05.02.2018

The first call for LEADER grants for the 2020 programming period for unscheduled projects closed in the Region of Murcia on January 15, with a total of 418 grant applications registered across the four regional local action groups.

Of the total applications submitted, 189 correspond to the Vega GAL (Lagal Vega), 72 to Integral, 94 to Nordeste, and 63 to Campoder. Of the 418 applications, 255 were submitted by municipalities and associations as measures to restore rural and cultural heritage or for infrastructure that improves the quality of life in rural areas. Of all the applications, 163 correspond to productive projects.

The projects received will now undergo a competitive bidding phase using a scoring system. Each project will be numerically evaluated to determine which projects will ultimately receive aid, based on their compliance with the selection and evaluation criteria and the objectives of each of the Rural Development Strategies.

In general, the selected projects will primarily focus on creating jobs in rural areas, improving quality of life, preserving heritage, protecting the environment, diversifying into non-agricultural activities, and promoting gender equality.

Leader grants have an available credit of nearly 11 million euros for the period 2017-2020, 63 percent of which is co-financed by the European Union through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and 37 percent by the Regional Ministry.

Local action groups have three months to conduct administrative reviews of each application, pre-evaluate it, and submit the documentation required in the Regulatory Bases to the Ministry of Agriculture, which will ultimately award the grants.