Leader transnational cooperation

About Leader transnational cooperation Cooperation projects help all parts of rural Europe to grow together. Leader cooperation is supported by Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) using the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Cooperation between rural areas is an important tool for the development of these areas.

Leader cooperation encourages and supports local action groups (LAGs) to undertake joint actions with other LAGs, or with a group taking a similar approach. Two main types of cooperation are implemented of the measure for cooperation under the current RDPs’ Leader axis. These are:

• Inter-territorial cooperation - between different rural areas within a Member State concerns at least one LAG selected under the Leader axis and it is open to other local groups using a similar participatory approach;

• Transnational cooperation (TNC) - between different rural areas from Member States. It involves at least one LAG selected under the Leader axis and additional partners could include other local groups using similar participatory approach. It is also possible to extend this cooperation to groups in pre-accession states or third countries following a similar approach.

TNC can help LAGs to upgrade local activities. It can allow them to add value to local resources, to find new visions and new dimensions. Encouraging new activities or developing joint rural tourism initiatives or shared cultural heritage.

TNC projects are not just simple exchanges of experiences. They must involve a concrete joint project.

Transnational and inter-territorial cooperation have become increasingly important for rural stakeholders in the European Union. Experiences from LEADER II (1994-1999) and LEADER+ (2000-2006) demonstrate that cooperation is an effective mechanism for helping EU rural areas.

In current periood: Leader Axis (2007-2013) is about 300 Leader TNC identified and there are around 160 projects where at least one LAG from Baltic-Nordic region is partner.
 

Date of nomination:	(24) 2014-05-17
Nomination country:	Estonia
Title:	Loving Local values
Nominees:	Finalist
Category:	Local Area Development
Countries:	Estonia, Finland
Leading partner:	Estonia - LAG Arenduskoda
Documents:	http://maainfo.ee/public/files/24%20application%20form%20-%20Loving%20local%20food.doc
Photos link:	http://maainfo.ee/index.php?b=363&page=3538&action=pic_list&
Summary:	The project like its name „Loving local values“ focused on valuing local products and food in the district of Development Centre (LAG Arenduskoda) and Kymenlaakso county in Finland, where it involved the municipalities - Kouvola, Hamina, Kotka, Miehikkälä, Pyhtöö, Lovisa, Virolahti and Iti. Related to the goals and activities the focus of the project was to enhance cooperation between people who are active in the field of local food, rural tourism and handicraft to help them design their products and services, add extra value and arrange better marketing. The main focus was on food products! We have mapped the food producers in both regions (in Estonia and Finland), started common discussions between them and planned follow-up projects. The other important focus of the project was rising awareness about local and healthy food. Local food consuming is directly connected with the awareness of consumers. Through the open food days in regions everybody could participate for example in food cooking contests an also in the topic-related seminars.

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