Local Action Groups (LAGs) - An Important Instrument in Ensuring the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas in Romania

AuthorAlbu, R.G. - Chitu, I.B.
PositionDept. of Management and Economic Informatics, Transilvania University of Brasov - Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and International Relations, Transilvania University of Brasov
Pages97-104
Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov
Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 7 (56) No. 2 - 2014
LOCAL ACTION GROUPS (LAGS) – AN
IMPORTANT INSTRUMENT IN ENSURING
THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF
RURAL AREAS IN ROMANIA
R. G. ALBU1 I. B. CHIXU2
Abstract: Local action groups (LAGs), the key element of LEADER
approach, are intended to identify and put into practice, using the public-
private partnership, a local development strategy which harmoniously
combines the interests of all players involved into the development of rural
areas: inhabitants, organizations, professional unions, local politicians,
environmental associations, cultural and community service providers, mass-
media etc. The involvement of LAGs into the decision making process in
respect of the future of rural region ensures the premises of a sustainable
development within the rural area, in consistency with its three dimensions:
economic, social and environmental.
Key words: LAG, sustainable development, rural areas, local development
strategy.
1Dept. of Management and Economic Informatics, Transilvania University of Braşov.
2Dept. of Marketing, Tourism and International Re lations, Transilvania University of Braşov.
1. Introduction
LEADER (Liaisons entre actions de
développement de l’économie rurale) was
established by the European Commission
in 1991. LEADER programme was
designed with the aim to support "the
development of sustaina ble rural
communities following the reforms of the
Common Agricultural Policy" [5].
During the first stage, LEADER received
funding from the EU structural funds as a
separate Community Initiative. Starting
with 2007, the programme was co-financed
by the European Agricultural Fund for
Rural Development (EAFRD)[6].
LEADER is based on an economic
development model of rural areas called:
"Community-led rural development
theory". This model, presented by Terluin
in the paper "Rural regions i n the EU:
exploring differences in economic
development", identifies "a main
precondition for generating and sustaining
economic development in rural regions:
the existence of community capacity to
function effectively on a self-help basis.
Many rural regions and communities
experience genuine difficulties in
generating economic development, largely
due to insufficient capacity to solve
economic problems, an inadequate
institutional milieu and lack of political
responsibilities. The community-led rural
development theory focuses on the
strengthening of the self-help capacity of

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