Rural Development Policy in Spain: Case of LEADER Program in Jerta Valley, Extramadura, Spain

EU 국가의 농촌개발정책: 스페인 엑스트라마두라, Jerta Valley 사례

The European Union has an active rural development policy because this helps us to achieve valuable goals for our countryside and for the people who live and work there. Rural development policy involves the cofinancing by the EU and Member States of a variety of measures. Member States decide on the most appropriate measures for their rural areas from a menu of measures proposed at EU level. There are 18 Leader+ programs in Spain. Program supports Local Action Groups which are located in two or more autonomous regions. The Valle del Jerte, located in the northwest of the province of Caceres is one of the districts making up what is known as the Alta Extremadura. The rural development strategy in this area is to overcome the great deficits of the rural world, prevent rural exodus by improving the quality of life of the population,and improve the soicoeconomic environment of the district in order to help create jobs and improve family incomes. Specifically they try to create a mechanism to improve involvement, communication and social cohesion in the district, with a view to improving the internal structure of organizations and establishing rural channels for cooperation between district institutions for integrated development of the district.