AssoGal Toscana – Associazione dei GAL Toscani

Italy

Description (brief history)

The association of the Tuscan LAGs was formed in May 2000, the result of a unifying action following a trial period of close collaboration between the various Local Action Groups. During this period the various stages of intense, and at times harsh confrontation, had resulted, in each area, in the recognition and full perception of the intrinsically pioneer-like qualities of the concerted effort and had, at the same time, reinforced the identity of the rural areas and highlighted the roles and responsibilities of the LAG structures, creating a model for the representation and emergence of territorial needs.
The Leader programme was already being developed in the Tuscan Region during the planning stages: (1989-1994) in two mountain districts: the Amiata mountain area (Provinces of Grosseto and Siena) and the Garfagnana area (Province of Lucca).
The second stage of development (1994-1999) of Leader II involved 10 areas, each represented by a Local Action Group. This second edition represented a veritable experimental laboratory, in which important original and innovative ideas emerged and were developed, new professional rural development figures arose, and new projects took shape, fruit of the interaction between the protagonists and the contents of development: ideas, responsibilities, competencies, aims, resources.

Activities

The role of Assogal is a sort of a mediation and coordination subject between the different Tuscan LAGs, with their specific needs and characteristics, and in the external relations with the Leader Manager Authorities.
The Assogal is member of ELARD as the official Italian representative in this European network.
Throughout these last years, while dealing mainly with the implementation of Leader management and administration, the association has established important operational relations which have been formalized with:

- UNCEM (National Union of local municipal districts – mountain area communities and bodies) to implement concerted action contributing to the development of a network of competent structures in the rural areas of Tuscany with particular emphasis on mountain districts. The specific aim is to support the search for and identification of new functions for Local Action Groups through the distribution of competences regarding rural innovation with the following objectives:
-to establish cooperative relations between rural and urban areas;
-to encourage an increase in local district authority involvement and operations in mountain areas;
-to apply, disseminate and activate local development programmes;
- to become a point of reference for the territorial marketing of rural areas in Tuscany.

- ARSIA (Regional Development and Innovation Agency for Agriculture and Forestry) to develop initiatives regarding:
-support for the animation of rural development and for the transfer of rural development experience in Tuscany.
-the establishment of an “exchange network” with information and experience for the protagonists of rural development of a regional nature, based on a bottom-up approach; for inter-territorial and trans-national cooperation; for the creation of a network to connect rural districts and rural development operators; to implement initiatives regarding rural information, divulgation, animation and development
- the Agrinnova Formazione e Sviluppo Rurale Project that was established by an agreement between Assogal and ARSIA.
ASSOGAL has also taken part in the organisation of important events including:
- Brussels “Toscana Leader” - in September 2003 when Tuscan LAGs were invited by the European Parliament.
- Volterra – “I progetti di cooperazione con i GAL della Toscana” – “Cooperation projects with LAGs in Tuscany”
- FERANTUR – Siviglia, May 2005 – Andaluza tourist and rural development exhibition. Many LAGs took part to the event such as Polish and Portuguese LAGs, the Irish network CLE, the Italian LAGs of Umbria Region and different development agencies of South America.
- General Assembly of ELARD – Brussel, June 2005
- Conference on Rural Development - Brussel, June 2005. The conference was organized by the ELARD Commitment and took place in the European Parliament. During the conference there were official speeches by Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Parliament and Mrs Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and rural development.
- European Cooperation Fair – Brusselles, June 2005, the event was promoted by the European Commission (DG Agriculture and rural development) and the Contact Point Leader Plus. During the conference there were representatives from European Institutions, the national Ministers, the European LAGs, The national Leader Networks, the National Managing Authorities, the Contact Point Leader plus and new member’s states LAGs..
- The new “Rural development strategies for 2007-2013”- Information meeting – Rome – July 2005. The Italian Leader plus network has organised a meeting to discuss about the new strategy for rural development 2007-2013. After the meeting there was a focus group organised by the ATI INEA – Agriconsulting.
- Membership inside the National Coordination round table for the new “Rural development strategies for 2007-2013”. ASSOGAL has suggested the realization of an official proposal to the Managing Authorities to illustrate the LAGs needs and requests.
- 2006: workshops dedicated to the implementation of Leader plus Initiative by the Tuscan LAGs. During 2006 AssoGal Toscana in collaboration with A.R.S.I.A. organized a series of workshop in each LAGs’ territory to inform the steakholders and the genral public about the activites carried out by the LAG in the framework of Leader plus Initiative.
- 2007: REDAM II project (Leader: a regional network for the promotion of integrated sustainable development in the regions of Ararat and Vayots Dzor). The project granted by the EC aims to start up and enhance a regional development process in the Armenian regions of Ararat and Vayots Dzor. AssoGal Toscan is implementing the project following the Leader plus methodology.

Organization Rules

The political organs of Assogal are the Assembly (composed by a representative for each LAG) and the managing board. The operative functioning of the Association is managed by the Technical Committee composed by the LAGs managers.