Today, on World Rural Development Day, we reaffirm our dedication to rural communities and the transformative power of LEADER-CLLD. Rural areas are the backbone of Europe, and their development must Continue reading →

A legal and democratic imperative

The European Union’s next programming period (2028-2034) is on the horizon, and with it comes the National Rural and Partnership Plans (NRPPs). These plans are not just bureaucratic exercises: they are the blueprint for rural Continue reading →

What is LEADER really about today, and what should it become tomorrow? (2/2)

This article reviews a second recent discussion paper on the future of LEADER-CLLD. The first one, focusing on the work of the Transnational Cooperation project “Our Common Continue reading →

Brussels, 09 February 2026

We welcome the recognition of rural areas in the future EU budget architecture and the proposed introduction of a dedicated rural spending target. In a recent letter addressed to us, European Commission President Ursula von der Continue reading →

What is LEADER really about today, and what should it become tomorrow? (1/2)

After more than 30 years of implementation across Europe, the LEADER-CLLD approach stands at a crossroads. In a context of multiple crises, growing territorial inequalities, democratic fatigue Continue reading →

What makes LEADER more than just a funding programme? A new scientific study from Estonia proposes an answer: its ability to create social value through trust, cooperation, and community-led governance.

Published in European Urban and Regional Studies, the Continue reading →