LEADER 07-13

Since 1991, LEADER has been an important EU support program designed to promote innovative strategies in select rural regions. The most important aspects of this initiative include the preferential treatment of integrated regional development strategies (as opposed to sector-specific activities), special emphasis on the participation of the local population in regionally-based developments, and the close cooperation and networking of rural areas.

For the period 2000-2006, ecoplus was the leading source of funding for all non-agricultural measures. Overall, 277 projects with total costs of approximately €22.5m were supported by ecoplus, whereby approximately €11.1m in EU means were incorporated.
In addition, ecoplus also played a significant role in the design of innovative measures such as the qualification drive and the self-evaluation processes in the Lower Austrian regions.

In accordance with EU guidelines, the 2007-2013 program period involves certain modifications.

LEADER no longer has program status, but instead will be implemented as a bundle of measures within the framework of the Rural Development Policy 2007-2013 program. Financing will be made available in equal measure through national means and means provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

At the same time, LEADER has been considerably strengthened, in terms of both content and financing. In Lower Austria, 18 regions have been selected for participation in the program, meaning that nearly the entire federal state has become a LEADER eligible area.

The following project categories (list is not exhaustive) are to be promoted as part of LEADER as so-called "soft" measures, e.g. non-investment measures and will receive special emphasis:

• Cultural and tourism-related product offer and product development
  
• Tourism-related marketing measures within the framework of activities undertaken by tourism destinations
  
• Operational, regional consultative and collaborative activities (e.g. creation of concepts, support provided by external experts)
  
• Regional energy concepts
  
• Qualification measures
  
• Cooperation among multiple LEADER regions

As well, support of investments – in particular in connection with the implementation of the activities named above – is also possible.