On 26 November 2019, the representatives of the Rhineland-Palatinate Local Action Groups (LAGs), together with State Secretary for Agriculture Andy Becht, expressed their support for continued strong and unbureaucratic LEADER funding.
pronounced. "LEADER funding is one of the lowest threshold funding opportunities for rural areas. I consider the bottom-up principle and the cooperation of local actors to be a guarantee for success," Becht said.
During the exchange meeting on the LEADER approach in the 2021-2027 funding period in Mainz, the 20 LEADER regions of Rhineland-Palatinate presented State Secretary Andy Becht with a position paper describing their priorities for the LEADER programme in the new funding period.
The current results of the LEADER evaluation by the IfLS have also been incorporated into the formulation of the key points. For example, in the context of the accompanying evaluation of the EULLE development programme for the 2019 evaluation report, extensive surveys of the Rhineland-Palatinate LAG members and regional management were conducted and evaluated. Particular emphasis was placed on the introduction of voluntary citizens' projects and standard unit costs for personnel costs, which considerably reduce administrative expenses.
The LEADER regions are newly selected for each EU funding period by means of a nationwide competition. In the current funding period (2014-2020), EAFRD funds in the amount of € 50.9 million were used for the 20 LAGs to a much higher extent than the five percent set by the EU. How much money will be available for LEADER in Rhineland-Palatinate in the next funding period depends on the negotiations on the multi-year financial framework at EU level.
Contact person at the IfLS: Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)
