Brussels, 21/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Commission approved the Leader + rural development programme for the German Land of Brandenburg. For the 2001-2006 period, the programme will receive EUR 50.917 million, EUR 30.55 million of which will come from the Community budget and EUR 10.813 million from the private sector. The programme's 15 or so Local Action Groups (LAGs) primarily target improvement of the economic and living conditions in the rural areas as well as improving the qualifications of people living in those areas (concentrating on women, young people and socially disadvantaged groups) and the preservation and maintenance of natural resources. The Commission points out that the selection of the Local Action Groups is carried out "by a selection board including economic and social partners and environmental authorities, based on the merits of the development plans drawn up by the LAGs.