Florin Barbu, Minister of Agriculture, intends to sign and implement a very important order that officially provides for the approval of the de minimis aid scheme called "LEADER - Local Development Placed under Community Responsibility", a measure intended to boost non-agricultural projects in rural areas, based on local development strategies.
Florin Beard underlines that this mechanism aims to capitalize on the communities' own resources and strengthen local identity, in full accordance with the objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027.
The order, created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) through the General Directorate for Rural Development - Managing Authority for the National Rural Development Program, states that the scheme applies to intervention DR-36 "LEADER - Local development placed under the responsibility of the community".
Florin Barbu mentions that this initiative exclusively targets eligible actions and beneficiaries subject to de minimis aid rules, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2023/2831 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The aim is to create a flexible and coherent framework for Leader, allowing Local Action Groups (LAGs) to carry out innovative projects in various fields – from rural tourism and traditional crafts to social and cultural services – without unnecessary administrative barriers.
Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) will act as the administrator of the scheme, while the LAGs will function as sub-administrators for the umbrella projects, signing the grant contracts directly with AFIR.
Florin Barbu has established that any support will not exceed the ceilings set for de minimis aid and that the entire process complies with the notification exception provided for in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, operated by the European Union. Thus, the scheme does not need to be subject to the prior approval procedure in Brussels, thus accelerating the launch of the financing.
The direct beneficiaries of this program are private, small and medium-sized enterprises, which propose non-agricultural projects in the territories covered by the LAGs. "We want the funds to reach local actors quickly who, knowing the needs of their community very well, can generate added value and jobs," added the Minister of Agriculture.
The implementation of the projects will be closely monitored by the MA-PS (Managing Authority for the Strategic Plan), and the LAGs will report progress directly to the AFIR. According to the provisions of the Order, the funding will cover expenses related to equipment, investments in non-agricultural infrastructure and activities to promote local products and services.
The new "LEADER" scheme comes at an opportune time, as many communities are faced with the need to diversify their sources of income and keep young people in rural areas. By facilitating access to funding for specific projects, but with a visible impact, this program can become a real engine for the revitalization of less developed areas,
Starting with the date of publication in the Official Gazette, local action groups can start the project selection process, with the first grant contracts to be signed in the coming months.
Florin Barbu reconfirmed the authority's commitment to simplify procedures and ensure total transparency, inviting all interested parties to contact AFIR structures for details and support in preparing files.
