Support for co-operation between rural territories

LEADER+ supports co-operation programmes among rural territories. These co-operation programmes must lead to concrete added value for the territory and must be aimed at two frequently complementary aims:

Allow to reach the critical mass necessary for the feasibility of a common project;
Identify complementarities.

These co-operation schemes cannot be restricted purely to a mere exchange of experiences. They must consist of a common action if possible carried out by a common structure.
This action of LEADER+ shall be applied to the rural territories selected within the context of Area 1 of the initiative, and will be executed under the responsibility of a LAG which will act as interlocutor.
Co-operation may be in the nature of inter-territorial or transnational co-operation (National Programme Point 5.2).

Only operations concerning the territories selected within the scope of LEADER+ are eligible for Community co-financing. However, animation expenses are eligible for all the territories involved.

Presentation of Projects

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Transnational co-operation shall apply to the Local Action Groups of at least two Member States. However, whenever a territory selected under the LEADER+ programme is in co-operation, according to the conditions of this area, with a territory outside the European Community organised on the basis of the LEADER approach, the expenses incurred for the LEADER+ territory are then eligible.

Search Engine to find partnerships

The supply and demand of partnerships for transnational co-operation programmes can be operated through the search engine designed by Sweden’s LEADER+ network, called “Swedish Leader+ Network Unit”, which has made it available for all those interested in using it.

Many European LAGs have used this search engine with satisfactory results to establish new contacts for co-operation.