EUROPE INVESTS IN NORMANDY LEADER in Normandy, France The Normandy Region and Europe invest in rural areas EDITORIAL BY HERVÉ MORIN, PRESIDENT OF THE NORMANDY REGION THE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (EARDF) IN NORMANDY PROVIDES A BUDGET OF MORE THAN 411M EUROS TO SUPPORT FARMERS, YOUNG PEOPLE, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY SECTORS AND LOCAL PRODUCTS IN ADDITION TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SUPPORT FOR RETAILERS, PUBLIC SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT, ETC.), VIA THE LEADER INITIATIVE. The LEADER initiative enables each area to use European funding for priorities which have been decided on at a local level. The people behind the projects can benefit from local support, organised by co-ordinators in each of the areas in which LEADER is present, to help with the development and orga- nisation of each project. LEADER is the symbol of a new approach, going further than mere financial subsidies from the European Union. This system enables European funds to be managed locally to ensure local development, with decisions taken in consultation with local people by represen- tatives of local authorities and civil society figures in each LEADER area. In view of the challenges in terms of social cohesion and economic diversification in these rural areas, in Normandy, we’ve chosen to allocate the LEADER programme a total budget in excess of the 5.4% required by the European Union. The local develop- ment strategies of the 17 LEADER areas in Normandy aim to encourage thinking outside the box, test new forms of public services, invent new methods of production, distribution and consumption, develop new connections between different stakeholders, between towns and villages, promote new co-ope- ration and more. The different LEADER projects illustrate the vita- lity and creativity of Normandy's rural areas: health services, participatory projects, travelling libraries and shops with multiple functions. The LEADER initiative represents a direct, strong and tangible link between Europe, the Region and rural stakeholders. © Laurent Bicherel and the children of the École du Marais primary school in Norville (Seine-Maritime) and the children Bicherel © Laurent NORMANDY AN OPEN, DYNAMIC REGION Normandy has developed a reputation for its landscapes, countryside and unique light, made famous by renowned painters and writers, its fascinating history and its rich heritage such as the Vikings, Mont Saint-Michel and the D-Day beaches, and its cuisine and local products including cider, Calvados and cheese. Normandy has succeeded in making the most of its natural assets – the sea and the countryside – by developing a number of dynamic sectors: food production, the equine industry, boating and (in the near future) marine renewable energy. KEY INFORMATION Normandy has: • 5 departments: Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne, Seine-Maritime • 3.3 million inhabitants (6th biggest region in France) • a GDP of €27,180 per inhabitant (5th highest figure among French regions) • 18.6 million annual visits to tourist attractions (2014) • 2/3 of the area is used for agriculture HOW THE LEADER PROGRAMME NOTE : Applications for financial aid are WORKS IN NORMANDY completed by the Normandy Region which is the Managing Authority of the European Agricultural 2 Rural Development Programmes (RDP) cover Rural Development Fund (EARDF). There are no the entire Normandy area: calls for tender for collaborative projects which can therefore be submitted on an ad-hoc basis to • The RDP for Calvados, Manche, Orne, the Managing Authority for completion. • The RDP for Eure and Seine-Maritime There are 17 LAG (Local Action Groups) in Normandy. They are responsible for: • destablishing their rural development strategy and choosing projects; • supporting the people behind the projects, helping them to put together their applications; • choosing projects; • facilitating co-operation within the area and with other LEADER areas in France and Europe. 2 LEADER AREAS 2014 • 2020 GAL PAYS DIEPPOIS TERROIR DE CAUX GAL DE SEINE EN BRAY GAL DU COTENTIN GAL SEINE- NORMANDE GAL DU VEXIN GAL SCOT GAL NORMAND CAEN MÉTROPOLE PAYS DE GAL PAYS COUTANCES DU BESSIN AU VIROIS GAL SAINT-LOIS GAL PAYS D'AUGE GAL SUD CALVADOS GAL D'AVRE, GAL PAYS D'ARGENTAN, D’EURE ET D’ITON GAL PAYS D'AUGE ET D’OUCHE DE LA BAIE DU MONT-SAINT-MICHEL GAL PAYS DU BOCAGE GAL PAYS D'ALENCON GAL PAYS DU PERCHE ORNAIS LEADER FACILITATOR CONTACTS CALVADOS GAL Pays de Coutances SEINE-MARITIME ET EURE [email protected] GAL Scot Caen Métropole 00 33 233 76 79 66 GAL Seine normande [email protected] — [email protected] 00 33 231 86 91 90 GAL Pays de la Baie 00 33 235 37 23 16 — du Mont-Saint-Michel — GAL Sud Calvados [email protected] GAL de Seine en Bray [email protected] 00 33 233 79 40 32 [email protected] 00 33 230 31 00 09 00 33 232 97 56 14 — ORNE — GAL Pays du Bessin au Virois GAL du Pays Dieppois-Terroir de [email protected] GAL Pays du Bocage Caux 00 33 231 57 11 46 [email protected] [email protected] — 00 33 786 84 11 32 00 33 232 90 20 62 GAL Pays d’Auge — — leader.paysdauge@calvados GAL du Pays d’Alençon GAL d’Avre, d’Eure et d’Iton 00 33 231 57 18 40 [email protected] [email protected] 00 33 233 81 20 55 00 33 232 24 94 44 — — MANCHE GAL du Pays du Perche ornais GAL du Vexin normand [email protected] [email protected] GAL du Cotentin 00 33 233 85 80 80 00 33 607 16 34 28 [email protected] — 00 33 250 79 17 76 GAL P2AO (Pays d’Argentan, — d’Auge et d’Ouche) GAL Saint Lois [email protected] [email protected] 00 33 233 84 87 23 00 33 233 72 56 74 3 PRIORITIES FOR ACTION LEADER AREAS Revitalisation ofEnvironmental town/villageArchitectural andcentres natural Transportheritage heritage Local productWood and eco-materialsRegional situationalEconomic analysis developmentTraining Tourism Culture Sport Health Circular economy/wasteEnergy efficiencySocial and services renewableAgriculture energy PAYS D’AUGE EXPANSION LAG PAYS DU BESSIN AU VIROIS LAG CAEN CALVADOS MÉTROPOLE LAG SUD CALVADOS LAG Pays de la Baie du Mont St-Michel LAG Pays du Cotentin LAG MANCHE Pays de Coutances LAG Saint-Lois LAG Pays d'Alençon LAG Pays du Bocage LAG ORNE PAPAO Pays d’Ouche LAG Perche Ornais LAG Avre, Eure and Iton LAG Seine en Bray LAG Seine Normande LAG Pays Dieppois LAG SEINE MARITIME & EURE & MARITIME SEINE Vexin Normand LAG KEY Topic not included in local development strategy Secondary topic in local development strategy Topic which features strongly in local development strategy Key topic in local development strategy 4 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY TRANSITION Although it is a major energy-producing region, Normandy is also a major energy consumer and a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. To promote the energy transition in Normandy, Local Action Groups use their strategies to promote the use of renewable energies, the creation of low-impact transport, projects to improve the energy efficiency of buildings’ and the development of green building processes. A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED ENERTERRE, tackling fuel poverty CREATION of an anaerobic digestion unit Cotentin / GAL du Pays de Coutances / GAL Saint-Lois LAG Pays du Bessin au Virois LAG The Le Mouchel family farm, which specialises in milk production (150 cows and an annual production of 1.7 million litres), plans to create an anaerobic digestion unit. The farm, which already has three photovoltaic solar instal- lations, intends to use this unit to further reduce its green- house gas emissions and to produce renewable energy by using manure. A NEW CYCLE path © Association Enerterre Caen Métropole LAG Based on an innovative system of mutual assistance, Enerterre helps low-income families to carry out work to improve their To encourage its residents to use their bikes more and to be insulation by means of participatory projects supervised by less reliant on cars, the town of Ouistreham will create a new professionals. A local exchange system records the time spent cycle path on the RD 514. This 3m-wide cycle path will connect and the contributions of every person (hours worked, equip- the Colleville roundabout and the water tower, passing along- ment lent, transport, etc.), to ensure a fair exchange. Anyone side the local garden, Le Jardin du Petit Bonheur. interested in environmentally friendly renovation work and volunteering can contribute to this initiative which prioritises work with local specialists. CAR-SHARING in a rural area Pays du Bocage LAG STREET ART for better recycling! The town of Tinchebray made available an electric car-sha- Sud Calvados LAG ring service for its residents in September 2014. This short-term rental system enables users to make trips which are only feasible Decorating 15 bin shelters with graffiti to raise residents’ awar- by car. In addition to promoting an alternative and non-polluting eness of the importance of sorting and recycling rubbish: mode of transport, the project improves mobility in rural areas that’s the original initiative of the Confédération Syndicale des and ensures that everyone can use a vehicle to access services Familles in Condé-sur-Noireau, with the help of young people and to commute to work. The municipality wants to extend this from the 3 districts involved. When street art becomes a way service to the towns of Frênes and Saint-Cornier-des-Landes. to develop social connections too. 5 LOCAL SERVICES By 2050, if current trends continue, Normandy will have a significantly ageing population. This trend, with major social and economic consequences for the region, will require developments to infrastructure in terms of health, housing, transport, etc.