Brussels, 26/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission approved rural development programmes in six Italian regions (Puglia, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Sardinia) under the Community "Leader +" initiative. These programmes have an overall budget of EUR 223.7 million (2001-2006) of which EUR 122.7 million comes from the Community budget. They will contribute to a more sustainable environment, landscape, society and economy in Italian rural areas, mainly through the development of local resources relating to the social, cultural and economic identity of such areas.