France/Aude: the Pays Carcassonnais uses European funding to help its region thrive
At the Pays Carcassonnais AGM last Tuesday in Villeneuve-Minervois, an agreement for the implementation of local development was signed with the Region.
For those who still doubt it, Europe is an undeniable vector for rural development. In the Aude region, the Pays Carcassonnais works with the LEADER (1) program funded by Brussels. To bring its tourism and agricultural projects to fruition, the association, which brings together more than a hundred communes through the Groupement d'Action Locale (GAL) du Carcassonnais led by Carcassonne Agglo and the Communauté de Communes de la Montagne Noire, benefits from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), a significant source of economic support managed by the Occitanie Region.
A financial package worth almost 1.7 million euros
Last Tuesday in Villeneuve-Minervois, at its general meeting, the local development agreement for the 2024-2027 strategic plan was signed by Pays Carcassonnais president Tamara Rivel and regional councillor Alain Costes. A financial envelope of almost 1.7 million euros has been allocated for this period, which will begin next September with the return of the agreement signed by Carole Delga. Already, funding applications are piling up on the desk at Pays Carcassonnais headquarters in Carcassonne.
Tourism offer and identity
Projects often involve structuring tourism offerings in line with the Carcassonnais region's specific identity, such as the development of stores and reception areas for foreign customers, the renovation of historic buildings to create gites and the creation of a new tourist attraction.historic buildings to create gîtes, landscaping interpretation trails, renovating chapels, lavoirs, capitelles and dry-stone walls, or developing local restaurants in villages with character: "To energize communities and enhance their attractiveness, we have files concerning the creation of a rural café, the modernization of a grocery store, the renovation of a craftsman's workshop..." says Valérie Lafon, director of Pays Carcassonnais.
Promoting short circuits
Promoting short circuits in viticulture and agriculture in general is also a key part of the group's strategy. "Requests have been made to promote farmers' stands at trade fairs, e-mail prospecting campaigns for the general public and professionals, the creation of themed visitor trails, a municipal market-garden farm..." explains Céline, the group's project manager. It will be up to the programming committees, made up of technicians and elected representatives, to decide on the eligibility of any given project.
(1) The European LEADER program stands for "Liaison Entre Action de Développement de l'Économie Rurale". Financed by the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), it aims to support the development of rural areas.
Source: www.ladepeche.fr
