The Leader approach shall comprise at least the following elements:
area-based local development strategies intended for well-identified subregional rural territories;
local public-private partnerships (hereinafter local action groups);
bottom-up approach with a decision-making power for local action groups concerning the elaboration and implementation of local development strategies;
multi-sectoral design and implementation of the strategy based on the interaction between actors and projects of different sectors of the local economy;
implementation of innovative approaches;
implementation of cooperation projects;
networking of local partnerships.
1.A partnered local development approach shall be implemented by the local action groups satisfying the following conditions:
(a)they must propose an integrated local development strategy based at least on the elements set out in Article 61(a) to (d) and (g) and be responsible for its implementation;
(b)they must consist of either a group already qualified for the Leader II (1) or Leader+ (2) initiatives, or according to the Leader approach, or be a new group representing partners from the various locally based socioeconomic sectors in the territory concerned. At the decision-making level the economic and social partners, as well as other representatives of the civil society, such as farmers, rural women, young people and their associations, must make up at least 50 % of the local partnership;
(c)they must show an ability to define and implement a development strategy for the area.
2.The Managing Authority shall ensure that the local action groups either select an administrative and financial lead actor able to administer public funds and ensure the satisfactory operation of the partnership, or come together in a legally constituted common structure the constitution of which guarantees the satisfactory operation of the partnership and the ability to administer public funds.
3.The area covered by the strategy shall be coherent and offer sufficient critical mass in terms of human, financial and economic resources to support a viable development strategy.
4.The local action groups shall choose the projects to be financed under the strategy. They may also select cooperation projects.
The support granted under the Leader axis shall be for:
implementing local development strategies as referred to in Article 62(1)(a), with a view to achieving the objectives of one or more of the three other axes defined in Sections 1, 2 and 3;
implementing cooperation projects involving the objectives selected under point (a);
running the local action group, acquiring skills and animating the territory as referred to in Article 59.
If the operations under the local strategy correspond to the measures defined in this Regulation for the other axes, the relevant conditions shall apply in accordance with Sections 1, 2 and 3.
1.The support referred to in Article 63(b) shall be granted to inter-territorial or transnational cooperation projects.
‘Inter-territorial cooperation’ means cooperation within a Member State. ‘Transnational cooperation’ means cooperation between territories in several Member States and with territories in third countries.
2.Only expenditure relating to the territories within the Community shall be eligible for support.
3.Article 64 shall also apply to cooperation projects.
Commission notice to the Member States laying down guidelines for global grants or integrated operational programmes for which Member States are invited to submit applications for assistance in the framework of a Community initiative for rural development (Leader II) (OJ C 180, 1.7.1994, p. 48).
Commission notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development (Leader+) (OJ C 139, 18.5.2000, p. 5). Notice as last amended by Commission communication amending the notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 laying down guidelines for the Community Initiative for rural development (Leader+) (OJ C 294, 4.12.2003, p. 11).