<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The LAGs (Local Action Groups) are in charge of designing the development strategy under the LEADER Approach for their areas of action, as well as managing European aid for Rural Development in order to promote new economic activities with which generate progress and alleviate the demographic and socioeconomic problems of its most depressed municipalities. Thus, in this paper the qualitative analysis of LEADER in Extremadura (SW Spain) in the 2007–2013 programming period is presented through the results of a questionnaire to the technical staffs of the 24 LAGs in order to complement the various previous quantitative studies and to know the opinion of essential actors in the rural development processes. During the 2007–2013 period (with the EAFRD as European Fund to finance rural development aids) LAGs have faced great bureaucratic and administrative burdens, which adds to the difficult economic situation experienced in recent years. This has hindered the true labor of these partnerships, that is, to revitalize their territories of action in order to create socioeconomic and, consequently, demographic development.</p></abstract>

The LAGs (Local Action Groups) are in charge of designing the development strategy under the LEADER Approach for their areas of action, as well as managing European aid for Rural Development in order to promote new economic activities with which generate progress and alleviate the demographic and socioeconomic problems of its most depressed municipalities. Thus, in this paper the qualitative analysis of LEADER in Extremadura (SW Spain) in the 2007–2013 programming period is presented through the results of a questionnaire to the technical staffs of the 24 LAGs in order to complement the various previous quantitative studies and to know the opinion of essential actors in the rural development processes. During the 2007–2013 period (with the EAFRD as European Fund to finance rural development aids) LAGs have faced great bureaucratic and administrative burdens, which adds to the difficult economic situation experienced in recent years. This has hindered the true labor of these partnerships, that is, to revitalize their territories of action in order to create socioeconomic and, consequently, demographic development.

Rural Space Governance in Extremadura (SW Spain). Analysis of the Leader Approach

European Countryside

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The LAGs (Local Action Groups) are in charge of designing the development strategy under the LEADER Approach for their areas of action, as well as managing...

Rural Space Governance in Extremadura (SW Spain). Analysis of the Leader Approach

Published Online: Dec 31, 2020

Page range: 448 - 468

Received: May 15, 2020

Accepted: Aug 07, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0024

Keywords
Governance, LEADER influence, LEADER management, Rural areas, Rural Development Program, Local Action Group

© 2020 Gema Cárdenas Alonso et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Rural Space Governance in Extremadura (SW Spain). Analysis of the Leader Approach

Published Online: Dec 31, 2020

Page range: 448 - 468

Received: May 15, 2020

Accepted: Aug 07, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0024

KeywordsGovernance, LEADER influence, LEADER management, Rural areas, Rural Development Program, Local Action Group

© 2020 Gema Cárdenas Alonso et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Governance, LEADER influence, LEADER management, Rural areas, Rural Development Program, Local Action Group