The Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry approved 54 new Local Action Groups (LAGs) in mainland Finland for the 2014-2020 period on 22 January 2015.
The Local Development Strategies (LDS) produced by the new LAGs aim to further improve opportunities for rural business and entrepreneurship and place increased focus on rural youth and environmental sustainability.
Juha-Matti Markkola of the Finnish NSU also highlights that “Many of the new LAG strategies emphasise the possibilities of transnational co-operation as a strategic tool to meet bigger goals. That is a good starting point for the new period of rural development.”
