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European Week of Regions and Cities

Beating the odds with LEADER - The visionary rural Europe

Rural development must be considered from a holistic point of view. We will hear how a holistic tool like LEADER, a humanised rural policy, can prove successful and essential in driving rural development. From Spain to Serbia and France, we will hear how LEADER promotes social capital and entrepreneurship in places left behind by traditional policies. With the future of cohesion policy in mind, we will also reflect on how LEADER can help reconnect policies to territories and societies.

  • Rural | EU/ European | Sustainable
  • Code: 11WS23329
  • Jacques Delors building, JDE 62

Practical information

When
Wed 11/10/2023, 11:30 - 12:30 CET
Where
Jacques Delors building, JDE 62
Type of partnership
NONE
Format
Workshop
Theme
Promoting social innovation
Languages
English, French
Websites
http://elard.eu/events-directory/
http://elard.eu/whats-going-on/
Social media
@elardaisbl
European LEADER Association for Rural Development - ELARD
@ElardAisbl

Partner

European LEADER Association for Rural Development

European LEADER Association for Rural Development

  • Wemmel | Belgium

Reporting

Session summary

Thibaut Guignard, María-José Murciano, Director of the Spanish Network for Rural Development, and Bojan Kovach, President of the Network of Local Action Groups of Serbia, shed light on LEADER's vital role in promoting social capital and entrepreneurship in left-behind regions.

Key Takeaways:

Beyond LEADER: While local development encompasses a broader spectrum of opportunities offered by the EU, LEADER serves as the initial gateway to Europe for rural areas, placing Europe at the heart of these territories.

Addressing Administrative Hurdles: The current administrative complexities associated with the LEADER approach require simplification to ensure smoother implementation.

A Shared Philosophy: Although the implementation of the approach varies from one country to another, the core philosophy of LEADER is a shared bond among European nations.

Building Social Capital: Whether it is through the incredible international cooperation approaches it proposes or the social entrepreneurship/cultural projects presented, LEADER is a core instruments in rural areas to develop social capital.

This approach that is so successful deserves a better handle by the EC and more financial dedication!

Quotes