Local Action Groups were also originally LEADER groups and now manage both LEADER and Axis 4 of the EFF. But the opportunities for doing this very much depend on being in the right place at the right time. In this situation, local partnerships have to secure their core funding from one Fund and try to add on other funding streams as the opportunities arise. Because local partnerships may or may not be able to access other Funds, the Commission suggests a certain flexibility within the given legal framework between Funds allowing local development strategies to fund operations that are also the competence of other ESI Funds, as long as these are consistent with the respective Fund-specific rules as well as the objectives of the local development strategy and the supporting programme. If most operations can already be financed by one Fund - then the motivation for accessing other Funds becomes more about additional resources (which may in itself be very important in times of austerity). Box 30 below summarises the implications of the two main scenarios for the coordination of EU Funds for local partnerships. Box 30: Implications of multi- and mono-funding on coordination of funds on local level Local implications of multi-Funding Local implications of mono-Funding Scope of Local strategies can cover the Local strategies focus on one intervention full scope of the Funds involved specific Fund and then try to add in CLLD on or coordinate with partnerships dealing with other Funds. Alternatively, they may be able to develop a broad strategy and try to attract funding from different sources Capacity Joint preparatory support for all Separate calls, selection criteria building, Funds and selection committees selection and Joint capacity building Different parts of the strategy approval of may be financed by different Single calls for all Funds together strategies and Funds on an ad-hoc basis Common selection criteria areas And/or different partnerships Common selection procedures and sub areas may coexist on the Joint selection committees same territory. Strategy, action plan and There are many alternatives for financial plan must indicate local coordination (see below) which parts are funded by which Fund Funding, One set of eligibility criteria for Different eligibility criteria and management project selection procedures for project selection and control Clear criteria and procedures for Ideally, the eligibility conditions deciding which projects are for each Fund should be defined funded by which Fund in broad and flexible terms Common functions of the LAG Management verifications for all Funds procedures for each Fund Common provisions for management verifications
Local Action Groups were also originally LEADER groups and now manage both LEADER and Axis 4 of the EFF. But the opportunities for doing this very much depend on being in the right place at the right time. In this situation, local partnerships have to secure their core funding from one Fund and try to add on other funding streams as the opportunities arise. Because local partnerships may or may not be able to access other Funds, the Commission suggests a certain flexibility within the given legal framework between Funds allowing local development strategies to fund operations that are also the competence of other ESI Funds, as long as these are consistent with the respective Fund-specific rules as well as the objectives of the local development strategy and the supporting programme. If most operations can already be financed by one Fund - then the motivation for accessing other Funds becomes more about additional resources (which may in itself be very important in times of austerity). Box 30 below summarises the implications of the two main scenarios for the coordination of EU Funds for local partnerships. Box 30: Implications of multi- and mono-funding on coordination of funds on local level Local implications of multi-Funding Local implications of mono-Funding Scope of intervention Local strategies can cover the full scope of the Funds involved in CLLD Local strategies focus on one specific Fund and then try to add on or coordinate with partnerships dealing with other Funds. Alternatively, they may be able to develop a broad strategy and try to attract funding from different sources Capacity building, selection and approval of strategies and areas Joint preparatory support for all Funds Joint capacity building Single calls for all Funds together Common selection criteria Common selection procedures Joint selection committees Strategy, action plan and financial plan must indicate which parts are funded by which Fund Separate calls, selection criteria and selection committees Different parts of the strategy may be financed by different Funds on an ad-hoc basis And/or different partnerships and sub areas may coexist on the same territory. There are many alternatives for local coordination (see below) Funding, management and control One set of eligibility criteria for project selection Clear criteria and procedures for deciding which projects are funded by which Fund Common functions of the LAG for all Funds Common provisions for management verifications Different eligibility criteria and procedures for project selection Ideally, the eligibility conditions for each Fund should be defined in broad and flexible terms Management verifications procedures for each Fund