4th meeting of the Subgroup on LEADER and territorial development

The meeting opened with an overview of LEADER achievements in the previous programming period, progress made under the CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs), and proposals for its future.

Members had the opportunity to receive ample clarifications about the Commission's proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including the 'rural target' from the non-ring-fenced CAP and Common Fisheries Policy funds – the report captures all details.

With 211 000 projects funded and more than 83 000 jobs created in the 2014-2022 programming period, LEADER confirms its important role in addressing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of rural development.

LEADER is also contributing to topics such as security, disinformation, community resilience and social capital, which are high on the European agenda. The presentations (see the event page) and the report capture all the details, including reflections and examples shared by Local Action Groups (LAGs) and Member State representatives invited to the meeting. Examples expand on content already shared via the LEADER newsletter, such as Nordic-Baltic stories of LEADER and rural crisis preparedness and LEADER's approach to rural crisis preparedness in Sweden.

Inspirations shared by Subgroup members looked, among others, at LEADER's role to implement Smart Villages, as well as the result of the project 'Our common future', which surveyed some 400 LAGs about relevant local priorities and other key issues, with 'trust' emerging as a key element to ensure the success of LEADER.

An interactive session allowed Subgroup members to identify potential LEADER topics for the 2026/2027 Annual Workplan of the EU CAP Network, based on the strategic priorities formulated by the Assembly in previous meetings.