The contribution of the LEADER approach to the development of rural areas in Latvia

Abstract

The study was conducted with a purpose to find out a present role of the LEADER approach in development of the Latvian rural areas. The article consists of analysis of the LEADER approach in Latvia and other European countries, historical development and previously carried out evaluations of the LEADER results, the quantitative results for 2014-2020 period of the LEADER approach in Latvia. The Local Development Strategies (LDS) were analysed. Although the major needs of local communities identified by LAGs are linked to labour possibilities, infrastructure, knowledge and information, more important contribution of the LEADER projects was made in infrastructure development and not in strengthening of economic development. Nevertheless, the LEADER approach itself shows good results in facilitation of the local activities and thus looks perspective in future. It would be useful to use the multi-fund approach for the LAG support, which would facilitate development of the strategies according to local (community) needs. The LEADER place in the local development method is challenging for the next period.

LEADER as a mechanism of neo-endogenous development of rural areas: the case of Poland

“…In total, they cover 278,235.7 km² (in Poland), which is 93.2% of the area that qualified for support from the RDP (Hadyński & Borucka 2015, and they include all rural and urbanrural communes in Poland. The confirmation of the success of the LEADER initiative and the creation of LAGs is the fact that, in the current 2014-2020 perspective, they play a key role in the process of constructing assumptions for the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) tool (Czudec et al 2018), in the creation of which previous experience from implementing LEADER was used (Veveris & Puzulis 2019). The rich Polish cultural and culinary heritage should be used in the construction of local tourist products.…”

“…This indicates both similarities and differences compared with other EU countries. There are common preferences for the sale of agricultural raw materials and the promotion of food products in Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Italy, Sweden, Slovakia and Slovenia; for environment in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Luxembourg and the UK; for education in Finland, Lithuania, Sweden, Slovenia and the UK (ENRD report 'The State-of-play… ' 2014) and, in Latvia, for entrepreneurship and business activities (Veveris & Puzulis 2019). What is specific to Poland is the large share of projects in the field of broadly understood infrastructural investments and the above-mentioned trade, secondary services, transport and construction.…”