Rural Development within the LEADER Programme

The thesis discusses the possibilities of development of rural regions with the help of European Union funding, with focus on LEADER CZ programme in programme period 2007 to 2013. This initiative is part of the Rural Development Programme in Czech Republic, which can be divided into four axes. This thesis focuses on the fourth axis and its agencies MAS and SZIF. This programme empasizes independent activities by local authorities, civic organizations (non-governmental organizations) and individuals. The case of Local action group Posázaví serves as an example for evaluating the availability and suitable utilisation of financial funds. The thesis describes Posázaví region from several perspectives geography and landscape, socioeconomic situation, econonomic potenital, level of culture and tourism and state of infrastructure. The project that was executed in the region of this local action group has its place in this thesis