The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment highlighted in Angra do Heroísmo the largest territorial coverage of the LEADER approach under the new Community Support Framework (CSF), which has allowed, at the proposal of the Regional Government to the European Commission, all villages of the archipelago to benefit from Support to Local Development projects under PRORURAL+.

"Hence, it will widen the scope of projects that may arise throughout the archipelago," said Luís Neto Viveiros. The government official spoke at the signing ceremony of the protocols between the Regional Directorate for Rural Development, as the Managing Authority of PRORURAL+, and the four Local Action Groups (GAL) that were created in the Region.

The Secretary for Agriculture emphasised the importance of these groups (ADELIAÇOR, ARDE, ASDEPR and GRATER) for the successful implementation of the development strategy led by local communities. He also praised the proximity work carried out by GAL, which has contributes to the improvement of the quality of life, the maintenance of populations, and the creation and maintenance of jobs.

"We had about 500 projects approved [in the previous CSF] that represent an investment of nearly 30 million Euros [between public spending and investment] and they have created - and this is the most important aspect - 160 direct jobs," said Neto Viveiros.

The Regional Secretary expressed the belief that this dynamics will continue, ensuring the commitment and collaboration of the Government so that the 22 million Euros allocated to the LEADER approach "may be efficiently used" in order to enhance, at the proposal of GAL, "the projects of interest in each territory" under the management of Local Action Groups.

The main areas of intervention of supported projects are the following: creation and development of micro companies, tourism, diversification of non-agricultural activities, processing and marketing of agricultural products, provision of basic services to the population, social infrastructures and health facilities. These areas reveal the scope and importance of the LEADER approach in the harmonious development of the territory and the communities.