Malta’s Rural Development Plan (RDP) for 2007-13 was recently submitted to the European Commission and is currently awaiting approval. One of the new programmes inserted in the RDP is LEADER+ and its main priorities are making the best use of natural and cultural resources, including the embellishment of sites; improving the quality of life in rural areas; and adding value to local products, by facilitating access to markets for small production units via collective actions.

LEADER+ supports integrated territorial development strategies of a pilot nature based on a bottom up approach. Eligible projects that could be carried out under this Programme include restoration or maintenance of small-scale recreational, amenities, such as leisure parks; the conservation and upgrading of rural heritage; the resurfacing of accessible agricultural roads and maintenance of adjacent walls and/or water culverts where such service is required; the animation of the territory to attract tourism; and maintaining crafts, through skills acquisitions and promotional campaigns.  

These projects have to be managed by Local Action Groups (LAGs). These LAGS should be formed within a selected rural territory and their members should include representatives from Government entities, Local Councils, NGOs and the business sector.  The LAGs are to develop a Local Development Strategy (LDS) to improve the selected territory, and can identify projects falling under Axis 1 and 3 of the RDP.

Forum Malta fl-Ewropa has been approached by the Rural Development Department (RDD) within the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment to assist it with the dissemination of information on LEADER+ and the RDP. Forum has also received various queries on LEADER+ from Local Councils. For this reason, on 27 November a half-day seminar on LEADER+ was held during which RDD officials provided detailed information on LEADER+ and  the new Rural Development Plan.