leader & rural development past - present - future dr. pal hajas, president, lag cserhatalja,...

LEADER & Rural Development Past - Present - Future

Dr. Pal Hajas, President, LAG Cserhatalja, Kozard, Hungary, Member of ELARD Council

International Cooperation Seminar in Estonia

Peipsi-Alutaguse area, 25.02.- 01.03.2013


International Cooperation Seminar in EstoniaPeipsi-Alutaguse area, 25.02 - 01.03.2013

Past: 2003-2005

Hungary - Experimental LEADER: Insufficient National RD funds, some 26 rural communities involved, more methodology, less visible development. Creating local/regional publications, elaboration of studies, organize community meetings. Very few infrastructure-like projects.



Past: 2006-2008

LEADER+: 136 LAG application, 68+2 approved. Many small projects (EUR 2000-10,000), important community cohesion, growing civil interest. E.g. open stage theatre, fishing platforms, local cooking courses, foreign language courses, tourism paths, study trails, etc. Kozard area: South-Cserhat LAG, 13 villages, 14,500 inhabit.



Past: 2006-2008

LEADER+: LAGs had no-legal entity status.Managed and represented by the Gestor Organization: Euragro Llc., Kozard, Member of the Hungarian LEADER Association. Member of ELARD. Implemented 55 projects



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - HUNGARY:

96 LAGs have been approved in September 2008. Almost national coverage – Political shadow!



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - HUNGARY:

Seemingly „normal” budget, 5% of EFARD for Axis IV. (EUR 2-3 Million, incl. Axis III-IV).



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - HUNGARY: Partial delegation of Axis III measures to LAGs: Microentreprise development, Tourism, Village development, Rural heritage.



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - HUNGARY:

Very slow start-up, 2009-2010: almost no progress by MA an PA. Cumbersome implementation procedures.Financing obstacles – Economic Crisis, negative attitudes of Banks.



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - HUNGARY:

2010: Change of Government, Overall streamlining, Mid-term evaluation, persecutions, New political regime – New priorities



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - HUNGARY:

Shorthened project decision, but minor simplification. Top-down / manual control by MAOverdominance of the Paying Agency



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - LAG Cserhatalja: 26 municipalities, incl. One small town with 34,500 inhabitants. Legal form: Non-Profit Company Ltd. 104 shareholders, 12 Board membersLEADER Office with 7 employees



Present: 2007-2013

LEADER - LAG Cserhatalja: 2011: Due to new Government pressure – LEADER title withdrawn from Non-Profit Ltds.Mandatory formation of NGO was ordered: Cserhatalja RD Association registered.Cumbersome implementation procedures



Present: 2007-2013

LAG CSERHATALJA:

Solid mix of Public, Civil and SME members.Successful LDS implementationFocus on employment generation, fostering economic growth, strengthening local community cohesion.



Present: 2007-2013

LAG CSERHATALJA:

Preferences: 1) Rural Tourism, 2) Village development, 3) Microentreprise development, 4) Rural heritage.



Present: 2007-2013

TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION (TNC):

Long delay in announcingFinally the call is open (Nov. 2012)Urgency in finding partners



Present: 2007-2013

OUR TNC PROPSALS:

1) Along Bird’s Routes2) Supporting local products3) RENEW-ENERGY - Crossborder

őrojects for renewable energy



Present: 2007-2013

1) Along Bird’s Routes:

Concieved in Lapland, 2009 Eco-tourism and Biodiversity project Follow migratory birds’ paths Composition: 5-6 partners Budget forecast: EUR 60,000



Present: 2007-2013

Along Bird’s Routes (Cont.):

Objectives: Connect partners in symbolic ways Line-up cooperation along flying

paths of migratory birds Contribute to eco-touristic offers



Present: 2007-2013


Activities: Secure cooperating partner LAGs

(Hungary, Finland, Estonia, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain)



Present: 2007-2013


Activities: Organize introductory meeting Submit project for approval in all

LAGs/Countries concerned



Present: 2007-2013


Activities: Set-up project management

structure Finalize activity plan Implement and Disseminate



Present: 2007-2013


Take care of bird habitat protection Harmonize biotop management

practices with eco-tourism benefits Contribute to Sustainable Agriculture

through Ecological Modernisation



Present: 2007-2013

2) Supporting production and marketing of local products:

Focus on strengthened local economy Creating rural jobs through local

farming, food processing, trading



Present: 2007-2013

2) Supporting local products:

Objective: share best practices Must be implemented together with

„short-chained” marketing Budget forecast: EUR 25,000 Pertners: 3-5 EU and 1 Non-EU



Present: 2007-2013

3) RENEW-ENERGY: Promote Renewable Energy for Rural Communities:

Objective: learn more about renewenergy sources



Present: 2007-2013

4) CULTRURAL – Rural Cultural exchanges:

Place rural heritage to daily life of communities

Budget forecast: EUR 20,000 Partners from 4-6 countries



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

AGRI, EMPL, MARE, REGIO: to go for CLLD!New and Innovative tool for involving citizensMFF – potential access for development funds rapidly discovered by the public sector.LAGs must be active in participating in the territorial planning process!



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

Help to develop responses to the Social, Environmental and Economic challenges we face today.CLLD is an approach that requires time and effortsWith small investment it can have marked impact on people’s lives, generate new ideas



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

The Commission expect CLLD to facilitate implementing integrated approaches among the European Structural and Investment Funds concerned to achieve at local level the 11 thematic objectives of the proposed Common Provisions Regulation 2014-2020.



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

Eligibility for small and bigger citiesFocus on Rural < > Urban PatnershipDriving principle: EIP – European Innovation Partnership.Much depends on MS Government decisionCrucial year for planning: 2013



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

Be prepared to develop integrated Local Strategies beyond rural interest. Must follow bottom-up approachWe have to pursue MS government ideas to put CLLD on right trackLAGs can work in CLLD context



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

We must have flexible frameworkWe should strogly involve local stakeholders in planningDefine at MS level, which objectives go to the Partnership AgreementHow to activate them? Mono or MultiFund?



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

We have to see clearly at early stage what will be the role of intermediate bodies, like the County, Province or Region?In many areas LAGs are not invited yet, please follow the process carefullySerious issue: Territorial planners are not with us!



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

Important: Autonomy of LAGs are essential!Continue put pressure on Paying Agency for tangible streamlining and simplificationReduction of payment period



Future: 2014-2020

LEADER & CLLD:

Important: This is your Future,Don’t give up!



Thanks for your attention

leader & rural development past - present - future dr. pal hajas, president, lag cserhatalja,...

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