It is evident today that the national network approach on rural development, acknowledged as a basic axis of European agricultural policy and implementation towards the new 2007-2013 programme, is to be embedded into actions that promote prosperity and growth in the EU member states. This issue is even more important while facing challenges of agricultural and rural development for the new enlargement countries.

The Greek LEADER+ Network (Network of Rural Development Organisations) is one of the mature national networks in the EU countries. Operating at national and international level, it was established within the framework of the LEADER+ Community Initiative (C.I.), specifically foreseen in Priority Axis 3, "Networking", with an implementation period of 2000-2008. 

From the beginning of its establishment, the Greek LEADER+ Network has clearly promoted and implemented a cooperative vision. Rural Development has been accepted as a multi level, multi-actor and multi-faceted process along with practical issues. It became evident to embed a single or a micro identity and impacting to a wider scope, promoting an integrated "bottom up" approach to rural development actions.  

The basis of this active involvement and participation of the Network's members has its roots in the experienced necessity to act on rural areas that were traditionally distant in technological, socioeconomical and cultural terms from the main (urban) centres of activity. Furthermore, it became necessary to update economic functions through agricultural and rural development. Implementation of the LEADER programme supported the development of a strong sense of identity on a micro and local level -and can be widely accepted as one of the concrete results of EU efforts.  This is also easily recognised as one of the characteristic of European LAGs. Symbols of local identity and belonging are held to have a role in mobilising positive social and economic change. The impact and efficiency of the network is widely based on these elements.

The Greek LEADER+ Network supports LAGs on various issues on rural development by promoting key elements such as the role of partnerships, community involvement, animation and capacity, built also by supporting local creative synergies.

However, interests arisen by the different partners of the LAGs vary and, in practice, a range of views can emerge within the local partnerships. Partners may have contradictory needs, uneven contribution capacities and various degrees of commitment. Sometimes, a difference of opinion may arise among the LAG and their partners, and the Network must be ready to act as a consultant and arbitrator as well. It is also important to remember that the issue of local control is always likely to recur at various stages in the life of local development projects.

The involvement of the Network to those sometimes complicated situations is to promote a healthy and positive culture through all supporting actions for LAGs. The Network proposes, for example, local partners' participation as much as possible in all stages of the process in a genuine and appropriate way. Moreover, the network is helping LAGs to face a wider scale perspective except of implementing the LEADER type programme and pave the way for a long term development process. The transformation of the LAG from a local partnership to a Local Development Agency is vital for maximizing the benefits and avoiding loss of potential synergies. Further than aiming to implement a Local Rural Development Programme, the LAG expands its activities in other fields and strengthens its existence as a constant developmental tool of the territory in question while gaining the acceptance by the local entities.

The Greek LEADER+ Network promotes and acts on vertical and horizontal interactions; the exchange and sharing of experience, the diffusion of information and know-how through LAGs and other rural development organisations in a national and transnational level.

Further than cultivate and strengthen local actions, the Network works on fostering repeated social interactions between LAGs and teams which develop trust, social norms, and strengthen co-operation and reciprocity, quality and quantity of interactions. As an outcome of these efforts, a form of "creative solidarity" results between the areas and the rural development organisations.