Experience with the implementation of the LEADER approach in Hungary

1. Experience with the implementation of the LEADER approach in Hungary Anna Parizán Counsellor - Rural Development Officer Ministry of Rural Development 13. December 2011

2. Liasion Entre Actions pour le Developpement de l'Economie Rurale 1991-1993 LEADER I. 1994-1999 LEADER II. 2000-2006 LEADER+ 2007-2013 LEADER - Axis IV.

3. ARDOP LEADER Programme

4. ARDOP LEADER+ Programme(1) ARDOP LEADER+ Programme launched in June 2005 as a part of the SAPARD and ARDOP Programmes Challenging task to fit the LEADER into the ARDOP system ARDOP is complicated and difficult system dates and schedules were not kept Finance: Total budget: 6.7 billion forint Grants: 90 or 100 million forint per LAG Max. 15% for operational cost 85% for local applications Projects realized and payments finished.

5. ARDOP LEADER+ Programme(2) Territorial data: application of 186 LAGs (2332 settlements, 75% of the settlements in Hungary) number ofinhabitants on these settlements: 3 434 818 persons (34% of the Hungarian population) average population size per LAG: 18 467 persons on average 12.5 settlements belong to one LAG 70 LAGs were selected (31% of the settlements in Hungary) Number of inhabitants on these settlements: 1 601 733 persons (16% of the Hungarian population) average population size per LAG: 22 882 persons on average 13.7 settlements belong to one LAG

6. 70 selected LAGs

7. New Hungary Rural Development Programme

8. Allocation of EAFRD resources The resources of Axis IV. (5.5%) will be deducted from the amount allocated for Axis IV, following the ratios 25-10-65 percent, accordingly

9. Allocation of EAFRD resource (2) • EAFRD contribution: over 3,8 billion euros • National contribution: over 1,3 billion euros • Expected private expenditure: over 3,2 billion euros • Total cost: over 8,3 billion euros • Axis I. – 2,3 billion EUR • Axis II. – 1,6 billion EUR • Axis III. – 690 million EUR • Axis IV. – 272 million EUR • TA – 202,978,313 EUR

10. Actors in LEADER Programme

11. LEADER Programme in Hungary • 105 registered communities (10 October 2007); • 96 LAGs became „LEADER LAGs” officially (26th September 2008); • All eligible Hungarian rural communities are covered; • LAGs become legal entities (decentralized decision making system);

12. LEADER Programme in Hungary

13. Measures of Axis III. Axis III: Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy: Diversification into non-agricultural activities; Support for business creation and development; Encouragement of tourism activities; Basic services for the economy and rural population; Village renewal and development; Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage; preparation of Natura 2000; maintenance/development plans; Training and information; Skill acquisition, animation and implementation.

14. Measures of Axis IV. Axis IV: LEADER 1. Implementation of the local development strategies 2. International and transnational cooperation 3. Running costs, acquisition of skills and animation I. Tendering period: 1 October 2009- 16 November 2009 Number of projects supported: 3082 Commitment: 44 659 365 euro II. Tendering period: 29 November 2011- 5 December 2011

15. Timetable for the LEADER LAGs I. Selection of LEADER action groups and Local Communities Setting up the structures (May 2007 – 10 October 2007) Local communities: Selection (10 October 2007 – January 2008) II. Local Planning Local planning (11 January 2008 to September 2008) Selection (July – September 2008) III. Implementation

16. Inter-territorial and transnational cooperation within LEADER Objectives of the measure: • Promotion and implementation of inter-territorial and international cooperation; • Facilitating the share of experiences; • Know-how; • Best practices; • Preparation of joint actions and common projects; 3 levels of cooperation: • Cooperation projects within the country; • Cooperation projects at EU level; • Cooperation projects with third countries.

17. Cooperation process: • LAG should integrate possible fields of cooperation and cooperation actions into the LEADER Strategy; • Strategy can be modified during the programming period; • LAG is required to indicate its related demand to the MA; • Projects should be approved by MA; • Deadline for the submission of cooperative projects: 31.12.2013; • Interregional and international projects can be both supported after approval of the MA and PA.

18. Selection criteria for cooperation projects • Number of local communities and people involved in the project; • Expected outcome of the cooperation; • Sustainability of the cooperation.

19. Supported activities • Sharing of experience, know-how, jointly prepared and executed activities, joint actions wherein the target groups of all the regions; • Jointly operated organizations; • Preparatory activities for cooperative projects; • Building up common structures; • Animation and coordination among the partners can be supported.

20. Thank you for your kind attention! Anna Parizán Ministry of Rural Development Department of Rural Development Rural Development Unit 1055 Budapest, Kossuth tér 11. e-mail: anna.parizan@vm.gov.hu