LAG means Local Action Group: these three words clearly explain the mission that the European Union has entrusted these agencies, born to help, promote and valorize new rurality, thanks to communitarian funds.
The new rurality goes beyond the boundaries of simple economical activity: it is an instrument aimed to transmit culture and tradition, to valorize living and new resources of the territory and, last but not least, it has the new role as a guardian of the environment.
LAG philosophy is focused on acting together, on site, to process development strategies, to perform plans of intervention, and to create a network of entities which can share projects and initiatives.
The goal is to valorize and to promote the territory by taking advantage of its positive aspects such as tourism, the countryside, and regional production of food and wine.
The province of Padua has two LAGs: the first, LAG PATAVINO, was established in 1994 and the second, LAG BASSA PADOVANA, in 2007 for want of the members of the first LAG, Padua Provincial Council, Padua Industry, Crafts and Agriculture Commerce Chamber, Regional Board of Euganei Hills Park, Padua province traders association, Antonveneta bank, Padua General Confederation of Italian agriculture, National confederation of craftsmen and small companies from Padua, Padua traders association, Provincial federation of Paduan farmers, Provincial Craftsmen Union from Padua, Bacchiglione-Brenta reclamation consortium.
The Local Development Program 2007-2013 "Between the Brenta and Adige rivers, new opportunities of sustainable development for the rural territory of the Southern Padua Province" was approved with resolution of the Regional Council of Veneto n° 545 of 10.03.2009, under AXIS IV "Implementation of Leader +" of the Rural Development Program co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), EU.
The LAG BASSA PADOVANA goal is to support and manage projects in the area, supporting the quality of life and stimulating the economical, cultural and tourist development of the area.
This project aims at supporting rural area development policies and even at fostering a greater and more efficient level of interaction and exchange of expertise between the related stakeholders, institutions and those working and living in rural areas.
The local community living in the target area could benefit from EU financing to pursue projects consistent with the objectives and measures of the Local Development Program.