Autonomy of LAGs: Empirical evidence across European countries

Abstract

Local Action Groups (LAGs) have supported European local and regional development since the 1990s. The aim of LAGs is to promote sustainable, locally driven initiatives by fostering local cooperation and achieving community-led goals. Their autonomy is crucial for successfully performing tasks such as designing development strategies, building capacity, selecting projects, and monitoring implementation. However, the circumstances fostering or hindering the autonomous LAG operation remain unexplored. This research investigates the level of autonomy of LAGs in relation to local government authorities in nine European countries. Empirical evidence is based on the LAG members’ perceptions of autonomy and the assessment of internal and external factors that might influence LAG autonomy. The results show that increased transparency of LAG operations and their effective role in policy decision-making and implementation relate to greater LAG autonomy. In contrast, the power of local government to terminate LAGs narrows the autonomy of LAGs across European countries.