Focus on Governance and territorial achievements in Leader Plus period

European Commission

Évora, Portugal, 2007Jela Tvrdonova

Starting with today.......,

EU Strategic guidelines for Rural Development 2007 – 2013, horizontal/cross cutting priority

(all axes): improved governance (coherent programming,

integrated approaches, integration of regional and sub-regional development strategies and in particular of the Leader approach in overall programming).

What does it mean - a governance in Leader approach?

It is more than (self) government

It is more than management

It is more than money

Good governance in Leader approach (leasons learned)

Depends on the quality of:Local partnerships and networksLocal development strategyManagement structuresAlso depends on:Overall/framework regional and national

governance systems

Local partnerships

Well balanced and representative from the point of: Sectors – public/private/civic The territory representation Institutional representation Social situation GenderBased on trusty relationsEquipped with necessary skills, knowledge and informationWith transparent structures and performanceOpen to new groups of stakeholdersOpen to networks and cooperation with other partners broad-

wide

Local development strategy

Bottom up, participatory and integrated design Reflecting real situation of the territory Intervening within the key priority areas Functioning in real circumstances, having good

balanced selection of measures and financial backstopping targeted to real needs

Well accessible to active rural stakeholders Having good monitoring and self-evaluation

framework

Management structures

Well equipped with skills and knowledge, administrative and consultancy capacities

Ready to help „real innovators“ Ready to communicate, cooperate and

network on various levels and directions Serve as facilitator and catalyst of the local

strategy implementation

Overall governance

The administrative, institutional and legal system of particular countries

„Multilevel governance“ - Good cooperation among EU (e.g.DG Agri) – national – regional and local levels in preparation, implementation and evaluation of rural development programs

Ability to coordinate and create partnerships with other sectors at each level

What is the added value of the governance in Leader?(Lessons learned)

Territorial identity, pride and ownership Multi-sector partnership and cooperation (new and

innovative institutional development) – in the territory and outside

Sharing – values, information, networks, trust, money..... Social inclusion going far beyond the traditional hierarchy

of the society (....and not only women and youth...), bringing variety of actors

Democracy going far beyond election based on participation in „everyday“ decisions and existing hierarchical structures, opening door for more stakeholders into the decision making process

What is the added value of the governance?(Lessons learned)

Building up the valuable social capital and combining it with the natural, material and financial capital for the whished change in the territory

Solution for 21 century in more effective, efficient and sustainable utilizing public resources in combination with private resources

It strengthens local democratic processes based on participation of local actors in development, organised in multi-sector partnerships

What can be threatening the added value of the „Leader type of governance“?

Above the LAG level: Questioning the legitimacy of Leader approach („small

money“, centralistic approach, taken by local authorities...) versus supporting its legitimacy to be a opportunity to improve via Leader governance patterns

Loosing the autonomy of LAGs, lack of trust from the side of national and regional authorities to transfer administrative competences to local level

Various perceptions of Mainstreaming opportunity (fear of favoring farmers: „Taking the point „also farmers“ rather than „not only farmers“, fear of centralistic approach)

Lack of vertical cooperation among various levels and sectors at these levels

What can be threatening the added value of the „Leader type of governance“?

The LAG level Leader just an appendix to existing power structures Administration unit instead the development

opportunity Not opening the space for additional stakeholders –

creating elites Building up un-balanced partnerships – not only in

line with Regulation considering sectors but also considering

Undermining the territorial capacity building part

The message....

The Leader across the three programming period has proven:

That it is the most comprehensive instrument of the EU policies supporting the very innovative approach towards governance of rural areas based on the integrated and endogenous use of their potentials...

The message....

.....delivering competitiveness, sustainability and quality of life

in one package, with the possibility to tailor it to specific needs of particular rural territories.....

The message.....

...therefore it shall not only fill the gap of mainstreaming policies, but shall be provided in its full capacity as the valuable alternative to sector approaches for rural areas in all EU members states.

Thank you for your attention!!!