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Learn about the implementation of the Leader Program in Estonia, including the involvement of various organizations and the objectives of the program.
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Implementation of Leader program in Estonia Kristiina Tammets
RDP 2014-2020 preparation • Steering Committee • 28 organisations involved – agriculture, food industry, forestry, entrepreneurship, village movement, local initiative, local municipalities, science etc. • Expert groups (Steering Committee + 30 additional organisations)
RDP 2014-2020 objectives Co-operation between farmers, processors and scientists is functioning, R&D and knowledge transfer are up-to-date; Agricultural sector is oriented towards sustainable food production, is competitive, resource-efficient and with sustainable age structure; Enterprises engaged in agriculture and processing of agricultural products have strong market position and making cooperation in producing, processing and marketing of agricultural products; Agricultural land use is environmentally-friendly, taking into account regional specifities, preservation of biodiversity, traditional landscapes, high-nature value agriculture and forestry is guaranteed; Rural economy and rural living environment are diverse, offer alternative employment opportunities for workforce disengaged from agriculture and are based on local resources and local solutions.
RDP 2014-2020: main changes compared to previous period More attention to R&D and innovation; Prioritisation of food supply chain related activities, several new activities for short supply chain and direct marketing; In case of investments focus on long term investments.
Leader 2014-2020: objectives Improving competitiveness of enterprises, mainly through implementing cooperative actions; Promoting social inclusion by creating new jobs, involving local people in preparation of local strategies and improving accessibility of services (including IT-services); Better usage of regional specifities, including in developing local food; Promoting finding and applying new solutions, including in developing community based services; Improving local governance through involvement of different stakeholders.
The main changes for period 2014-2020 The monitoring system of LAGs incl self-evaluation; All decisions not to finance a project and objections will go to paying agency (so far the LAGs themselves dealt with those); The obligation to rotate the members of the LAG board and the evaluation committee; Guarantee at the decision-making level that any single interest group represents less than 49 % of the voting rights; All LAGs submit all documents through electronic system.
Leader local development: support rates and amounts Running costs up to 100% Investments into infrastructure up to 60% Non-profit generating projects and last-mile Internet access networks up to 90%, profit generating projects up to 60% Maximum amount in case of investments is 2,00000 euros per project.
Leader 2014-2020: main requirements Local action group has to include at least 3 local municipalities (+ at least one entrepreneur and NGO or foundation per municipality); Statute of the local action group foresees that the main activity of the LAG is developing local area; Area of the local action group shall consist of local municipalities and small cities (inhabitants up to 4000); Population of the area shall be between 10 000 and 150 000 inhabitants (limit changes allowed in special cases);
Leader 2014-2020: main requirements Area of the local action group shall consist of local parishes with common economic, cultural and social interests; Local action groups have to be open for new members; Local municipality can be member of only one local action group; At the decision-making level any single interest group shall not represent more than 49% of the voting rights, at least 50% of the votes are cast by partners which are not public authorities.
LAGs networking - success of Estonian Leader Forum • 2010 agreement with all 26 LAGs to contribute to the Leader policy making; • 2011 ELARD membership; representation in Steering Committee of Ministry of Rural Affairs; • 2012-2014 representation in different working groups (also incl. Estonian regional development strategy); • 2013 establishment of NGO Estonian Leader Union and joining process of LAGs started; only LAGs can be members of the Union; • March 2015 agreement with 26 LAGs to finalize the joining process by autumn 2015.
Estonian Leader Union activities • Main mission is to defend the rights and interests of Estonian LAGs; • Estonian LEADER Union supports its’ members through dissemination and cooperation activities; • In order to arise the awareness and expertise Estonian LEADER Union participate in national and international calls and hosts LAGs and networks from other countries (European Union and perspective candidate states).
Contribution to the Leader policy making • Steering Committee under the Ministry of Rural Affairs assessing 2007-2013 ERDP implementation and working out the National Rural Development Plan 2014-2020 and new Leader regulation; • Working group of Estonian Regional Development Strategy; • Representation at ELARD since 2011; • Representation at European Rural Networks Assembly since 2014; • Alternate member of the European Economic and Social Committee together with the representative of Estonian Trade Union.
Success storyFirst National Open Farm DayInitiative of LAGs and NSU Video In 2012 the first open farms day in the Central part of Estonia took place, initiated by 2 local action groups; On 19th of July 2014 the first opened farms day that covered all Estonia took place – 147 farms participated and we had 45 000 visits; Farms presented the background, history and everyday work of the farm and organized degustation; Visitors received a lot of knowledge about farm work and production and possibility to buy products.
Kristiina Tammets LAG Tartu Rural Development Association
