• ESPRIT is a LEADER project that aims to develop services for the rural population
• It is coordinated by the LEADER managers of France, but has several European partners, including Spain.

However, it has four European partners: Hungary , Spain , Romania , and Estonia . Thanks to this participation, ESPRIT has just visited LEADER projects run by Spanish Local Action Groups (LAGs) with the help of its Spanish partner, the Spanish Rural Development Network ( REDR ).

Spanish projects

In June, the ESPRIT cooperation program visited LEADER projects promoted by the Sierra del Segura LAG (Albacete) and the Sierra de Cazorla LAG (Jaén). The activities visited generally focused on tourism initiatives , rural heritage restoration and enhancement, and agri-food cooperatives .

More specifically, the projects that have been noted for possible application of this experience to other European rural regions are:

GAL Sierra de Cazorla (Jaén) :

• Water Festival.
• Sierra de Cazorla Triathlon.
• BluesCazorla International Festival.
• International Theater Festival.
• EduCazorla Theatre Festival.
• Zabaleta and Miguel Hernández Museum.
• A collection of Levantine and schematic rock art, a World Heritage Site.
• Roman villa of Bruñel.
• La Iruela Castle.
• Southern Forests BTT Marathon.
• Association of Visual and Audiovisual Arts professionals from Cazorla.
• “Southern Forests” Ultra Trail Race.

GAL Sierra del Segura (Albacete):

• Network of trails “Walk through Yeste” and “Via Ferrata”.
• Adaptation of facilities at the Río Tus campsite.
• Adaptation of a rehabilitation center for patients with severe disabilities at the Yeste nursing home.
• Computer center adapted for the disabled.
• Network of approved trails created in the vicinity of the urban area of Yeste.
• Creation of a Federation of Rural Tourism Associations in Castilla-La Mancha.
• Interpretation center at Yeste Castle.
• Semi-aquatic route (Yeste).

Rural services

The population of rural areas is typically more dispersed than that of urban settlements, which often affects the economy of that area, making it less attractive to entrepreneurs and new residents.

Infrastructure and basic services provide quality of life for rural residents. Therefore, when local communities unite and work together through Rural Development Programs (RDPs), they can gain the strength needed to attract investment to their areas.

The LEADER approach involves delegating the planning initiative to the local communities of each rural area. These communities, organized into Local Action Groups (LAGs) (public-private partnerships operating in an assembly-based manner), develop and implement a local development strategy for that area, leveraging their resources.