Webinar: Improving perspectives for the implementation of LEADERS approach in the Western Balkan countries.

The European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to Rural Development (IPARD) supports agricultural and rural reforms in Western Balkan. The EU financial and technical assistance to beneficiaries’ countries (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey) aims to improve the competitiveness of the agri-food sector and rural areas, and the alignment with EU acquis in agriculture and rural development. Implementation of local development strategies – LEADER approach – is one of the measures supported by IPARD through financial support of Local Action Groups to implement their bottom up local development strategies. Moreover, Technical Assistance measure also supports the establishment of Local Action Groups.

While the pre-accession countries are embarked in reform processes and in different stages of IPARD implementation, Rural Networks have invested in Leader promotion, capacity building, stakeholder engagement and animation activities etc. In this context, the webinar will take a closer look at the progress of the Leader implementation in the pre-accession countries and to highlight the challenges in this regard.  What are the main common challenges? What are key factors of success in Leader implementation? What role do rural networks play and how can it be strengthened? What roles can Prepare or other rural networks play? As the EU is trying to enhance the accession process (A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans), how does Leader approach help pre-accession countries in their reform process to EU?

THROWBACK: Empowering rural stakeholders in the Western Balkans

STATE OF PLAY – Leader implementation in pre-accession countries under IPARD

NATIONAL RURAL NETWORKS in Western Balkans and their contribution to Leader approach promotion though the EU-funded regional ALTER project

VOICES FROM THE GROUND: Getting the LEADER approach up and running in the Western Balkans, Turkey and beyond

GET INSPIRED to implement Leader approach: successful experience in
implementing Leader approach in Moldova

CREDIBLE EU PERSPECTIVE FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS: how does Leader approach help pre-accession countries in their reform process to EU?