Are LEADER principles achieved in Local Action Groups? A systematic assessment of local representatives' perception

Ana-Maria Opria (), Ema Corodescu-Roè˜ca () and Lucian Roè˜u ()
Additional contact information
Ana-Maria Opria: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania
Ema Corodescu-Roè˜ca: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania
Lucian Roè˜u: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

Eastern Journal of European Studies, 2024, vol. 15(1), 361-382

Abstract: Rural development is often hindered by the lack of human and social capital. The LEADER program is one of the European Union's financial instruments destined to improve the rural areas governance by introducing a set of institutional changes including new local policies, practices and actors. These changes translate into the seven principles at the heart of the LEADER philosophy: partnership, integrated and multi-sectoral strategy, area-based approach, bottom-up approach, cooperation, networking and innovation. This article focuses on assessing the commitment of the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to the LEADER principles in a post-socialist country based on the perception of local actors. In this respect, we combined a quantitative (survey) with a qualitative approach (interview) for evaluating the degree of LEADER principles implementation. The study brings evidence on the specific principles which seem more difficult to integrate and provides a basis for future policy design.

Keywords: LEADER programme; rural communities; local governance; stakeholders' perception; LEADER principles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2024_1501_OPR.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jes:journl:y:2024:v:15:p:361-382

DOI: 10.47743/ejes-2024-0116

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Eastern Journal of European Studies from Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Alupului Ciprian ().