South West Finland’s Riverside Partners is a rural development association, which aims to keep the countryside alive and preserve its standard of living. The Riverside Partners are made possible through the EU’s Leader Action Group programme, (LAG).
A new Leader programme A rural development programme for 2007 to - 2013
The Ministry for Agriculture accepted South West Finland’s Riverside Partners LAG programme for the years 2007 to 2013 on August 21st 2007. Thus, we begin our third LAG term with a new programme entitled Life and Livelihood. Altogether in Finland there are 55 action groups in 396 municipal areas. A total of €242 million has been allocated for these LAG projects aimed at developing the countryside. The Riverside Partners’ share is €4.5 million.The focus of the development programme is on the promotion of the well-being of the countryside, raising its attractiveness with regard to culture and the natural environment, and diversifying its livelihood.
The Association
The Riverside Partners Association (RPA) was formed on the 4th of November, 1996. It has over 246 members the majority being private citizens. Also involved are all the municipal councils in the area, as well as businesses and societies, etc. In addition there are numerous local, national and interntional partners. Our association is open to all interested in developing the region. Issues are decided at general meetings, of which there are two a year. The RPA has a nine member board - with every member having a shadow member. The RPA’s board is composed of the following: A third are members of a municpal council, the second third are representatives of businesses or associations, the remaining third represent private citizens.The board chooses projects to finance and sets up work groups to provide expert advice on LAG projects and monitor their development and realisation. In addition they also work in their own sector and aid in the setting up of the project. The RPA also sets up its own projects independent of the EU’s LAG programme
The EU’s Leader Action Group programme (LAG) has the important role of increasing international activity. Its international action is aimed at increasing co-operation working for the realisation of co-operative projects and creating networks between the action groups. Through the international networks it is expected that rural areas will increase their activity and their international knowledge.
The objective is to find new ideas and solutions for developing local rural activity in every LAG area through the sharing of best practices and by presenting solutions to similar problems through the exchange of previously gathered information. With such policies it is hoped to build new forms of successful co-operation between rural areas in the EU. It also aims to to promote business in rural areas and provide more employment.
Long-term, successful co-operation is based on LAGs sharing information and experience between each other is the most important thing in these international projects . Hence, the projects demand, at least in their opening phases, significant financial support for the project and the active meeting of the partners.
South West Finland Riverside Partners Association (2007) currently participates in three international projects :
Jokivarsien luontokohteet – Riverside Partner Areas of Natural beauty and interest www.jokivarsi.org/wetlands A Network of European Wetlands is a shelter project and international project www.netwet.org The international project’s co-ordinator is LAG Delta 2000 in Northern Italy, in area of The River Po´s delta.
Jokivarsien kansanperinne – Community Heritage - www.jokivarsi.org/heritage The international project’s co-ordinator is PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise & Development) www.planed.org.uk/
Nordic Leader Dimension – the Nordic Leader Network is a project that currently involves 8 Swedish and Finnish LAGs. The network developed as the Leader+ Transnational initiative "Nordic Leader Dimension". Nordic Leader’s co-operation is co-ordinated from the Sameboat LAG office in Parainen, Finland. www.nordicleader.net/
