Operating Guidelines for the LEADER Programme

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Operating Guidelines for the LEADER Programme Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) – Operating Guidelines for the ‘LEADER’ Programme Operating Guidelines For the LEADER Programme Version 1.4 29/11/2018 Drawn up by the Managing Authority, EAFRD Funds and Programmes Division, MEAE, Ministry for European Affairs and Equality 1 Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) – Operating Guidelines for the ‘LEADER’ Programme Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations and Acronyms Term, Abbreviation and Meaning Acronyms Administration Costs The administration costs of LAG’s may be up to a maximum of 25% of their total public expenditure of the Local Development Strategy (as per Article 35 (2) Support from the ESI Funds for community-led local development of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013) Agreement The Agreement between the MA and LAG’s under the sub-measures of M19 AOB Any Other Business. ARPA The Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency Malta CB The certifying body (IAID) CMEF ‘Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework’: a general approach developed by the European Commission and the Member States defining common indicators relating to the baseline situation and the financial execution, outputs, results and impacts of the programme; DC The Decision Committee (DC) is the body elected according to the stipulated clauses in the statute between the founding members of the LAG. The DC is responsible for the decision- making processes related to the implementation of the Local Development Strategy. EAFRD The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, a single fund which provides financial support for rural development across Europe. EC Evaluation Committee within the LAG’s. ENRD European Network for Rural Development EU European Union. Grant The funds allocated by a LAG to the selected LAG beneficiaries IMU Investments Measures Unit within the ARPA. IT Information Technology. IAID Internal Audit and Investigations Department CRPD Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability LAG The Local Action Group (LAG) is a broad-based local public-private partnership with the aim of improving the long-term potential of the rural region. The LAG is selected to implement a Local Development Strategy. LEADER Liaison Entre Actions de Dévelopement de l'Économie Rurale’ - ‘Links between the rural economy and development actions’. The LEADER Programme refers to the implementation of the actions included in the Local Development Strategies by the Local Action Groups to address specific local issues in line with the Rural Development Programme for 2014-2020. /continued 2 Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) – Operating Guidelines for the ‘LEADER’ Programme Term, Abbreviation and Meaning Acronyms LDS A Local Development Strategy (LDS) is the strategic plan submitted to the MA for which the LAG has set the rural development objectives and a number of actions pertaining to the territory represented by the LAG. MA The Managing Authority of the RDP 2014-2020 Measure A set of actions and operations within the Rural Development Programme NACE ‘Nomenclature Générale des Activités Économiques dans les Communautés Européennes’ - European Classification of Economic Activities. NGO Non-Governmental Organisation. NRN The National Rural Network for Malta, which will provide a range of services and support for those involved in the delivery of the Rural Development Programme for Malta. OG’s The Operating Guidelines for LAG’s issued by the Managing Authority ORB Other Relevant Business. PSAB Project Selection Appeals Board. PSC Project Selection Committee (for the Rural Development Programme) Project An operation or activity, which has been the subject of an application for grant aid. Project Applicant An operator, body or firm, whether public or private applying with the Local Action Group for grant aid under the Rural Development Programme through the LAG’s. Public Funding The European funding and Government funding made available to the LAG’s and LAG’s beneficiaries for the implementation of the LDS. RDP Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. VAT Value Added Tax. 3 Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) – Operating Guidelines for the ‘LEADER’ Programme Contents Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................ 2 1 Preamble .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 1.3 Interpretation of the OG's ............................................................................................................................. 10 1.4 Activity 2014-2020 ........................................................................................................................................ 10 1.5 Review of LDS and Action Plans .................................................................................................................... 10 2 General Matters ............................................................................................................................................ 11 2.1 Area of Operations ........................................................................................................................................ 11 2.1.1 Beneficiaries under M19.2 .................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Equal Opportunities ...................................................................................................................................... 11 3 LAG Operations .................................................................................................................................................. 12 3.1 Outline of Responsibilities of the Local Action Group ................................................................................... 12 3.2 Decision Committee ................................................................................................................................... 13 3.2.1 Project Selection ........................................................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Evaluation Committee ................................................................................................................................... 14 3.3.1 EC Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 14 3.4 LAG Manager ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 4 Execution by the LAG ......................................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Rates of Aid ................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Measure 19 ................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.1 Rationale ............................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.2 Objective ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.3 Eligible Activities ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.4 Implementation Procedures ......................................................................................................................... 17 4.2.5 The following provides in-depth details of some of the above implementation procedures to be followed by the LAG. ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 4.2.5.1 General Provisions ................................................................................................................................ 18 4.2.5.2 Commitments of Aid ............................................................................................................................. 19 4 Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) – Operating Guidelines for the ‘LEADER’ Programme 4.2.5.3 Preparation of Guidelines and Application Form including Manual for EC & Appeals Board .......... 20 4.2.5.4 Communication and Publicity ........................................................................................................... 20 4.2.5.5 Publication of Call, Receipt and uploading of Applications on System .................................................. 21 4.2.5.6 Administrative and Eligibility Checks, including Rejection of Applications ........................................... 22 4.2.5.7 Evaluation of the application and Presentation of Reports to the DC, including appeals procedure. 23 4.2.5.8 Ranking of Projects and Selection Process, notification to applicants and necessary updating
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