Commission notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development (Leader+)
Date: 2000-04-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EAGGF Guidance Section, EU initiative, action programme, cooperation policy, project evaluation, rural development

18.5.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 139/5

COMMISSION NOTICE TO THE MEMBER STATES

of 14 April 2000

laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development (Leader+)

(2000/C 139/05)

1. Article 20(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999
of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (1) (hereinafter referred to as the (cid:145)General
Regulation(cid:146)) establishes a Community Initiative for rural
development, hereinafter called Leader+.

2. On 14 April 2000, the Commission of the European
Communities, acting in accordance with Article 21(1) of
that Regulation, laid down the guidelines set out in this
notice describing the aims,
scope and method of
implementation for the rural development initiative.

3.

to Article 21(3) of

Pursuant
the general Regulation,
Member States are to draw up and present
to the
in
Commission Proposals
accordance with the guidelines in this notice with a
view to their
the Commission and
adoption of a decision on EAGGF Guidance Section
funding.

for Leader+ programmes

approval by

I. CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

Context

4.

Rural areas in the Community are confronted with an
array of problems likely to seriously affect their viability,
such as an ageing population, rural depopulation which
persists in some areas, and job losses.

that some areas have
It should be noted, however,
confronted these problems with success. They have
managed to create a territorial dynamism which attests
to their ability to invent new solutions in response to the
challenges they face.

(cid:151) its decentralised, integrated and bottom-up approach

to territorial development,

(cid:151) the opening-up of rural areas to other territories by
the exchange and transfer of experience and through
the creation of networks,

(cid:151) its ability to take into consideration small-scale
actions when administrative, technical and financial
intermediaries
support
promoters of small projects.

present who

can

are

In several Member States, however, the implementation
of Leader II has encountered some difficulties such as:
delays in the selection of beneficiaries, and consequently
in the launching of programmes, the creation of fragile
partnerships when roles are poorly defined, the accumu-
lation of disparate procedures, and the dispersal of
financial resources across a very large number of local
action groups (LAGs), resulting in interventions of low
effectiveness.

6. Despite these few problems, the generally very positive
image of Leader and the belief that the approach which
began in 1991 should be continued and deepened has
remained. This is all the more desirable since rural areas
will in the next few years have to make adjustments to
their socioeconomic structure in order to meet the chal-
lenges and constraints arising notably from:

(cid:151) changes in the agricultural sector as a result of the
reform of the CAP and the increasing demands of
consumers concerning product quality,

5.

Leader I marked the start of a new approach to rural
development policy which is territorially based,
inte-
grated and participative.

(cid:151) increasing
concerns,

general

awareness

of

environmental

Leader II saw the Leader I approach put to more wide-
spread use, with emphasis on the innovative aspect of
projects.

(cid:151) the closer integration of the world economy,

(cid:151) the rapid spread and use of new technologies.

The strengths of the Leader approach are:

(cid:151) the mobilising of local actors to reflect on and take

control of the future of their area,

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

in an integrated
specific resources
Developing their
approach that forms part of a territorial strategy which
is relevant and tailored to the local context seems
increasingly to be the route that will have to be taken
if rural areas are to create and/or maintain competitive
and sustainable products and services.

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Such an approach will become more effective, however,
if it forms part of a Community policy and national and
regional policies which are
the
able
framework,
tools and impetus necessary for ensuring
that the rural areas, and the people who live in them,
are in a position to grasp development opportunities and
translate them into practice using appropriate resources
and arrangements.

to provide

(cid:145)Cooperation(cid:146) in the broad sense of the term will be a
fundamental component of Leader+. The Commission
will provide support
for the establishment of quality
partnerships between the various actors. Cooperation
must be created within rural areas, between such areas
in the same Member State, between rural areas in several
Member States and even beyond if necessary.

7.

The new Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17
May 1999 on support for rural development from the
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
(EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regu-
lations (1) includes a whole range of measures aimed at
helping rural areas to pursue a policy which is not
confined to boosting the competitiveness of the agri-
cultural sector but which also supports the development
of new activities and sources of employment in order
that rural areas can continue to represent a viable and
vital social and economic context.

As a result, Leader+ will continue its role as a laboratory
which aims to encourage the emergence and testing of
new approaches to integrated and sustainable devel-
opment that will
influence, complete and/or reinforce
rural development policy in the Community. Member
States are asked to participate in this experimentation
effort when presenting their proposals.

These new rural development models will be exploited
and disseminated through a major networking exercise.

therefore become the
Rural development policy will
second pillar of the CAP and will remain an important
component of economic and social cohesion policy.

II. MECHANISMS AND MEASURES

However,
the major programmes implemented under
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 and the Structural
Funds Regulations cannot by themselves address all the
problems confronting rural areas, given these areas’ local
scale and the need to take greater account of initiatives
launched by local people.

Geographical application

9. Unlike Leader I and II, all rural areas will be eligible
under Leader+. However,
to concentrate
Community resources on the most promising proposals
and to give them maximum leverage, Community
funding under actions 1 and 2 will be granted to a
limited number of rural territories only, following an
open and rigorous selection procedure.

in order

Objectives

8.

the mainstream
The new initiative will complement
programmes
schemes
conceived and implemented by active partnerships
operating at the local level.

promoting

integrated

by

The aim of Leader+ is to encourage and help rural actors
to think about the longer-term potential of their area. It
integrated,
seeks to encourage the implementation of
high-quality, original
sustainable devel-
strategies
opment designed to encourage experimenting with new
ways of:

for

(cid:151) enhancing the natural and cultural heritage,

(cid:151) reinforcing the economic environment,

in order to

contribute to job creation,

(cid:151) improving

the organisational

abilities of

their

community.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.

10. With this aim in mind, the procedures and selection
criteria will be defined by the competent national auth-
orities. The selection criteria referred to in this notice
will constitute the minimum which should be supple-
mented by specific criteria, fine-tuned where necessary
in the light of the specific situation of the rural areas
concerned,
conditions and the
environmental
implementation of
particular objectives which the
Leader+ seeks to attain in these areas. These criteria
the programme to be
will
presented to the Commission and will be subject
to
the latter’s approval.

form an integral part of

their

Where Leader+ covers areas which have not previously
benefited under Leader I and/or II special provisions will
need to be adopted to ensure that territories in such
areas have fair access to this Community initiative.

11.

The Member States may limit the application of Leader+
to certain rural areas, provided that
they justify this
limitation on the basis of criteria which are consistent
with their rural development policy objectives and do
not prejudice the other conditions set out in this notice.

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Beneficiaries

12.

Financial assistance under Leader+ will be granted to
groups of partners known as (cid:145)local action groups(cid:146) (LAGs).

The local action groups will draw up development
strategies and be responsible for their implementation.

Action 1: Integrated territorial rural development
strategies of a pilot nature

14. Action 1 will support rural areas which show a will-
ingness and ability to devise and implement an inte-
strategy,
grated and sustainable pilot development
supported by the presentation of a development plan,
based on a representative partnership, and structured
around a strong theme typical of the identity of the
territory concerned.

Local action groups must consist of a balanced and
representative selection of partners drawn from the
different
territory
concerned. At the decision-making level the economic
and social partners and associations must make up at
least 50 % of the local partnership.

socioeconomic

sectors

the

in

the
Each Member State will specify,
the criteria for
particular situation of
selecting, by call
for proposals, development plans
drawn up by LAGs, taking into account the following:

in the light of

its rural areas,

The members of a LAG must show that they are able to
devise and implement a development strategy for the
territory together.

14.1. A r e a s c o n c e r n e d

The relevance and effectiveness of the partnership is to
be assessed in terms of the transparency and clarity in
the allocation of tasks and responsibilities. The capacity
of the partners to carry out the tasks assigned to them,
and the effectiveness of the operational and decision-
making arrangements must be guaranteed.

The members of the LAG shall be locally based and
must:

(cid:151) either, select an administrative and financial

leader
with the ability to administer public funds who will
be responsible for the satisfactory operation of the
partnership,

(cid:151) or, come together in a legally-constituted common
structure,
the formal constitution of which guar-
antees the satisfactory operation of the partnership
and the ability to administer public funds.

Actions

13.

Leader+ will be structured around three actions:

The Leader+ initiative is intended for small rural terri-
tories which form a homogeneous unit
in physical
(geographical), economic and social terms.

The territories selected must in all cases have sufficient
coherence and critical mass in terms of human, financial
and economic resources to support a viable development
strategy.

Applying these criteria may result in areas being defined
which do not coincide with a national administrative area
or with zones established for the purpose of eligibility
under Objectives 1 and 2 of the Structural Funds.

To ensure the local and rural nature of the territories
selected,
the population must as a general rule not
number more than 100 000 in the most densely
populated areas (around 120 inhabitants/km2) and in
general not number less than about 10 000. However,
in areas with a high or low population-density, such as
some
areas of northern Europe, properly justified
exceptions to these criteria may be accepted.

(cid:151) action 1: support for integrated territorial rural devel-
opment strategies of a pilot nature based on the
bottom-up approach and horizontal partnerships,

In all cases artificial divisions of areas which could
undermine the coherence requirement referred to above
will be rejected.

(cid:151) action 2: support for interterritorial and transnational

cooperation,

14.2. D e v e l o p m e n t s t r a t e g y

(cid:151) action 3: the networking of all rural areas in the
Community, whether or not beneficiaries under
Leader+, and all rural development actors.

The development strategy proposed by the LAGs in their
development plans must:

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(a) be integrated,

in the sense that it adopts a global
approach based on the interaction between actors,
sectors and projects, built around a strong theme
typical of
resources and/or
identity and/or
specific know-how of the territory, and uniting all
the
fields
and projects
contributing to the development strategy.

in the

various

actors

the

Without prejudice to the distinctive features of
the priority themes which the
particular regions,
interest at
Commission considers to be of special
Community
and
level,
constraints facing rural areas, are:

given the opportunities

(cid:151) the use of new know-how and new technologies
to make the products and services of rural areas
more competitive,

(cid:151) improving the quality of life in rural areas,

(cid:151) adding value to local products,

in particular by
facilitating access to markets for small production
units via collective actions,

(cid:151) making the best use of natural and cultural
resources, including enhancing the value of sites
of Community interest
selected under Natura
2000.

The strategy proposed in each development plan
above
structured around one of
must be
themes.
the
strategy must remain consistent. In all cases it must
be demonstrated that it is not just a collection of
projects or a mere juxtaposition of sectoral measures.

If more than one theme is involved,

the

The Commission, concerned about equal oppor-
tunities and convinced that women and young
people represent a key to the development of rural
areas, would like support to be given as a priority to
strategies which seek to enhance the job oppor-
tunities and/or activities
these target groups.
Consequently, the evaluation criteria to be established
by the Member States for selecting pilot strategies
must reflect this Community priority.

for

The list of priority themes and target groups may be
extended by the Member States to take account of
their own specific situations.

(b) It must demonstrate its basis and coherence with the
territory particularly in socioeconomic terms. It must
prove its economic viability and its sustainability in
the sense that resources will be used in such a way
that the options available to future generations are
not impaired.

(c) It must demonstrate its nature as a pilot scheme.

Under Leader I and II a large number of rural areas
innovative approaches to
embarked on bottom-up,
local development. In some cases these approaches
have matured and can now be included in main-
stream rural development programmes.

Under Leader+ the Commission intends to support
original and ambitious approaches to rural devel-
opment which will deepen the
experimentation
started under Leader I and II.

The pilot nature will be assessed on the basis of the
development strategy set out in each development
forward means of
plan. The strategy must put
achieving sustainable development which are new
by comparison with previous practice in the area
concerned, and with the methods used and planned
in the mainstream programmes.

The Commission does not wish to lay down an
exhaustive list of assessment criteria, but by way of
illustration considers that the pilot concept could be
assessed in terms of:

(cid:151) the emergence of new products and services
the

the distinctiveness of

which incorporate
local area,

(cid:151) new methods permitting the combination of the
area’s human, natural and/or financial resources,
resulting in better use of indigenous potential,

(cid:151) the combination of and links between economic

sectors which are traditionally separate,

(cid:151) original forms of organisation and involvement of
local population in the decision-making

the
process and in implementing the project.

It should be noted that the pilot aspect may under no
circumstances be restricted to the Leader method,
even in areas not previously covered by the initiative.

(d) It must demonstrate

the
proposed methods. The promoters of
the project
must make what they learn about methodology and
the results they achieve available to the network.

transferability of

the

(e) It must demonstrate that it complements the inter-
ventions made under the mainstream programmes
in the area concerned.

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Action 2: Support for cooperation between rural
territories

(cid:151) T r a n s n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n

15.

This action is intended to encourage and support coop-
eration between rural territories:

Transnational
apply
belonging to at least two Member States.

cooperation will

to LAGs

(a) in the same Member State (interterritorial coop-

eration);

(b) in several Member States (transnational cooperation).

Such cooperation must demonstrate genuine added value
for the territories concerned.

However, where a territory selected under Leader+
enters into a cooperation project under the terms
of this action with an area outside the Community
organised
approach,
associated expenditure relating to the Leader+ area
will be eligible.

according

Leader

the

to

It may have two aims, which are often complementary:

Action 3: Networking

(cid:151) achieving the critical mass necessary for a joint

project to be viable,

(cid:151) encouraging complementary actions.

16.

Cooperation will consist
in pooling the know-how
and/or human and financial resources dispersed across
each of the territories concerned. Such actions will be
based on the thematic guidelines clearly defined by the
LAGs in their development plans.

The cooperation should not consist simply of exchanges
of experience but must include the implementation of a
joint project
if possible supported by a common
structure.

17.

18.

Funding will be granted under this action for the joint
project and for upstream expenditure on technical
assistance for cooperation.

This action of Leader+ will apply to rural
territories
selected under action 1 of the initiative. It will be imple-
mented under the responsibility of a coordinator LAG.
The following specific provisions will apply:

(cid:151) I n t e r t e r r i t o r i a l c o o p e r a t i o n

In the context of interterritorial cooperation within
the same Member State,
in addition to territories
selected under Leader+, cooperation may in future
also be opened up to areas selected under Leader I
and II or to other rural areas organised according to
the Leader approach and recognised by the Member
State. With the exception of operations relating to a
very precise theme the implementation of which
requires a larger area than that of
the LAGs
concerned, only operations concerning territories
selected
for
Leader+ will
Community cofinancing. However, expenditure on
animation will be eligible in all the areas concerned.

eligible

under

be

19.

20.

of

exchange

achievements,

The
know-how between all
Community was a priority of Leader
continue to be so under Leader+.

interested parties

and
in the
II, and will

experiences

The networking of all rural areas, whether or not bene-
ficiaries under the initiative and of all organisations and
administrations involved in territorial development, such
as the rural information and promotion carrefours, will
receive support with a view not only to the exchange
and transfer of experiences but also:

(cid:151) to stimulating and achieving cooperation between

territories, and

(cid:151) to providing

information and drawing lessons

concerning territorial rural development.

21. Active participation in the network will be mandatory
for Leader+ beneficiaries. This will mean making
available all necessary information on actions already
undertaken or under way and the results achieved,
together with participation in the different activities.

Other network participants who are involved in terri-
torial
initiatives but who are not LAGs will also be
invited to make their experience, know-how and details
of their projects available to the network.

22.

Each Member State will propose the steps required in
order to put in place the structure necessary for orga-
nising the network.

following
The Commission recommends
activities be performed by the network organisation unit:

that

the

(cid:151) collecting, analysing and disseminating information at
national level on good practice which is transferable,

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(cid:151) organising the network,

(cid:151) organising exchanges of experiences and know-how,
in particular for less-advanced territories which could
gained by more
knowledge
from the
benefit
experienced LAGs,

(cid:151) providing technical assistance for local and trans-

national cooperation.

23. An (cid:145)Observatory of rural areas(cid:146) led by the Commission
will be responsible for organising the network at
Community level.

The aims of the Observatory will be:

(cid:151) gathering, processing and disseminating information
on Community measures to stimulate rural devel-
opment,

(cid:151) collecting,

consolidating

at
Community level good practice in local development
in rural areas,

disseminating

and

(cid:151) providing information for

rural actors on major
trends in the situation of rural areas within the
Community and in third countries,

(cid:151) serving as a meeting point at Community level for
the initiative and stimulating

beneficiaries under
transnational cooperation,

(cid:151) providing assistance for national and regional admin-
to facilitate the exchange of

in order

istrations
expertise,

(cid:151) assisting national administrations

coor-
dinating role and in putting beneficiaries under the
initiative in contact with one another in the interests
of cooperation,

in their

(cid:151) preparing

reports on the
progress of Leader+ at Community level,

implementation and

trative
management systems.

structure

and

the

implementation

and

In order to implement these programmes the Member
States may opt for operational programmes or global
grants.

The most representative partners at national, regional
and local
first be consulted in accordance
with Article 8(1) and (2) of the general Regulation.

level will

25.

The content of the programmes will be similar to that of
the single programming document described in Article
19(3) of the general Regulation; their structure is set out
in the Annex to this notice.

Context and strategy for implementation, selection procedures,
financing

26.

submitted must

clearly show the
The programme
strengths, weaknesses and potential of
the area in
which the programme is to apply, the specific objectives
for the implementation of Leader+ and their relation to
other rural development policies implemented or to be
implemented in the Member State or region concerned,
the proposed strategy for achieving these objectives, the
coherency and added value of the proposed measures
and their impact on the environment. The objectives
to be included under
for each action,
action 1, a list and description of
the measures for
implementing each action and the expected impact
must all be indicated.

the themes

This analysis must be consistent with the results of the ex
ante evaluation of
in
accordance with Article 41(2) of the general Regulation.
The ex ante evaluation will be an integral part of the
programme.

the programme, carried out

(cid:151) examining the lessons of Leader+ and the impli-

cations for rural policy.

27.

The selection criteria and procedures must be clearly
defined and ensure genuine competition between the
local action groups (LAGs).

III. IMPLEMENTATION

Preparation and presentation of proposals for programmes
under Leader+

24. On the basis of the indicative financial allocations by
the Commission and
decided by
Member
communicated to the Member States,
the Member
States will submit to the Commission their proposals
for programmes under the Leader+ initiative.

State,

The programmes will be drawn up by the competent
authorities designated by the Member State at
the
geographical level deemed to be the most appropriate,
on the basis of considerations such as their adminis-

When submitting its programme the Member State will
inform the Commission of
the number of LAGs it
intends to select. It may opt for a national or regional
selection. In either case, the procedures must be trans-
parent and guarantee satisfactory competition between
the LAGs.

The Member State may organise more than one call for
proposals, especially where Leader+ is open to new areas,
in which case longer time limits could be granted. Such
cases must be properly described and justified.
In all
territories applying under action 1 must be
cases
selected no later
the selection
than two years after
criteria have been approved.

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in their programme
Member States will describe
proposals the method chosen for selecting transnational
and interterritorial cooperation projects. The provisions
proposed must ensure that the LAGs have regular and
progressive access to these forms of cooperation. They
must also ensure that appropriate programming and
financing conditions are in place to guarantee the
effective implementation of this action within the time
limits to be fixed in partnership with the Commission.

28. An indicative financing plan by priority, by year and by
source of financing will be drawn up in accordance with
Articles 28 and 29 of the general Regulation. The three
actions will be considered as priorities, to which a fourth
priority will be added for the purpose of
financing
programme management, monitoring and evaluation
costs. The percentage of financing allocated for actions
under this fourth priority must be indicated.

29.

30.

31.

32.

Management, control, monitoring and evaluation

the general Regulation and in
The provisions of
particular Title III and Title IV Chapters I,
II and III
thereof, apply. Their application must be specified in
the programme and must satisfy the criteria set out in
this notice.

for

systems

The
implementing and managing the
initiative’s various actions must aim for simplification,
without prejudicing
and
rigorous management.

the principle of

sound

In the case of financial management in particular, the
programme will
the management
clearly describe
arrangements and the procedures for the mobilisation
and circulation of financial flows,
including the main
stages of Community funding, as far as the final bene-
ficiary. The ex ante evaluation must confirm that the
implementing arrangements are appropriate.

The presentation of the arrangements for controls must
describe, in addition to the normal procedures that apply
to all expenditure, the specific provisions, methods, rules
and procedures that will ensure the control of
the
programme in question.

33. Monitoring will be undertaken at the level of:

(cid:151) the LAGs,

(cid:151) the national/regional programmes.

Use will be made of financial and physical indicators to
be defined in the programming. These indicators must
allow the progress of the programmes to be monitored

as regards their financial execution, physical progress and
impact.

Transmission of the results to the European Observatory
and their consolidation will contribue to the initiative’s
monitoring at Community level.

In accordance with Article 35 of the general regulation, a
monitoring committee will be established for each
programme under the initiative;
its composition and
role must be defined.

A steering committee chaired by the Commission and
the administrations and
comprising representatives of
the national and regional networks will be set up.
It
will meet at least once a year to discuss progress in
It will constitute
the implementation of the initiative.
the body for monitoring action 2 (cooperation) at
Community level.

34.

The relevant provisions on evaluation in the general
Regulation and the guidelines for evaluating rural devel-
opment, will apply, where appropriate, to Leader+.

indicators, will

the specific characteristics of Leader,

the
In view of
evaluation exercise, while drawing on pyhsical and
financial
supplemented by
specific indicators relating in particular to the integrated
territorial approach, the pilot nature of the actions, the
operation of the partnership, the organisation and role of
the participating administrative structures, networking
and the environmental impact.

also be

Approval of assistance

35. The Commission will approve the Leader+ Community
initiative programmes within not more
than five
months of receipt of the application for assistance and
will decide on the
contribution from the EAGGF
Guidance Section in accordance with Article 28 of the
general Regulation.

State

selects

approval

the Member

the operational
Where
three months
programme as the form of assistance,
after
a programme
complement as defined in Article 9(m) of the general
Regulation must be submitted to the Commission, for
information.
Its content shall be as set out in Article
18(3) of the general Regulation.

the programme

of

The Commission approves of the use of global grants in
accordance with Articles 9(i) and 27 of the general Regu-
lation.

Measures eligible for a Community contribution

36. All measures eligible for

the EAGGF
Guidance Section, the ERDF and the ESF are eligible for
Community co-financing.

funding under

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37.

38.

39.

40.

Leader+ is primarly intended to support pilot strategies to
develop the indigenous potential of rural areas. Because
of this with the exception of small-scale actions to be
identified in partnership, investment in infrastructure is
is productive
not eligible under
investment whose unit volume is higher than a ceiling
to be set in partnership.

initiative nor

this

Expenditure on acquisition of skills as defined in Leader II
(i.e. expenditure on publicity and/or studies prior to the
launch of area development plans by the LAGs) will be a
measure eligible under Action 1 provided that it concerns
new territories where the Leader methodology was never
previously applied.

Expenditure on participating in network(s), on animation,
information, managing, monitoring and evaluating the
programme are all eligible for Community co-financing.
Such expenditure shall be proposed when the programme
is submitted. However, the Community contribution to
the cost of evaluation in the Member States will be
limited to those evaluations which, by their scope and
quality (as assessed using the relevant Commission
guidelines), are effective in helping to evaluate Leader+
at Community level.

Journal of

In leading the European Observatory the Commission
will be assisted by outside contractors selected on the
basis of an open invitation to tender, to be published
the European Communities. An
in the Official
indicative amount of no more than 2 % of
the total
EAGGF Guidance Section contribution to Leader+ will
be reserved for this purpose. These activities, undertaken
at the initiative of the Commission, shall be financed at a
rate of 100 % of the total cost.

IV. COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TO THE

FINANCING OF

LEADER+

The total contribution of the EAGGF Guidande Section
for the period 2000 to 2006 will be EUR 2 020 million
at 1999 prices. In accordance with Article 7(7) of the
general Regulation,
Section
contribution to each programme shall be indexed at
2 % a year up to 2003 and shall be decided at 2003
prices for the years 2004 to 2006. By 31 December
2003,
the Commission shall determine the rate of
indexation applicable for 2004 to 2006.

EAGGF Guidance

the

In particular,

The provisions on the rates of Community contribution
as laid down in Article 29 of the general Regulation will
the EAGGF Guidance Section
apply.
contribution will be a maximum of 75 % of the total
eligible cost in the regions covered by Objective 1 and
a maximum of 50 % in other areas.

V. TIMING

42. The Commission calls on Member States to present their
proposals for programmes under the Leader+ initiative
within six months of the publication of this notice in
the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Member States should send their funding applications and
any other correspondance related to this notice to:

The Director-General
Directorate-General for Agriculture
European Commission
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels.

41. The Leader+ initiative will be jointly financed by the

Member States and the Community.

Done at Brussels, 14 April 2000.

18.5.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 139/13

STRUCTURE OF A PROPOSAL FOR A PROGRAMME UNDER THE LEADER+ COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

ANNEX

1. Definition of the area in which the initiative will apply; criteria used.

2. Analysis of the situation in the area(s) in question.

3. Ex ante evaluation in accordance with Article 41(2) of the general Regulation.

4. The objectives sought by implementation of the initiative; the strategy to achieve them;

links with other rural

development programmes.

5. For each action: objectives; priority theme(s) for action 1; summary description of the measures be to implemented,
including the information necessary to check the conformity of the three actions under the initiative with State aid
rules; impact.

6. Financial plan for each priority by year and by source of funding. Indication, if appropriate, of the Community
financing foreseen in Objective 1 and 2 areas. The annual participation of the Funds must remain compatible with
the financial perspectives.

7. Criteria for the selection of LAGs, procedures and timing.

8. Arrangements for informing potential beneficiaries and, as part of the implementation, arrangements for informing

the general public.

9. Provisions and the competent authorities designated by the Member State for the implementation, management,

including financial management, and monitoring of:

(cid:151) territorial development strategies,

(cid:151) cooperation,

(cid:151) the operation of the networks and their links to the European Observatory.

10. Administrative provisions, detailed rules and procedures for the control of interventions.

11. Provisions for evaluation.

12. A report on the measures undertaken to consult the partners on the programme and the provisions introduced for

their consultation and participation in the monitoring committee.

13. Compatibility of the intervention with other Community policies.