Input from LUS on the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's needs analysis ahead of the next NRPP
Local Development Sweden will play an important role in the implementation of NRPP by coordinating the established platforms for locally led development and collaboration between the public sector, business, and civil society.
Excerpt from the letter:
”The needs analysis describes differences in administrative capacity but underestimates the importance of the local development structures that are already established. LEADER and the LEADER method with its Local Action Groups, LAG, constitute a national infrastructure for local mobilization, innovation, collaboration, and implementation. The approximately 750 elected members in the 40 LAG boards today prioritize projects in accordance with local development needs, which are then approved by the managing authority. The mandate to make decisions should lie with the LAG board. LEADER is a unique and strategic resource for translating EU, national, and regional goals into concrete results.”
NRPP (the national and regional partnership plan) is Sweden's comprehensive plan for how EU funds should be used, where the state and regions together prioritize investments and reforms to meet societal challenges. The plan is developed at the national level (the government, often via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and other authorities) in dialogue with regions and sent to the EU Commission.