Kuchmacz B. Community-led local development in Poland (CLLD 2014 – 2020) // International scientific journal "Internauka". Series: "Economic Sciences". — 2017. — №3.
УДК 352.07(438)
Bożena Kuchmacz
Poland
COMMUNITY-LED LOCAL DEVELOPMENT IN POLAND (CLLD 2014 – 2020)
ROZWÓJ LOKALNY KIEROWANY PRZEZ SPOŁECZNOŚĆ W POLSCE (RLKS 2014-2020)
Summary: In December 2013, Council of the European Union formally approved new regulations and legislation concerning another investment round under EU cohesion policy for years 2014-2010. Community-led local development (CLLD) is based on LEADER initiative, which over past 20 years helped rural entities to determine potential resources and use them effectively in the process of development policy implementation. CLLD is a methodology of disbursement of structural and investment funds, which concentrates on particular sub-regional areas. Directed by local action groups, which consists of persons representing the needs of the public, social and economical sector. It is implemented by integrated, multisector local development strategies. Empirical research covered eastern part of Bory Dolnośląskie [the part of the Silesian Lowlands], including rural communes and rural-urban ones such as: Bolesławiec, Chocianów, Chojnów, Gromadka, Kunice, Lubin, Miłkowice, Przemków. Communes belongs to “Wrzosowa Kraina” LGD Community.
Key words: activity, LEADER programme, local development, community, cooperation.
Adnotacja: W grudniu 2013 r. Rada Unii Europejskiej formalnie zatwierdziła nowe przepisy i ustawodawstwo dotyczące kolejnej rundy inwestycyjnej w ramach unijnej polityki spójności na lata 2014-2020. Rozwój lokalny kierowany przez społeczność (RLKS) oparty jest na inicjatywie LEADER, która na przestrzeni ubiegłych 20 lat pomogła podmiotom wiejskim w określeniu potencjalnych zasobów i efektywnym wykorzystaniu w procesie realizacji polityki rozwoju. RLKS jest to metodologia wydatkowania funduszy strukturalnych i inwestycyjnych, która koncentruje się na określonych obszarach subregionalnych. Kierowana jest przez lokalne grupy działania (LGD), które składają się z osób reprezentujących potrzeby sektora publicznego, społecznego i gospodarczego. Realizowana jest przez zintegrowane, wielosektorowe lokalne strategie rozwoju. Badaniami empirycznymi objęto wschodnią część Borów Dolnośląskich, w tym gminy wiejskie i miejsko-wiejskie takie jak,: Bolesławiec, Chocianów, Chojnów, Gromadka, Kunice, Lubin, Miłkowice, Przemków. Gminy przynależą do Stowarzyszenia LGD „Wrzosowa Kraina”.
Słowa kluczowe: aktywność, program LEADER, rozwój lokalny, społeczność, współpraca..
1. Introduction. Community-led local development (CLLD) is a new territorial instrument introduced by the European Commission to be implemented with respect to the financial perspective for years 2014-2020. The instrument is based on LEADER approach used in years 2007-2013 under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries Policy( CFP) and maintains its fundamental principles, namely: 1.Grassroots activities (local community-wide participation in making and implementing the strategy; 2. Territoriality (local development strategy prepared for a particular, coherent area); 3. Integrity (combining various areas of economy, cooperation of various interest groups); 4. Partnership (local action group as a local partnership, in which different public, social and business entities take part in); 5.Innovation (at local scale); 6. Management deregulation and financial deregulation; 7. Networking and cooperation (exchange of experiences and dissemination of good practices). The aim of research is an attempt to analyse a new programming period and to locate it in researched communes of the Lower Silesia.
2. Programme assumptions. One of the activity to be implemented under the Rural Development Programme for years 2014-2010( RDP 2014-2010) is LEADER, which is local development supported by funds from European Agricultural Fund for Local Development (EAFLD), led by the community (CLLD).
First of all, CLLD approach will be implemented under particular objective 6B - supporting local development in the rural areas under priority no. 6 “supporting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in the rural areas” by introducing local development strategies ( LDS). In order to facilitate monitoring and management process, the whole EAFLD budget allocated to CLLD (that is to LEADER activity) will be assigned to that particular objective. Under this objective, support will be given to operations aimed at:
Furthermore, EAFLD will support CLLD with respect to particular connected aims 3A and 6C:
Aim 3A –improvement of competitiveness of main manufactures to achieve better integration with agricultural and food chain through the quality assurance system, adding value to agricultural products, promotion carried out on local markets and short cycles of deliveries, groups and organizations of manufacturers and inter-professional organizations. An innovation in the new programming as compared to years 2007-2013 is the manner of target achievement - facilitating diversification of business, launching and development of small enterprises and creation of new jobs. Broadly defined entrepreneurship is aimed at activating disadvantaged groups, the unemployed.
Aim 6C - making information and communications technologies (ICT) more available in rural areas and increasing the use of technologies and improving their quality. Under CLLD, operations aimed at using information technology in the development of non-agricultural jobs or making cultural, environmental and tourist rural areas available.
The basis to implement CLLD instrument in Poland are provisions of the Partnership Agreement (PA)-the main strategic document at domestic level. In order to secure proper implementation of CLLD, the manner and conditions of its implementation which encompasses all the funds, will be detailed in the Act on execution of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and communityled local development (Act of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development).
Key elements of CLLD 2014-2020. Local action groups should consist of persons representing local public, private and social and economic interests, such as entrepreneurs, local authorities, neighborhood community or rural ones, voluntary organizations, citizens groups such as e.g. national minorities, ethnic groups, elderly persons, women/men, youth, entrepreneurs.
Local Action Group will be responsible for the following:
At an early stage, local development groups need to participate in dialogue with relevant governing bodies so that they would be sure that these bodies fully understand what their needs and concerns are and will take them into consideration in programme planning.
3. Conference entitled „LEADER Approach 2014-2020- New perspective, new challenges”. Representatives of „Wrzosowa Kraina” LAG Association on 30th September 2014 participated in the conference entitled “ Leader Approach 2014-2020- New Perspective, New Challenges” organized in Koszęcin by Polish LAGs’ Network- Federation of Regional LAGs’ Networks and Silesian Association of Communes and Poviats. The meeting featured panel discussions. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development discussed the main principles, expectations and requirements in new programming period RDP 2014-2010.
Notice on receipt of applications for LDS will be published until 9th October 2015 and application deadline will fall on 31st December 2015. Selection of LDS will be made within 4 months as of the application deadline. Strategy structure needs to be consistent with requirements of regulations determined by the ministry. Creating LDS for years 2014-2020, one needs to remember that content of strategy projects, whose implementation may potentially influence the environment, prior to their confirmation, may be subject to strategic environmental assessment. Strategy layout should be as follows: front page, contents, LAG characteristics, participatory character of LDS, diagnosis- description of area and population, SWOT analysis, aims and indicators, manner of operation selection and assessment and the manner of establishment of selection criteria, action plan, LDS budget, communication plan, integration, monitoring and evaluation, strategic environmental assessment, bibliography, appendixes to LDS (LDS update procedure, evaluation and monitoring procedures, action plan, LDS budget, communication plan). 50% of LDS budget allocated to the execution of submeasure “Support for operation implementation under community-led local development strategy” under RDP is intended for projects related to the creation or maintenance of new jobs.
Resources available for “Wrzosowa Kraina” LAG Assocation are defined separately: LDS implementation, cooperation project implementation, running costs and activation; cooperation project implementation; running costs and activation (single -fund amounts, multi-fund amounts).
4. LDS preparation for researched communes-questionnaire for residents „Wrzosowa Kraina” LAG Association conducts preparatory activities for the formulation of local development strategy. In doing so, the Board of „Wrzosowa Kraina” LAG Association on 14th November 2014 sent an electronic survey to representatives of public, social and economic sector , who were asked to fill it out and return until the end of this October. Respondents reside in the area of 8 communes, such as: Bolesławiec, Chocianów, Chojnów, Gromadka, Kunice, Lubin, Miłkowice, Przemków. Respondents were distributed by sex, age, education level and material status.
The survey contained, among other things, the following questions:
1. Which commune do you live?
2. How do you asses living conditions in your commune regarding the following aspects, among other things: environmental cleanliness, ambient noise level; road quality; town’s esthetics, public safety status, out-of-home care in crèches and preschools, primary school, middle school, secondary school education levels, health protection (availability of GPs and specialists), attractive ways of spending free time for youth, adults, quality and availability of sport and recreational infrastructure; infrastructure for development of local culture and preservation of local, cultural heritage (customs, traditions); support for the unemployed, people who suffer from poverty, disability; opportunities to start a business activity; public transport; telecommunications services; Internet service availability; availability of services for people (hairdresser, tailor, shoemaker, pharmacy services, etc.); changes which have taken place in your commune in the last seven years.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of your commune: geographical location, natural and landscape assets; natural environment condition, residents, enterpreneurship, labour market, job availability; agriculture, early school education; primary and middle schools; residents, ingeration (social ties); traditions, customs and culture, historical monuments; activity of non-governmental organizations, sports and recreational offer, cultural offer, tourist offer.
4. Which categories should be taken into consideration as far as investment is concerned in the next years: tourist trails; parks and green areas; sports facilities, bike trails, playgrounds and other recreational facilities; meeting places in the open air, cultural objects, small tourist architecture (benches, wastebaskets, camping sites, holiday spots); historical monuments; place of mass event organization; cultural and mass events, promotional events.
5. Have you done any of the following within the last two years: check information posted on the website of the commune’s office, poviat’s or LAG’s; write comments or posts regarding local affairs on Internet forums or portals; talk to your neighbours or other persons about your commune/poviat affairs; check plans, resolutions, written records or other instruments related to your place of residence, commune/poviat; participate in meetings with the representatives of commune/poviat office/councilors/representatives of LAG; search for information on action plans, investments e.g. in your commune, poviat; personally initiate actions for the benefit of the local community.
6. Which of the following manners of informing residents about LAG you find the most convenient (the best one) for them?: meetings of LAG representatives with commune residents; notice board at the commune office, external notice boards; local media (e.g. local newspaper, radio, TV); LAG official website; local information portal (non-governmental Internet website); information sent electronically (email); short information in the form of text messages, local newsletters, community portals, other manners (which ones)?
7. According to you, which groups are most at risk of being exposed to social exclusion in the area of the commune you live in?: youth until the age of 17, youth from the age of 18 to 25, parents of children up to 3, lone parents, immigrants, children. 8. According to you, which constitutes a barrier that prevents residents of LAG area from fully participating in social life: lack of information or poor promotion of cultural, sports events/offers, etc.;
reluctance to undertake an activity; cultural or sports offer fails to meet the needs of residents or fails to consider different age groups; lack of participation in social life, lack of free time; lack of money, poor transportation links, other (specify which ones)
Information obtained from surveyed persons will be used to prepare a new development strategy of the area of „Wrzosowa Kraina” LAG Association
5. Conclusion. Local development of the eastern part of Bory Dolnośląskie [the part of the Silesian Lowlands] including the researched communes is a complex process. A multiplicity of aims taken into consideration in Local Development Strategy of “Wrzosowa Kraina” LAG Association for years 2007-2014 (4 general aims, 14 details aims and 61 actions), which are to shape this development, may serve as an example. Funds from LEADER+ pilot programme and Rural Development Programme for years 2007-2013 were allocated to this region. The superior aims of the development was to activate and harmonize activities of local community, local authority and economic entities in solving current, local problems for themselves. The aim of project implementation under programmes was to improve residents’ quality of life, improve existing practical advantages of communes, create new values, strengthen local economy, provide spatial and ecological order.
New programming period 2014-2020, which communes have been preparing for, is the continuation of earlier activities conducted in this area.
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