Contracts for the application and management of the first 16 approved strategies for local development, which will be financed with money under the Rural Development Programmes 2007-2013, was signed at the Council of Ministers. Contracts were awarded to candidates by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Mr. Boyko Borisov and signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov and Executive Director of State Fund "Agriculture" Mr. Rumen Porozhanov.
The LEADER approach is a part of the Rural Development Program and it has been iimplemented in the European Union for 20 years. With the signing of the 16 contracts for the implementation and management of local development actual implementation of strategies under the Leader approach in Bulgaria starts.. The total value of these contracts amounts to BGN 61.5 million, which will be funded under Axis 4 Leader of the Rural Development Program. Strategies that will receive funding, covering 488 inhabited places in Bulgaria with a total area of 12,600 square kilometers and 440,025 inhabitants.
Local action groups are: Lyaskovets-Strazhitsa, Tundzha, Ardino, Harmanli, Belovo-Septemvri, Velingrad, Etropolski Balkan Isperih, Dobrich, Razlog, Devnya-Aksakovo Rakovski, Popovo, Panagyurishte-Strelcha-Lesichevo, Prespa (municipalities Banite, Lucky and Chepelare), Troyan, Apriltsi and Chirpan.
Local Action Groups will approve local projects under the Rural Development.Programme Projects should be oriented to agriculture, business, rural tourism, infrastructure, community centers building etc.