Partners

With over 56 % of the population in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) living in rural areas, which cover 91 % of the territory, rural development is a vitally important policy area. Farming and forestry remain crucial for land use and the management of natural resources in the EU's rural areas, and as a platform for economic diversification in rural communities. The strengthening of EU rural development policy is, therefore, an overall EU priority.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) works to maximise the region’s competitiveness, delivering effective responses to both short-term challenges and longer-term opportunities.  NWDA do this by supporting the region’s businesses, by assisting new startsups, by encouraging investment in the region, by leading the region’s £119 billion economy in innovative and sustainable directions and by delivering real opportunities for the seven million people who live within our boundaries.

Leader+ is one of four initiatives financed by EU structural funds and is designed to help rural actors consider the long-term potential of their local region.

Encouraging the implementation of integrated, high-quality and original strategies for sustainable development, it has a strong focus on partnership and networks of exchange of experience.

Defra’s aim is “To secure a healthy environment in which we and future generations can prosper.”

This builds on their previous mission of enabling everyone to live within our environmental means but makes clear the positive benefits for the economy and society of protecting and enhancing the environment. They lead for government on public sector agreement (PSA) 28 on the natural environment and are key delivery partners for DECC’s PSA 27 on climate change.