The presidents and managers of the five LEADER regions met with Agriculture Minister Martine Hansen at the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday. Under the motto "People. Shaping. Regions." they presented the Diversity and effectiveness of the programme in rural areas.

The participatory LEADER approach has proven itself since the early 1990s as an instrument for implementing innovative projects together with the local population. In a joint video, the representatives showed how LEADER strengthens regional identity and connects people.

Five key messages are addressed by the LEADER regions to politicians with regard to upcoming negotiations on the EU agricultural budget.

1. Rural regions are diverse living and economic spaces:Rural areas are more than just agriculture. Around 40 % of Luxembourg's population lives there. The regions are growing and becoming more and more socially diverse. In addition to social services, they also need local businesses, craftsmen, start-ups, pubs and restaurants. Rural areas should not just be dormitory villages, but living spaces that combine living, working and leisure.
2. LEADER increases the quality of life in rural areas: LEADER uses innovative projects to make concrete contributions to topics such as local supply, tourism, the environment, education, integration and mobility - customised for each region.
3. LEADER means co-operation across sector boundaries:Whether farmers, creative artists, municipalities, environmental actors or committed citizens, they all shape their region together. LEADER links 193 partners from the public and private sectors in a strong, multidisciplinary network.
4. LEADER brings knowledge and competences into the regions: Projects not only promote the realisation of good ideas, but also exchange, qualification and regional learning processes. The LEADER offices provide professional support to stakeholders and thus strengthen the autonomy of the regions.
5. LEADER achieves a big impact with a small budget: every euro of state funding triggers three euros of investment in the regions. The EU, state and member municipalities share the funding. With a comparatively small overall budget (between 3.3 and 4 million per region), around 150 projects, 10 permanent positions and additional temporary project positions are financed in the five regions during a funding period - an impressive leverage effect.

At the end, the representatives symbolically presented the Minister with a jigsaw puzzle showing the LEADER regions - as a sign of the joint will to shape rural areas.