1. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Kraków, Polska December the 1st, 2005 C. Andrea Pelagallo Deputy Coordinator of the Italian Network Unit Leader+

2. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The origin of LEADER 1988, the E.C. publishes “The future of the Rural World” Rural territories at a turning point : results of the previous policies and new challenges to be fronted (pollution and intensive agriculture, growth of cities and reduction of rural population); Peculiarity of each rural territory in Europe: each areas has its potentialities and problems; Importance of rural areas (as opposite of “urban”) represent the 80% of the European land and over the 50% of the European population ; New interest in “ rural development”, as an extension of the concept of “ agricultural development”

3. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The European Commission sets up its strategy From interventions “ by sector ”, to multi-year Programmes organized “ by territory ”; from the centralized management to the decentralized management ; 1989-1993 / 1994-1999 / 2000-2006: CHANGES Different territorial programmes according to the differences among the territories ( Regional Programmes ); Promotion of the socio-economic development of rural areas, valorisation of the rural heritage, advert of local initiatives ;

4. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Main features and objectives of LEADER Creation of a European Network, to connetc the different actors of rural development; To stimulate the exchange of information within the same territory and between different areas; Dissemination of results in all territories; Implementation of pilot and demonstrative initiatives, concerning rural development in selected areas ; Creation of Local Action Groups as main actors of the rural development; Promotion of initiatives in different sectors : agriculture, handicraft, rural tourism…

5. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Advanced features METHODOLOGY METHODOLOGY Management at local level ( decentralisation ); New concept of rural integrated development (not only agricultural); Partnership Public+Private ; Creation of a Network to exchange information and disseminate the results PROCEDURES PROCEDURES AND FINANCING AND FINANCING Make LAGs responsible for their plans; Enhance national and regional coordination ; Payment in advance up to the 40% of the total;

6. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Programming and implementation of Leader+ in the territory LOCAL ACTION GROUP (LAG) SWOT analysis to define potentialities and limits within the territory Analysis of the Demand and of the Needs within the area Target setting Definition of the strategy for rural integrated development SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION OF THE AREA Natural and cultural heritage Local quality productions Rural turism Development of SMEs Professional training and HR

7. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + 3 Successful editions of the E.I. Leader in Italy

8. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Progress of the Programme in Italy

9. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Number of LAGs: 132 Area: about 160.000 km2 (over 50% of Italy) +13% compared to Leader II Population: over 10 millions (19% of the entire Italian population) Total Cost:€746,08M Total Public share:64,6% Total EU share:38,1% Leader+ in Italy

10. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Some figures of Leader+ in Italy Leader+ is implemented by four axis : 1. Integrated rural development strategies (Local development plans) ( 84,8% of total resources); 2. Support for cooperation ( 11,6% of total resources); 3. Networking ( 1,5% of total resources) ; 4. Managing and technical assistance ( 2,1% of total resources). Leader+ in Italy is implemented by 22 Programmes: 21 Regional Programmes (19 Regions + 2 Independent Provinces) plus 1 Network Each Region is committed to the definition of each Programme. They are Managing Authorities for Axis 1, 2 and 4. MIPAF is the Managing Authority for Axis 3.

11. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Trans-national Cooperation Projects Trans-national Cooperation Projects Main themes and areas

12. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Trans-national Cooperation Projects Partnership 44 Italian LAGs are involved in Transnational Cooperation projects

13. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Successful aspects of LEADER in Italy Programming and management of the interventions at a local level, directly involving local actors ( Learning By Doing ) Valorisation and commercial exploitation of the rural heritage : environment, traditional handicraft, historical and cultural resources Promotion of the local rural identity and creation of Local Development Agencies Connections among LAGs placed in different territories and dissemination of good practices Collaboration between different economic sectors and between public and private actors

14. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Problematic issues of LEADER in Italy SELECTION OF LAGs Difficult arrangement and timetable for the selection of LAGs, especially under Leader II and Leader + (because the selection was prerogative of each Region) EUROPEAN PROCEDURES Complex European procedures. Concerning Leader I and Leader II, financing were organized under 3 different Structural Funds COOPERATION Different procedures according to the different Member States. In Italy, each Region has its own procedures and timetable MONITORING Difficult organization of the monitoring system

15. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Problems at the local level SELECTION AND FUNCTIONING OF LAGs Doubts concerning administrative and procedural changes Problems regarding LAGs gathering Local Administrative Bodies and private actors UNPROOFED PROCEDURES Doubts concerning private associations managing public funding Lack of previous experiences from both sides (public and private) FINANCIAL RESOURCES Bank payments in advance, Bank Guarantee, Private financing

16. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + SKEPTIKISM Spare entrepreneurial initiatives New and complex procedures OVERLAP Overlap with other administrative structures and finanging programmes: Public Development Agencies, other European and National programmes… Problems at the local level COORDINATION Doubts concerning the efficient coordination among many different Administration Bodies

17. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Problems at the local level COMPLEX MANAGEMENT Multi-sector objectives and interventions and difficult coordination among areas of action and actors INNOVATIVE ASPECTS Different methodologies and activities to be implemented DISORGANIZED TIMETABLE AND SCHEDULING Not enough working time to efficiently involve local population, find money, call for tenders, implement successful activities

18. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The Italian experience SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES TO BE DISSEMINATED LAGs must be well-set up and representative of the local system Efficient assignation of tasks within each LAG, in order to clearly verify the results Local Development Plans aiming at the valorisation of the local heritage in terms of income, employment and professional training, improvement in the quality of life Set-up of a clear and sustainable strategy within LDPs

19. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The Italian experience SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES TO BE DISSEMINATED Increase the awareness of local population and their interest in local resources Good actors involved with the local development, who are interested in collaborating for long-term sustainable projects Good and experienced Local Administrative Bodies, banks, Universities…to support LAGs

20. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The Italian experience SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES TO BE DISSEMINATED Role of the National Network Unit in terms of connnections among LAGs, exchange of information, dissemination of good practices… Suitable timetable setting, in order to schedule the activities, implement all programmed actions, definitely involve local population Self-evaluation, to compare expected results to achieved results

21. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + SWOT analysis OPPORTUNITY Valorisation of local quality productions. Valorisation of rural heritage: environment, culture, traditions… Human Resources WEAKNESS Difficult application of the bottom-up approach. Unspecific priority themes and interventions within LDPs. Low complementarities with other programmes. STRONGNESS Interest in rural areas, whose problems are unsolved by other programmes. Creation of Local Development Agencies, active also out of Leader. THREAT Overlap with other programmes. Inefficient allocation of resources within LDPs.

22. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Who is the Italian Leader+ Network? INEA VIA BARBERINI,36 00187 ROMA Tel +39 06 47856455 AGRICONSULTING SpA VIA VITORCHIANO, 123 00189 Roma Tel. +39 06 330881 Agriconsulting SpA Financed by EU Commission and Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry Policies

23. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The Italian Network Leader+ in Europe The European Observatory Member States Leader+ Network In other MSs European LAGs Italian LAGs Italian Regions

24. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The Italian Network Leader+

25. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + The Italian Network Unit Leader+

26. ATI Inea-Agriconsulting Italian Network Unit Leader + Kraków, Polska December the 1st, 2005 Thank You! The Italian National Network Unit Contact us at Redazione@reteleader.it Or see our web-site www.reteleader.it