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A stronger future for rural Europe: petition calls for urgent action on LEADER/CLLD
Brussels, 31 March 2025 –
Through a Europe-wide petition launched today, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP) is supporting Local Development Companies Network (LDCN) and counterparts across Europe in urging EU policymakers to place LEADER/CLLD (Community Led Local Development) at the centre of Europe’s long-term rural development policy.
LEADER is co-funded by the European Union (under the Common Agricultural Policy) and the Government of Ireland. Since its creation in 1991, the LEADER programme has made a significant positive difference to communities in County Kilkenny, including our leadership of the creation and development of The Nore Vision, Graiguenamanagh’s Outdoor Activity Hub, The Lingaun Valley tourism region, Trail Kilkenny and its many walking and cycling routes- including the pioneering research and development work on the South East Greenway and the support of many other rural development projects. LEADER, through KLP, has driven ‘bottom-up’, rural development in cooperation with communities and small businesses- and in partnership with local authorities and state agencies, as appropriate and necessary.
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership believes that at a time when rural areas face increasing challenges, the EU Commission should redouble its efforts to empower rural communities by enabling them to design and implement solutions tailored to local needs, which the LEADER programme has been so successful at doing. With this petition, we are calling on the European Commission to ensure that participatory rural development remains at the heart of EU policies.
“KLP has been an independent Local Action Group operating the LEADER programme for over 33 years. Over that period, LEADER has been a key support for communities in County Kilkenny, and for rural communities across Ireland. Many people may not be familiar with the programme, but they may recognise the famous ‘green and white’ logo used throughout the EU for over 30 years. They will also know and value so many of the facilities that have been developed by the community, for the community, with the support of LEADER funding, even if they don’t know that LEADER funded those projects.
Another key element of LEADER is that it also encourages the support of small local businesses in rural areas, many of whom have benefited from LEASDER funding over the three decades and are employing local people in their local areas. It is unique in this dual community and business approach.
We recently launched a new LEADER programme that will run until the end of 2027, but through this petition we are looking to send a message to EU policymakers, who are currently devising EU long-term budgets, to say that a strong Europe needs strong rural communities, and LEADER needs to be equipped to continue to support the development of those rural communities beyond 2027.”
Declan Rice, CEO, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership.
