The measure implementation aims at stimulating local initiatives for rural areas development - creating Rural Local Development Strategies (LDS), setting up Local Action Groups (LAGs) and taking actions by the above to develop and promote a region. The Leader+ Pilot Programme allowed for: better usage of rural areas development potential, improvement of their competitiveness as places to live, running a business and enhancement of activation and cooperation of local communities.

Eligible expenditures (scheme I)

• operational activities of LAGs, promotion and information about the assumptions and methods of implementing rural development strategies,
• training and advisory assistance with preparation and realization of projects concerning the development strategy of rural areas,
• preparing analyses and documentation connected with the detailed planning of investments as well as creating new products and services in accordance with the assumptions of rural development strategies,
• organizing events aimed at promoting the region, especially its products, services, culture and art,
• cooperation and exchange of experience between LAGs on the national and international level with regard to implementation of strategies and organization of LAGs activities.

Institutional structure of the LEADER programme in Poland, 2004- 2006

Annex no 1

Funds for the measure implementation

LEADER+ Pilot Programme in Poland, in the years 2004-2006

• EU share of public funds as percentage of total funds - 80%
• Domestic share of public funds as percentage of total funds - 20%
• Domestic share of public funds as percentage of total funds - 20%

Specificities of the LEADER Pilot Programme in Poland

• Shorter period of programming: 2004-2006,
• The LEADER+ type measure aimed at preparing for the implementation 

The LEADER Initiative in the years 2007-2013:

• 2 schemes of programme implementation - the programme is focused on two tasks: supporting the integrated strategies of the rural areas development and connecting all the rural areas to the network (LEADER+ National Network).

Rural development policy in the European Union - 2007- 2013

Annex no 2

Rural development policy for the years 2007- 2013

Annex no 3

LEADER is a cross-sectional approach which enables to realize and implement mainly the aims of Axis 3. The aim of axis 4 will be to activate the inhabitants of rural areas by creating social potential in the country, increasing the potential of gaining funds and making use of them as well as improving the management of local resources and their valorization.

Institutions involved in implementing LEADER Axis 4 -proposal

Managing Authority (MARD - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)

Accredited Paying Agency (ARMA - Agency of Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture):

• payment function, accountancy, payment acceptance,
• control of LAGs and beneficiaries

Voivodeship Self-government

• evaluation at the stage of choosing LAGs and Strategies,
• preparing materials for the meetings of the Regional Leader Committee (RLC),
• chairmanship of RLC,
• information and promotion. 
Regional Leader Committee (RLC)
• RLC Secretariat at the Voivodeship Self-government office: formal verification and preliminary factual evaluation of Strategies projects and LAGs ;
• RLC: evaluation and claims (including, among others, LAGs Strategies) initially verified by the RLC secretariat.
• establishing the criteria of claims evaluation
• quality evaluation of claims on the basis of evaluation criteria and materials prepared by the Secretariat:
• making a ranking list of claims and transferring them to the Voivodeship Self-government.

Local Action Groups

•  verification of application forms for support,
• making a ranking list of projects
• contracting with beneficiaries after a positive

Opinion of RLC

•  verification of application forms for payment,
• authorization of payments,
• control of project realization
• monitoring and reporting a realization of implemented actions,
• reporting irregularities
• information and promotion.

 

LEADER Axis 4, RDP (Rural Development Programme) 2007-2013

 The realization of Leader axis 4 will contribute to the increase of workplaces and economic diversity of rural areas. The LEADER approach will enable to build up the social capital in the country and improve the organization and management at the local level. The implementation of the bottom-up integrated local strategies will allow for a balanced development of rural areas, including the preservation of cultural and natural heritage of a village.

 

The following access criteria are proposed for LAGs, RDP 2007-2013:

 

• Three-sectoral partnership consisting of the public, private and non-governmental sector. .
• At the decision-making level at least 50% of the partnership constitute the economic and social partners as well as other representatives of the civil society such as farmers, rural women, young people and their associations.
• LAGs prepare the local development strategy. The area included in the LAG strategy is cohesive and it comprises rural or mixed communes, excluding cities with over 20 thousand inhabitants. In order to keep the areas connected, the communes with population up to 20 thousand are included in the region.
• The area where the Strategy is implemented has at least 10 thousand but not more than 100 thousand inhabitants.
• It is possible for only one LAG to take action in the given area.
• LAGs have to have an administrative potential to manage public funds and guarantee a satisfactory functioning of a partnership.


news bulletin: LEADERwieści
http://www.minrol.gov.pl

drawing up the rural development strategies and technical support of their preparation, in particular, analyses, expert appraisals, advisory support, studies, etc.;

Eligible expenditures (scheme II)