The EU LEADER program

LEADER "Liason entre Actions de Developement de l'Economie Rurale"
"Combining measures for rural development"

is a European Union support program and aims to support the rural regions of Europe on their way to independent development. 

As a methodological approach to regional development, LEADER enables people in rural areas to develop their region together. This approach has been used in EU member states since the 1990s. LEADER is financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

At the beginning of an EU funding period, a local development strategy is drawn up for the respective LEADER area and the population is involved in its development.

The current LEADER area for the funding period 2023-2027: All 26 municipalities of the Puster Valley (except for the urban districts of Bruneck Center and Stegen) form the LEADER area Puster Valley with the aim of supporting rural development in the long term. This area includes a total of 72,501 inhabitants (as of 31.12.2021).