Rural revitalization
Greater support for rural areas
Leader approach
The LEADER approach consists of delegating the planning initiative to the local communities of each rural territory, which, organized into Local Action Groups , develop and implement a Participatory Local Development Strategy (PLDS) for that territory, taking advantage of its resources.
LEADER has been an important component of rural development in the European Union since the 1990s. Currently, following the approval of Spain's CAP Strategic Plan (PEPAC) for the new period 2023-2027, the LEADER approach is now included in the cooperation intervention, in Article 77 of the PEPAC Regulation , allowing for a more comprehensive development of EDLPs so that they become part of the socioeconomic fabric of rural areas.
The LEADER approach has proven effective in fostering the development of rural areas by fully taking into account the multisectoral needs of endogenous rural development through bottom-up planning.
In addition to the bottom-up approach, the principles underlying this methodology include territorial development strategies; public-private collaboration; integrated and multisectoral actions; innovation; cooperation; and networking.
Local Action Groups
Local Action Groups or Rural Development Groups are considered to be non-profit associations, regardless of their legal form, whose internal organization includes representatives from both public and private stakeholders in a given territory.
LEADER Subgroup
During the current period, the " LEADER Subgroup " working group has been maintained. It is made up of technicians from the regional management authorities and regional and national networks representing the LAGs. Its general objectives are the exchange of views and dialogue between its members.
Participatory Local Development Strategies (PLDS)
EDLPs aim to meet the economic, social, and environmental needs of a region, as well as strengthen and increase its potential through its endogenous resources, that is, the territory itself.
LEADER Cooperation
LEADER cooperation refers to the collaborative work among regional social partners to achieve the objectives of their region's Participatory Local Development Strategy. This cooperation can be inter-regional (between Local Action Groups from different autonomous communities) or transnational (between Local Action Groups from different countries).
