Brussels, 10/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission gave the green light on Thursday for the Leader + rural development programme in Scotland to help add value to local products and make the best use of natural and cultural resources. During the 2001-2006 period, total expenditure under the programme will be EUR 65.7 million, including an EU contribution of EUR 28.2 million and EUR 6.5 million from the private sector.
Priority groups of the programme will be women, young people, micro and small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed and the programme will support development strategies focused on one or more of the following priority themes - the use of new know-how and new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive; improving the quality of life in rural areas; adding value to local products by facilitating access to markets for small production units; and making the best of natural and cultural resources including enhancing the value of sites of Community interest selected under NATURA 2000.
The Commission explains that the Programme in Scotland will cover training programmes for the long-term unemployed, provide advice and assistance for rural enterprises, projects to add value to rural products such as further processing of local products and product quality initiatives and promoting e-commerce initiatives in small businesses. Around ten Local Action Groups in Scotland will be supported.