The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Food Agency and Liiveri Development Association signed an agreement concerning the implementation of the rural local development strategy. The agreement stipulates the cooperation between Liiver, the ministry and the Food Agency for the years 2023–2027.
All 52 local Leader groups in Finland signed their own agreement for the program period 2023–2027 at Säätytalo on Friday, February 10, 2023. Leader groups are rural development associations that include the residents of the region and communities that develop the region, such as organizations and municipalities in the region. Local activities improve rural vitality, develop local services and livelihoods, support micro-enterprises and entrepreneurship. Leader groups grant EU funding for rural development projects and business support in accordance with their own local development strategy.
In an enthusiastic signing ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Antti Kurvinen and head of the office Jaana Husu-Kallio talked about the importance of local actors as promoters of rural vitality.
- Leader activity has claimed its place as a regional developer. Local actions promote not only the well-being of people but also the environment, natural diversity and the mitigation of climate change. Leader encourages and provides tools for rural residents to be active. It in part strengthens democracy, Kurvinen said.
- I really appreciate the work of the Leader governments as developers, networks and platforms in your region, Kurvinen continued with thanks at the end of his speech.
Chairman of the board of Liiver Tarja Pienimäki considers the contribution of associations and small businesses to the development of our region to be at least as important.
- We can achieve more in cooperation, says Pienimäki.
In his speech, Chief of Staff Husu-Kallio highlighted the progressive nature of Leader's work.
- Finland is a real pioneer in Leader activities. It can be seen even today in the ability to combine know-how and expertise with the needs of one's own region.
There are Leader groups in all rural areas of Finland, and a total of more than 2.5 million rural residents are covered by Leader funding.
Liiver's executive director Sinikka Koivumäki thinks it is noteworthy that the local Leader groups make an agreement with the Ministry and the Food Agency.
- We have a direct and immediate discussion connection with the national level authorities and we are listened to, which is of paramount importance in terms of local development, says Koivumäki.
Leader activities, i.e. community-oriented local development, contribute to the implementation of Finland's EU common agricultural policy, which also includes rural development. The funding of Leader activities consists of funding from the EU's Rural Development Fund, the state and municipalities. The applicants' private funding is always included as well.
The public funding of Leader activities is EUR 230 million for the five-year period. The public funding received by one group varies between 2.6 and 8.3 million euros. The funding for the Liiver region for these years is almost 5.7 million euros.