Fact Sheet

European Commission

THE LEADER APPROACH
A basic guide

THE LEADER APPROACH
A basic guide

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The Leader approach: a basic guide
The purpose of this document
This document introduces the Leader approach, explaining how it can work for the development of rural communities. It also sets out some basic information about how it should be implemented at local level, as an integral part of the rural development policy of the European Union (EU). It includes:

It is addressed to all rural stakeholders with an interest in setting up or participating in local rural development initiatives. They may be administrators at national, regional or local level, farmers or other active members of the rural community — all have a potential role to play in Leader. Our aim is to explain to decision-makers and programme authorities, particularly in the newer and potential future Member States, what Leader is and how to put it into practice. We also aim to show rural communities in the EU that the Leader approach can provide an opportunity for them to take the initiative, and