Els Programes comarcals de desenvolupament rural a Catalunya: la iniciativa Leader i el programa Proder

Abstract

In this paper, I analyze two European funded policy instruments to support rural development in Catalonia: the initiative LEADER (started in 1989 and applied in three different calls) and the Spanish program PRODER inspired by the former but with the idea to extend its methodology to the whole rural environment. In both cases, I study and compare the goals and its standpoints, the actions suitable to be subsidised, the areas (comarques) that have been favoured and the final outcomes. The methodology of rural development for both programs is an endogenous bottom up process with the support of Local Action Groups. It is highly valued the investment generated by de PRODER and its wide distribution among different areas of activity. We conclude to say that the overall balance of all these instruments is positive, and among other positive effects it favoured the acknowledgment of the potential value of the territory.