LEADER - Rural Development Policy 2007-2013

The EU's LEADER support program was created in 1991 to promote links among innovative actions in select rural regions in order to further the development of the rural economy. An essential principle of this initiative involves backing integrated regional development strategies as opposed to isolated individual actions. Especially important is the participation of the local population as well as intensive cooperation and networking among rural areas.

In the 2007-2013 program period LEADER will be implemented as a package of measures within the framework of the Rural Development Policy 2007-2013. Financing is made possible in equal part via national and EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) means.

Eighteen Lower Austrian regions have been selected for participation in the program. Thus nearly the entire land area of the province has become a LEADER development zone.

2As in the previous support period, ecoplus will be the most importance instance of support for non-agricultural measures.

Within the framework of LEADER, non-investment measures (so-called "soft measures") will be supported in the following project categories (list is not exhaustive):

• Tourism-related and cultural sites and programs, such as those involving regional cuisine, wine, culinary arts, but also short getaways, cycling, hiking etc.  
• Tourism-related measures associated with current activities of tourist destinations
• Regional and operational cooperation and guidance (e.g. creation of concepts, process management by external consultants)
• Creation of regional energy concepts
• Professional qualification measures and activities
• Promotion of cooperation among multiple LEADER regions

In addition, support of investments is possible, in particular in conjunction with the implementation of above-mentioned activities. Up until today, 255 projects with an investment volume of € 28.9 million and a financial support volume of € 19.8 million have been concluded.