Preserving the specific features of CLLD post-2020

In May 2018, the European Commission published its proposals for CLLD/LEADER in the post-2020 period. The overall impression is that these proposals, broadly speaking, amount to a continuation of the approach and rules applying to CLLD/LEADER in the current, 2014-2020 period.

But as already noted by Robert Lukesch in his ‘LEADER RELOADED‘ paper, there will be a fundamental change in the overall architecture as EAFRD will be no longer considered as an instrument of the European cohesion policy and will not fall within the common framework for ERDF, ESF and EMFF, the new Common Provisions Regulation.

And, as usual, the devil is in the detail. Jean-Pierre Vercruysse, former Commission official in charge of CLLD in DG MARE, has used his unparalleled knowledge of CLLD/LEADER to go into some depth and has identified two specific aspects of the CLLD method – the local partnership and the selection of projects at the local level – where the proposals in the draft Common Provisions Regulation raise issues of interpretation and create potential uncertainties.

He warns that the wording of the final Regulation will be crucial for a proper implementation of CLLD and it is very important that the drafting is not watered down during the negotiations with the co-legislators.

Click below to read his full analysis and comments, including on the implementation of multi-funding for CLLD and on the alignment of the draft Regulation with the LEADER method.