Content of the Presentation

• WHY - What are the benefits of Transnational Projects?

• HOW - LAG taking a proactive approach

- Using the existing mechanisms

- Transnational Co-operation Agreement

- The role of the Support Unit.

Benefits for Your LAG

Strategic and long-term, by using transnational work to help your LAG and its key stakeholders achieve their own aims and objectives by: -– Raising the profile of your own organisation, – Gaining access to new ideas and developing your own

ideas.– Finding new business partners, political allies, or

technical collaborators;– Increasing your own organisation’s understanding of

relevant policy developments, and that of the other key partners.

– Open up possibilities for future co-operation;– Acquiring new skills and competences, especially in the

delivery of services.

Irish LAG visit Portugal for a transnational project development meeting

Benefits for Individuals

Individual Board Members, staff, community representatives etc..can gain from: -– Accessing new information and experiences,

including developing a wider, European perspective and enabling them to learn about other countries;

– Developing information, contacts and access to market networks;

– Improving work and related methods, and enhancing their skills, including developing language and communication skills.

– Can encourage volunteerism among members of voluntary boards and committees.

You want to or you have to undertake transnational projects

and

You want to be proactive!

Be clear about why you are engaging in Transnational Projects

Chairman of Blackwater Resource Development, Christy Roche, signing the

“Villages of Tradition” transnational cooperation agreement, July 2004

TipSet up a Pre Development file

Irish LAGS Identifed the overall transnational/inter-territorial budget and committed 10% to pre-development. This was brought to project evaluation and the board, as any other project would be.

As a transnational project develops, the pre-development costs, which have been used to develop the project, can be isolated from the pre-development file and moved into the final LEADER project file.

TipGet your transnational co-operation agreement (TCA) checked by a solicitor to ensure that your LAG is protected in the event of default by one of the other partners

TipThe LEADER+ lead partner has final responsibility for implementing the project and is the channel for communication with national authorities and for monitoring and reporting on the project.

Transnational Co-Operation Agreement

Role of National Support Unit.

TipThe Irish LEADER Support Unit (ILSU) has a dedicated Partnership Executive ready to assist LAGs in developing project ideas and in partner searches

Direct technical advice to LAGs

•Proceedural

•Financial

•Encouragement

•Case Studies

•Help in Partner search

Organising introductory meetings

Designing Projects for “pick-up”