The Role of Agriculture in Rural Development in Spain and Italy Within the Framework of the LEADER 2007–2013 Programming Period

The mainstreaming of LEADER in the 2007–2013 programming period opened up the possibility of integrating participative, bottom-up approaches into the range of rural development programmes applied in EU member states. This study of Spain and Italy reveals that in the end this did not happen and in some cases was deliberately avoided. The measures to be applied within regional programming were homogenized through European guidelines and National Strategic Plans, based on the paradigm of modernization and of linear growth rather than on more innovative approaches based on multi-functionality and the circular economy. Significant similarities were detected between the two countries in terms of the widespread use of structural measures while those relating to technical support and training were neglected. We also observed greater diversity between the Italian regions in terms of the measures implemented than in Spain where a more uniform approach was adopted.