This network of 24 members has been rising continuously. Drieke Beuselinck, the coordinator confidently said that: ‗The network slowly gets a boost, since members feel that they can rely upon each other. Organising meetings, where members get the opportunity to exchange and discuss their experiences, has proved to be an excellent decision.‖
This is the first, and maybe the prime object of this community collaboration. „ Unity is strength which is really the message of the LEADER + initiation for rural development. ( LEADER+ MAGAZINE 2005)
Figure 48. Brugge region (Source:: Leader+ Magazine)
Figure 49. Project plan in the LEADER+ program
21. Summary
Qualification systems of local products, certificates of origin
The rural developmental quality policy of the European Union guarantees the high level of quality of agricultural productions and consumables; hereby the quality of agrarian-products which appear on the European Union market worthily earns recognition not only on the continent but on world level. European Union quality assurance policy has worked out a strict requirement system to the overall regulation of the different periods starts from the production of agricultural product and foodstuffs, or rather to agrarian-like raw material to the distribution of products which involves production processes and proceeds, to the overall regulation of the period to the buying of the product.
The triple frame of the supreme objective of the quality policy is based on the undermentioned pillars.
1. Producers receive reasonable incomes suitable for the quality of their products.
2. The consumers of farm products (including merchants and resellers are given adequate information concerning product line, produce characteristic and quality)
3. Consumers are given complete information about food-stuffs and products.
Various quality assurance procedures are applied by the European Union in order to guarantee the quality of
The legal framework of the decree modification of the year 2013 anatomizes and defines in detail the objectives of quality assurance policy. It mentions each requirement of the quality assurance tools, and gives a detailed description about the key conditions of the titles. Furthermore it lists those foodstuffs and agricultural -products which are covered by the quality policy of rural development, and in which case these proceeding are applicable.
It exactly defines the criteria of labelling mechanisms and regulates the right of the use of names, nominations and symbols with stricter conditions. It mandates in detail about the application of optional reserved nominations, and unambiguously determines the function and content of indications respectively provides legal framework which embraces the whole circle of monitoring activities for the sake of clear market competitions.
Nevertheless the European Committee and the competition authorities are carrying out risk analysis, they continuously monitor the observance to the quality prescriptions referring to local products and the default of those prescriptions carries criminal law consequences.
The European Union guarantees the implementing of a competitive, high-standard, environmentally conscious, or rather sustainable economy and improvement with the constant development of the agricultural productions and comestibles, and with the enhancement of the added value of the local products.
The fourth, overall LEADER axle of the Common Agrarian Policy of the European Union - in the course of rural development - considers the development of local products as a key criterion. The LEADER+ programme provides an excellent opportunity for rural communities for the support of the agrarian products and comestibles which dispose local peculiarities, and through their introduction to wider market they instinct rural quality of living improvement.
It desires to gives help - through local action groups- with grassroots initiations all in the manufacturing, production, marketing of local product and their provisioning to final consumers. Products which preserve traditional proceedings and dispose characteristic traits and disposes high added values get an emphasized role, since this way not only rural economy, but local and regional identity are strengthened, too. Notwithstanding that micro regions are able to form individual facade, image, they may became a successful example for the foundation of environmentally conscious rural improvement in the spirit of joint cooperation. Money funds are allocated for the financing of projects by the rural development policy and the communal activities of LAG
(Local Action Groups) are supported, or rather professional advice giving and information are given to the participant parties.
One of the major excellent examples of the strategy - which aims at the development of added value representing productions - is the initiations of the ‘Brugge and its surroundings‖ local action group in the territory of Belgium. This Flemish pioneer project combines the production and distribution of traditional local products such as dairy products, cheese and beef with the potential target group of tourist who visit Brugge year after year. By the exploitation of touristic advantages, visitors may learn about the beauty of the Flemish region landscape, and beside the culture geographical repute of the Brugge environment region is guaranteed with local product. The strengthening identity, as well as the sustainable rural economy model is exemplary for European rural development.
Questions
1. Explain the concept of quality assurance!
2. What kind of quality assurance tools are applied by the quality policy of the European Union?
3. Name the most important objectives of rural development quality policy!
4. What are the conditions required for the registration of Protected Designation of Origin nomination?
5. Describe the monitoring processes in general.
6. How local product development appears in the LEADER programme?