1. LEADER transnational projects in Finland Leena Anttila Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland
Leena Anttila/ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

2. Budget for transnational cooperation Rural Development Programme Mainland Finland
Total public funding for transnational cooperation 12 MEUR
EU 45 %
National public funding 55 % (state 35 %, municipalities 20 %)
Estimated private funding 3 MEUR
Total funding for measure 421 (transnational + interregional projects) is 24 MEUR
Total funding for LEADER 259 MEUR
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3. Themes of transnational cooperation projects
111: Vocational training and information actions
124: Cooperation for the development of new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture and food sector and in the forestry sector
311: Diversification into non-agricultural activities
312: Creation and development of micro-enterprises
313: Encouragement of tourism activities
321: Basic services for the economy and rural population
322: Village renewal and development
323: Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage
331: Training and information
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4. Maximum level of support
Public amenity or business development project 100%
Public amenity investment project 75% or if the applicant is a public law community 100%
Vocational training project 90% or
Vocational training or communication project 100%
Coordination project
coordination 100%
sub-projects: development 90%, investment 75%
The maximum public funding is EUR 150,000 PER Local Action Group.
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5. Application and decision-making process
TNC application submitted to the Local Action Group (when the applicant is not the LAG but another organisation)
→ LAG makes the overall assessment and a statement about application
→ Application submitted to the regional administration
→ Check on legality according to EU and national legislation OR
Application directly to the regional administration (when the LAG is the applicant)
→ overall assessment and legality check
→ Cooperation agreement (in case not done during the feasibility study)
It is possible to apply any time, no periodical calls are used!
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6. Finnish Partners in transnational projects
Partners in transnational cooperation projects may be:
Local Action Groups, municipalities, private and public law bodies (e.g. association, organisation, cooperative society, company or foundation) except of individual enterprises
Finnish partners in the transnational cooperation projects always have to recieve funding from the LAG (but the project partner does not need to be the LAG itself).
In case the LAG is a partner, assessment of the project is carried out by the regional administration.
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7. Current progress in transnational cooperation
19 transnational cooperation projects approved
48 feasibility studies ongoing
5 feasibility studies completed
All feasibility studies will not necessarily be developed to real transnational cooperation projects
Most common themes of transnational projects: involvement of young people, rural tourism, local traditions
Most common partner countries: Estonia (9) and Sweden (6)
Other partner countries in the Finnish TNC projects: Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Austria, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark.
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8. Some examples of transnational projects
"Ihana" aims at learning young people to sail with a traditional sailing boat and at the same time learn to know other cultures as well as young people from other countries.
"CULTrips" creates new concept for socio-cultural village trips in Europe by using local tourism enterprises, training local people as tourist guides as well as by exchanging ideas and experience with villages from other countries.
"Dreams and courage" aims to find new innovations and methods for local enterprises in handicrafts, natural products and rural tourism. The objective is to encourage potential enterpreneurs to make their ideas reality and find new opportunities to rural areas through transnational cooperation.
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9. Thank you for your attention!
More information at the programme website:
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