European Commission
Leader+ Observatory Seminar
‘The Legacy of Leader+ at local level: Building
the future of rural areas’
24-26 April 2007
Cap Corse, Nebbiù è Custera, Corse, FRANCE
The Added Value of Networking
Mini Plenary I 2
Maura Walsh, IRD Duhallow, IRELAND
Networking – The Initial Phase
From the Experience of
LEADER in Ireland
•1991 Local Action Groups COMPETE for LEADER
•Dec-17 win – Competition is not a good kindergarten for co-operation!
•Adversity, lack of knowledge and inexperience and fear of failure is
•Realised that best chance of succeeding was to share and learn
•Voluntary Network established Irish Lags in June 1992
•Duhallow elected Secretary and 3 other officers elected
•Overcoming our Fears- No longer in Competition, Realising Rural
Development is not “Secret” and the sharer is “twice Blessed”
•Sharing of know how of admin rules; Savings in Joint Purchasing
The Role of Networking,
The National Network and
The European Observatory
 The Irish LEADER Network Quickly became the voice of







LEADER in Ireland and took its place at the Ministry Table
We also made visits to Brussels and made friends in the
Commission and Parliament and lobby for Networks in Europe
The LEADER ll Guidelines allow for National Networks
However the interpretation varies, result is Technical Support Units
A Network by definition must be of Equals with Give and Take
A Technical Support Unit is expected to provide just that
Confusion exists because Technical Support Units are called
Networks and therefore are predisposed to disappoint
Likewise at EU Level the term Observatory is more accurate
but Consultation meetings should include Networks and T S U
SCHOLA –
The European Rural Schools
Network
•Through Participation in The Observatory's Round Table Session I got
to know Julio Conde from Spain who was passionate about Rural
Schools and wanted to establish a European Network of Schools
•Despite the language barrier we signed up to a Transnational Project
•LEADER ll offered the possibilities – LEADER+ more difficult
•Our Project has seen the involvement of 16 Rural Schools
•We have identified the huge role the school can play in community
•We have now 6 LAGS involved and intend to grow the network
•Practical Lessons have been learned and we want to continue
The Role of Networking in Promoting
Trans-national Co-operation
 Transnational Projects will grow from LAGS who have met and





built relationships through the Networks
Conferences such as this offers opportunities for LAGs to meet
Experience in Networking at local and national level builds
confidence
Learning what is out there whets the appetite to do more and
better things in ones own territory
Having a good Trans-national Experience encourages LAGs to
repeat the process and to gain new partners
Duhallow has learned so much and the programme has gained
strength as a result of participating in co-operation projects
Conclusions
and
Recommendations
 Co-operation Projects should be initiated in all LEADER sectors
 Our Target Groups of Women and Youth must be Prioritised
 LEADER Trans-national projects are not merely another arm of our




National Trade Boards
I welcome the Commissions proposals to Establish a European Rural
Forum – Ireland has done this and it has added to LEADERs success
If Europe is to achieve cohesion social and cultural differences must
become known, understood and respected in all Member States
Citizens all over Europe in different ways are all looking for the
same thing- an opportunity to have their voices heard LEADER is
the ideal model of community based bottom up development
The exchange of experience and know-how is crucial and must be
included again in LEADER 2007-2013