In this study we investigate marginality in European rural areas to understand how EU policies for local development can stimulate novel approaches to social innovation and economic growth. The ...method applied is a Social Network Analysis (SNA) on the call tenders of an Italian Local Action Group managing the LEADER programme in the Piacentino and Parmense Apennine (Emilia-Romagna). The implementation of the Inner Area Strategy in a part of the LEADER territory (11 out of the 59 municipalities of the LEADER area) allows to verify complementarities, interrelations and overlays between the two development policies.
•Marginality is a main issue in EU rural areas, often prone to the lack of social innovation and economic growth.•We evaluate an Italian case study where EU LEADER programme has been implemented to address the issue of marginality.•In the area is implemented also the National Inner Areas Strategy (SNAI), with similar objectives but different tools.•The applied method is a Social Network Analysis (SNA).•LEADER succeeds in benefiting most marginal municipalities: the conjoint action of policies boosts local development.
Demographic exploration within sustainable local development is pivotal for understanding associative entities in a specific region. This study delves into Romania's demographic views, with a focal ...point on Local Action Groups (LAGs) in Central Dobrogea. Associative entities encompass political parties, non-governmental associations, agricultural cooperatives, and LAGs, serving as catalysts for positive change, policy influence, and community resilience. This research analyzes 177 respondents' data using SPSS, finding no significant associations between age/gender and participation in associative entities.The work emphasizes the potential influence of demographic characteristics, particularly age and gender, on individuals' perceptions, priorities, and participation in these entities. Age shapes perceptions of socio-economic issues, while gender influences perspectives within the context of sustainable local development. Consequently, this study provides insights into the demographic dynamics of associative entity participation, highlighting their enduring relevance in shaping a more sustainable and resilient local community.
On the basis of an exploratory survey research conducted in Lithuania, Germany and Poland, the paper argues that in the European Union there are conditions to develop a common strategy for supporting ...households in their struggle to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy sources and make them more resilient against rising energy prices in times of the current energy crisis. It also sheds new light on Local Action Groups, providing arguments that they could be used as a tool for implementing a common strategy, serving to increase household involvement in the decarbonization of local socio-economic systems.
•Discusses the problem of energy transition in EU households in times of energy crisis.•Argues that the EU could develop a common strategy for supporting households.•Provides arguments that LAGs can be used as a tool for implementing such a strategy.•Spots two areas of household support where LAGs could be used: education, counseling.•Proposes solutions useful for households in an energy descent scenario.
The literature on cross-sector partnerships, in particular Local Action Groups, has delivered many insights on their multi-directional impact on local communities. However, there has not been any ...empirical research into their potential contribution to increase citizen engagement in energy transition. This paper seeks to partially fill this gap. It has been the author’s ambition to look at Local Action Groups and draw a preliminary picture of these partnerships as tools used to increase the engagement of local communities (households) in the European Union in the shift of local socio-economic systems towards low-carbon economy (in particular in more efficient, cleaner and smarter consumption of energy used for electricity, heating, cooling and cooking), as well as to formulate recommendations in this regard for the public energy policy and propose directions for further research. Survey-based exploratory research has been conducted, which collected responses from 427 Local Action Groups operating in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and has delivered insights that they generally have an appropriate potential to carry out activities aimed at increasing the involvement of local communities in the energy transition process and that local conditions are conducive to it. At the same time, it provided premises that Local Action Groups can become a driver for change that is necessary for energy transition.
•A discussion on the role of Local Action Groups in energy transition.•Insights that they have an appropriate potential to engage in it.•Premises that local conditions are conducive to their engagement.•Conclusions for the EU on how to achieve global climate goals at a local level.
The main aim of this paper is a quantitative and structural comprehensive evaluation of LEADER projects presented in the context of local resources, which determine development opportunities. The ...issue has been discussed mainly from a geographical and spatial perspective. The impact of the LEADER approach on increasing the mobilisation of local communities and their use of rural resources was evaluated; as a result, this has enabled a bottom-up simulation of the development of local government units. The LEADER approach has substantially contributed to the mobilisation of local resources in rural areas (e.g. growth in the number Local Action Groups (LAGs) from 149 to 338). It was found that the involvement of LAGs had a positive impact on the activity of inhabitants (i.e. an increase in the number of initiatives undertaken, the absorption of European Union (EU) funds). The nature of the implemented projects demonstrates that LEADER combines investment actions with social projects. In general, it has been implemented more successfully in areas where investments are related to genuine needs and local resources.
The Local Action Groups have the capacity to act in a complex way, so as to cover the entire economic and social issues of the regions where they act. The actions carried out by the LAGs have direct ...consequences on rural development by encouraging those projects that develop alternative solutions in obtaining revenues; diversification of the market for products and services; ensuring sustainable development, by protecting the environment and ensuring the security and well-being of life. This article makes an analysis of the impact of European funding in supporting the development of the rural environment of the area of influence of a Local Action Group in Olt County. It describes the situation of European funding at LAG level and the proposal of development directions that need to be considered in the future: increasing competitiveness in agricultural activities, sustainable use of resources and balanced development of economic activities and local communities in rural areas.
The EU programming cycle 2007–2013 marks the introduction of the concept of local development in fisheries policies. This new vision implies the need to develop sustainable development processes ...according to a place-based perspective. Knowledge, understood as a learning process, becomes the focal point of the territorial development process. The aim of this study is to bridge the cognitive gap at the local level about the socio-economic aspects of the fisheries’ sector, affecting the fleets involved in the definition of the Local Development Plan of the “Stretto" Coast Fishery Local Action Group (FLAG) in South Italy. The work aims to assess the economic performance of the fisheries’ vessels operating in the FLAG area to deepen the knowledge about the costs and revenues of fishing activity that are critical variables for fishermen's choices. To this end, we carried out a budgetary analysis, from which seven performance indicators were derived. Moreover, a multicriteria analysis, performed through the Fuzzy VIKOR technique, allowed us to elaborate a composite indicator. The decision to operate in the fuzzy environment arises from the need to better manage the vagueness and imprecision of the data collected during the interviews. The framework is useful to both acquire and interpret in a synthetic manner the salient aspects needed to identify ideas and suggestions for the planning of development strategies, whose effectiveness is closely linked to the real conditions of the territory. The results show that the best economic performance was shown by vessels that adopt the surrounding as the main fishing system. However, at the local level, there is a general lack of interest shown by young people in undertaking fishing activities and carrying on the family business.
Multifunctionality embedded in the neo-endogenous model of rural development and manifested through the LEADER approach typifies a new rural development paradigm, which is implemented by various ...actors. The focus of this paper is on the organic farmer as an actor who has a high degree of multifunctionality and importance in community-led local development. The research question behind this paper is whether such ideas are valid for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (in this case, Czechia). This paper examines the multifunctionality of agriculture and rural development through the prism of organic farmers who participated in LEADER approach supported projects from 2007 to 2013. It aims to identify how organic farmers engage in the LEADER approach and the impacts of the projects implemented by them (the thematic and spatial dimensions of the research). The results of a specially designed method of heuristic interventional investigation show that the projects implemented by organic farmers (namely, those operating large farms of 100–250 ha) implemented under the LEADER approach in 2007–2013 stimulated and stabilised development in localities that were threatened by disadvantageous social and economic circumstances. These projects contributed to the resilience of outlying districts with small settlements, a fact which though positive, suggests an uneven geographical implementation of the LEADER approach. The results came through utilising the endogenous potentials of nature and human origin, with land and landscape as a tourist attraction. However, organic farmers in Czechia are not yet fully exploiting their potential to become truly multifunctional and genuine actors in rural development. They utilise LEADER projects primarily for the purchase of farm machinery and technology or for other investments in farming. This is because of the prevailing need to continue building the organic sector, which has only been in emergence since 1989. Investments in agricultural production may result in organic farming becoming conventionalised and linked with productivism, thereby limiting its multifunctionality. Conversely, the research also found projects that reveal a multifunctional approach, particularly in relation to sustainability, which itself correlates with strong multifunctionality.
•The most visible LEADER principle in the projects of organic farmers is a multisectoral approach.•The projects of organic farmers stimulated development in rural localities.•The projects contributed to the rural resilience by utilizing the endogenous potential of nature and human origin.•Organic farmers use LEADER projects mostly to purchase farming machinery and technology.•Organic farmers in Czechia are not yet fully exploiting their potential to become truly multifunctional.
A Local Action Group (LAG) is an association aiming to implement the LEADER rural development policy programme, to create and develop partnerships and to make a significant contribution to the ...management of rural development. LAGs draw up local development strategies for the territory they represent, which are implemented by rural community and business organisations and local authorities in cooperation with the social partners. LAGs bring together the economic and social partners operating in an area, involve the local population in decision-making processes and provide advice. The paper aims to answer the question: how is the essence of LEADER programme fulfilled - creating links between the rural economy and development actions. The research problem is investigated using the methods of scientific literature analysis, analysis of strategic and political documents, systematisation, case studies and other methods. The study found that the strategies were developed taking into account the existing characteristics of the area and the expectations of the population, and involved the involvement of key stakeholders: municipal and district staff, representatives of business and rural communities, and invited consultants. The strategies have been developed in line with LEADER principles, the local development strategies have an integrated approach. It integrates the activities of different sectors, the whole project or specific groups, and strengthens the links between key economic, social, cultural and environmental actors and sectors.
Since its accession to the EU, the Czech Republic has gradually strengthened its support for area-based approaches in local development. In the light of the increasing financial support and the ...growing number of local action groups (LAGs), optimism seems to be appropriate that the elements of local governance have the potential to be implemented in the Czech Republic now more than ever before. Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) in the programming period of 2014-2020, however, throws away the advantage of having the local focus, one of the essential elements of integrated territorial development tools. We back up this claim with an analysis of the implementation process of the CLLD method at the national level, the evaluation of the strategic and implementation parts of the 43 strategies of CLLD LAGs, and in-depth interviews with 23 LAG managers. Our results show that the offer only partially meets the identified local needs of LAGs. The final strategy of CLLD has been created in the background of the pragmatic approach of actors in the territory influenced by the defined range of topics. The potential for the strengthening of local governance is limited, while a hidden top-down effect is applied.
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