need balanced innovative growth in the rural areas;
Possibilities for development must be equal for rural and urban areas. Urban-rural mixture, where rural areas use urban as an engine or catalyser as a good way for a growth. It is important for rural areas to ensure they make good use of the proximity of the large urban market;
Rural development is regional development that includes a more holistic approach and a stronger regional co-operation between national partners (both rural and urban) and LAGs in the same region;

18. Policy work - key issues 3
To listen to the voice from local communities regarding public services (including broadband) is extremely important as well as giving higher priority to women’s role in rural development;
To promote transnational co-operation sharing the knowledge and practice to LAGs, national networks and MAs;
Simplification (SCO) and E-governance, E-platforms for LAGs. Digital revolution gives new attributes and opportunities to rural areas;
Social cohesion and reduction of poverty are getting more important for rural areas as well as migration issues;
To make sure that there is no long gap between programming periods.

19. Involvement of members,
upcoming events
MEMBERS QUESTIONNAIRE AND ANALYSIS
June 2016, 2017
ELARD SEMINAR „CLLD – HOW DOES IT REALLY WORK?“ AT EUROPEAN WEEK OF REGIONS AND CITIES
12 October 2016 in Brussels
LEADER/CLLD CONFERENCE
22-23 November 2016 in Estonia
LEADER/CLLD WORKSHOP
Spring 2017 in Brussels
EUROPEAN RURAL PARLIAMENT ACTIVITIES
LEADER/CLLD horizontal theme

20. Kui sa tahad minna kiiresti, mine üksi,
Kui soovid minna kaugele, siis mingem koos…
If you want to go fast,
go alone….
If you want to go far, go together…

21. ELARD contact ELARD, aisbl Atrium Science Rue de la Science 14B
Brussels 1040
BELGIUM

22. Thank You!
Lõpuslaid
Kristiina Tammets