The relaunch of LDnet

We have now completed a very successful series of five LDnet webinars with more than 300 participants. We have also recently completed the setting up in Estonia of a new non-profit association, called ‘European Local Development Network Association MTÜ’, that will take over the operational support and guidance of the LDnet network from the ‘LEDA-Partenariat Association’, in accordance with our General Assembly decisions.

Anyone sharing the objectives of LDnet is welcome to join the new non-profit association and participate in setting priorities and planning the activities of LDnet. It’s simple: you only need to complete the online registration form, agreeing to the objectives of the association. There is no joining fee or regular subscription.

The inaugural General Meeting of the new association took place online on Wednesday 18 June at 16:30 CEST. The agenda included a discussion on the state of local development and the priorities and activities of LDnet for the second half of 2025 and beyond, and the election of the management board of the  association by the registered members.

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The memebership of the newly elected management board is HERE.

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For the draft minutes of the General Meeting click below. 

• Minutes of the last General Meeting of the European Local Development Network Association MTÜ

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The relaunch of LDnet was completed on 2.7.2025 with the management board reiterating the priorities of the Association as “building on the recent webinar series, growing our membership, contributing to Cohesion policy debates, building capacity in the delivery chain, and supporting an urban CLLD network”. The board agreed to focus on two main sets of activities in the 2^nd half of 2025 by organising webinars and/or other events, statements etc, on:

• influencing EU policy and future funding for CLLD;
• practical capacity building work, including support to urban CLLD.

These will be pursued through an existing Working Group and three new ones. Their remit covers the following topics:

• Cohesion Policy WG: To inform and influence future Cohesion Policy by promoting local/ territorial approaches and CLLD, including organising (possibly joint) webinars/events and producing a position paper on the value of local development in ‘larger’ policies.
• Communications WG: To develop internal and external communications strategy, advance the use of social media, and improve the Association’s website.
• New ideas WG: To explore the scope for promoting experimentation in local development through action-research and other innovative methods, links between researchers and practitioners, and possibly proposals for project funding.
• Urban CLLD WG: To continue developing a support scheme for building capacity in urban CLLD, on the assumption that its operation will be assumed by an appropriate structure or organisation other than the Association itself.