The role of the implementation of the LEADER methods for strengthening competitiveness of Lithuanian rural areas

1991 m. Europos Komisija pradėjo LEADER iniciatyvą, kurios paskirtis skatinti vietos plėtros iniciatyvas ir partnerystę, įtraukiant bendruomenės, verslo ir vietos valdžios atstovus; telkti kaimo gyventojus ir ugdyti jų gebėjimus veikti kartu; rengti ir įgyvendinti vietos plėtros strategijas, tikslingai naudojant vietos išteklius ir viešąją paramą. Straipsnyje apibendrinti LEADER+ pobūdžio priemonės įgyvendinimo Lietuvoje rezultatai, nustatyti trikdžiai ir pateikti pasiūlymai dėl efektyvesnio LEADER metodo taikymo kaimo plėtros politikoje iki 2013 metųFollowing the accession of Lithuania in 2004 to the European Union (EU), real possibilities opened for Lithuania to pursue economic and social cohesion jointly with all other EU member states, using support from EU Structural Funds for rural development. The LEADER+ type measure is among the measures designated for reaching this objective, which at that time was already in the process of implementation as the third stage of the LEADER initiative in the old EU member states. In 2004–2006, Lithuania was in the process of drafting and enforcing the corresponding legislation, establishing institutions, developing administrative capacities essential for preparing and implementing local development strategies, including the funding of the implementation of pilot integrated strategies. The article presents an analysis of the preparatory process for the implementation of the LEADER initiative in Lithuania, the formation of LAGs, implementing pilot integrated strategies, characteristic peculiarities and principles of activities, specific features of the implementation of pilot integrated strategies and local projects, the scope and nature of initiatives for cooperation. Referring to the statistical analysis, searching for causality of the outcomes and to the EU experience, recommendations were formulated for a more effective implementation of the LEADER method in the rural policy during the period 2007–2013Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij