Axis 4 (Leader) Implementing Local Development Strategies Basic Information: Axis 4 Leader: Implementing local development strategies with a view to achieving the objectives of one or more of the axes 1, 2 and 3. Programmed total public expenditure, 27-213 (): 9.3 billion (of which 6.1 billion EAFRD contribution). Actual total public expenditure, 27 to 212 (): 2.93 billion or 31.5% of the programmed expenditure for 27-213. 68% Figure 1: Total public expenditure for the Leader axis up to 212 and remaining budget (EU 27) 9% Total public expenditure 27-21 Total public expenditure 211 Total public expenditure 212 (Figure 1 shows the financial implementation up to 212, whereas the output data presented below are up to 211.) 13% Remaining budget for 27-213 Key facts and figures In the current programming period 2,442 Local Action Groups (LAGs) were established and received support by 211. This accounts for more than of the target number of LAGs to be selected and supported in this programming period in the EU 27. The aforementioned established LAGs are expected to implement their local development strategies (LDS) in an area of 4 million km2 across rural Europe. More than 135.7 million people in the rural areas of the EU 27 will benefit from the activities undertaken by the EU Local Actions Groups At EU 27 level, approximately 26.5 thousand projects have been supported by LAGs up to 211. This number accounts for 12% of the number of projects envisaged to be supported during the current programming period. At the same time nearly 748 thousand beneficiaries received financial support through the projects supported by the Leader axis. The following sections provide snapshots of the progress achieved in implementing the Leader axis per Member State up to 211. 1
Overall programmed total public expenditure on Axis 4 (Leader) for the period 27 213 per Member State The programmed total public expenditure refers to the programmed funds for the period 27 to 213 and includes the EAFRD contributions and the national or regional public co-financing. 1,6 Figure 2: Leader Programmed total public expenditure on Leader Axis for the programming period 27-213 per Member State (in million EURO) 1,4 1,2 1, 8 6 4 2 ES IT DE PL FR UK AT PT RO IE GR HU SE FI CZ LT DK NL EE SK BG BE LV SI LU CY MT Axis 4 (Leader) State of play of total public expenditure per Member State up to 212 Refers to the dispersed funds of the period 27 to 212 and includes the EAFRD contributions and the national or regional public co-financing. 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% Figure 3: Leader State of total public expenditure in the MS and in EU 27 (% of expenditure up to 211 against programmed budget for 27-213) % NL AT CZ EE DK BE IE FI DE SI UK LV LU PT SE EU 27 ES LT PL SK FR HU IT MT BG GR CY RO 2
Axis 4 (Leader) Number of Local Action Groups supported from 27 to 211* Definition of the indicator: number of Local Action Groups receiving support for implementing their local rural development strategies and other Leader-type actions. 2,442 354 336 4 Figure 4: Number of supported LAGs 255 239 3 173 161 2 112 96 86 81 63 56 53 52 51 43 4 36 33 3 29 26 25 5 4 3 1 Romania Greece Slovakia Cyprus Malta Figure 5: Number of supported LAGs (% against 27-213 output targets) n/a 67% 86% 96% 86% 96% % 2% 4% 6% 8% By 211, and supported the largest number of Local Action Groups (354 and 336 LAGs respectively) (see figure 4). In 19 Member States, the number of LAGs established and supported up to 211 covers the envisaged number of LAGs to be supported during the programming period 27-213 (see figure 5). 3
Axis 4 (Leader) Total size of the LAG area (km 2 ) supported from 27 to 211* Definition of the indicator: development programmes. total area of all existing LAGs in the country / region of the rural 6, Figure 6: Total size of the LAG area (in km 2 ) 3,995,96 1,66,964 552,741 42,763 314,87 289,153 212,511 174,219 166,987 85, 83,439 82,772 81,934 73,742 69,357 66,442 64,48 46,211 41,752 37,651 19,9 19,35 11,739 9,12 3, 1,629 288 45, 3, 15, Greece Romania Slovakia Cyprus Malta Figure 7: Total size of the LAG area (% against 27-213 output targets) n/a 55% 59% 75% 99% 9% % 2% 4% 6% 8% is the country with the largest territory covered by Local Action Groups, with an overall area of nearly 1.1 million km 2 (see figure 8), covering almost of the target area by 211 (see figure 9).,,,,, the and are among the MS with the largest areas covered by Leader Local Action Groups. In 2 Member States the LAGs selected by 211 covered over of the target area to receive support under Leader for the period 27-213. 4
Axis 4 (Leader) Total population in LAG area from 27 to 211* Definition of the indicator: development programme. Total population in all LAG-areas in the country/region of the rural Figure 8: Total population in LAG areas (in thousand people) Figure 9: Total population in LAG areas (% against 27-213 targets) 135,72 2,848 17,911 15,91 13,539 12,67 11,55 3, 2, 1, 4,51 4,365 4,44 3,922 3,53 3,495 3,441 2,82 2,735 2,538 2,32 1,629 1,269 1,261 1,8 618 485 261 136 129 Romania Greece Slovakia Malta Cyprus n/a n/a 75% 72% 97% 9 99% % 2% 4% 6% 8%, and are the Member States which provide support to the largest number of people living in the areas covered by Local Action Groups. In the above mentioned Member States respectively 21, 18 and 16 million people are receiving support through the actions or projects implemented by the LAGs (see figure 8). In 21 Member States the target number of people to be covered by the LAGs area in the 27-213 programming period has been almost or fully met (see figure 9). 5
Axis 4 (Leader) Number of projects financed by LAGs from 27 to 211* Definition of the indicator: number of projects that are approved and co-financed by the Local Action Groups (LAGs). The projects or actions must be part of the implementation of a Local Development Strategy. Figure 1: Number of projects supported by LAGs Figure 11: Number of projects supported by LAGs (% against 27-213 targets) 26,495 3,331 3,327 2,915 2,652 2,539 2,386 1,651 1,635 1,256 97 874 716 446 44 341 332 293 226 166 2 15 4% 2% 7% 12% 1 23% 18% 2 28% 37% 36% 38% 45% 45% 57% 68% 85% 4, 3, 2, 1, % 2% 4% 6% 8% provided support to more than 3,3 Leader projects up to 211 (see figure 1) and this accounts for more than of the national target number of projects to be supported in the period 27-213 (see figure 11).,,, and have also supported more than two thousand projects each. In and the number of Leader projects supported by 211 is 85% and 68% of the projects planned to receive support by 213. Overall, by 211 and according to data available - the progress of the implementation of Leader projects at the EU 27 level was 12% in comparison to the 27-213 target. 6
Axis 4 (Leader) Number of beneficiaries supported from 27 to 211* Definition of the indicator: number of beneficiaries supported through the projects financed by LAGs. Figure 12: Number of beneficiaries supported Figure 13: Number of beneficiaries supported (% against 27-213 output targets) 747,466 723,264 3,61 2,83 2,6 2,539 2,386 2,287 1,651 1,486 1,256 97 715 595 425 36 339 321 27 166 2 15 3%.4% 4% 2% 9% 2% 8% 25% 27% 47% 37% 43% 5% 59% 57% 65% 8% 85% 8 3, 2, 1, % 2% 4% 6% 8% By 211, the is the EU country that showed the largest number of beneficiaries receiving support for implementing Leader projects (more than 723 thousand beneficiaries) (see figure 12). The is also the Member State which showed the highest implementation rate against the envisaged 27-213 target at national level (more than ) (see figure 13). A significant proportion of the target number of beneficiaries has also been supported in,,,, and. 7
Measure 411 project example: Promoting 'Uma Mekk' - Own Taste Entrepreneurs, local government and the LEADER group in Voru County of came together to work out the issue of limited employment opportunities in the region by unlocking the potential of the food sector in the area through an EAFRD supported project. A series of activities and services such as information, know-how training and well-targeted promotions was conducted. More than 5 food businesses took part in the learning and awareness raising events. Seminars and workshops on improving food quality were held and promotional material were created and distributed. Use of the quality food mark Uma Mekk (Own Taste) was disseminated to interested individuals and groups. The project helped boosting the quality, profile and promotion of local food. Networking and common marketing takes place between entrepreneurs, increasing sales and reducing costs and creating employment opportunities. The total cost of the project was 18,298, out of which 11,327 was EAFRD contribution. Link: http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/policy-inaction/rdp_view/en/view_projects_en.cfm?action=detail&backfuse=jsview&postcard_id=478 Measure 412 project example: 'Forest Licence' project delivers skills for small-scale forest owners Within the LEADER framework a project developing forest management skills for owners of small-scale forestry plots in was developed and implemented. Its aim was to elaborate and run training courses for owners of passive forest in how to use and take care of their woodlands. The inception courses helped owners to recognise the traditional methods to mark the boundaries of forest plots. After it, owners were trained in topics ranging from environmentally sustainable silviculture skills for different forest species, to chainsaw health and safety. A number of 77 land owners completed the full set of Forest Licence courses and now possess sufficient capacity to properly manage their woodlands. As the project succeeded to help bringing bigger benefits from under-used forest resources, a new series of courses was planned. The total cost of the project was 23 548, out of which 6 312 was EAFRD contribution. Link: http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/policy-inaction/rdp_view/en/view_projects_en.cfm?action=detail&backfuse=jsview&postcard_id=666 Source of the data: 1) Programmed expenditures 27-213: RDP budget allocation following Health Check revision (December 212); 2) Expenditures 27-212: DG AGRI; 3) Output indicators: monitoring tables submitted by Managing Authorities along with the 28, 29, 21, 211 and 212 Annual Progress Reports. Data referring to programming years 27 to 211. Only commitments made from year 27 onwards are considered; 4) Output targets 27-213: DG AGRI For further detailed information on financial / physical and output indicators data please refer to the dedicated ENRD website section on Monitoring Indicators. 7