An evaluation of entrepreneurship orientation within the LEADER+ program in the European Union

Abstract

This article deals with the currently widely discussed entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and investigates the roles this concept actually plays within the LEADER+ development program and its implementation in three European territories. The main question addressed in this analysis is whether or not the LEADER+ envisaged EO as a basic element for rural development. Can we really observe both at the rhetoric and at the implementation levels impacts of the EO on the LEADER+? To answer this question the official programmatic documents of the EU community initiative LEADER+ are analyzed against the background of the most important EO concepts and characteristics. Subsequently, a deeper look in the implementation of LEADER+ in three European territories shows that the EO still has little impact in the actions implemented. Some major contradictory rhetoric of the LEADER+ is identified regarding EO and its importance to the development program. As well as some important suggestions for improving future development program can be derived from the analysis. These show that, despite the lack of focus on EO by the LEADER+, the concept has the potential to make a significant contribution to the successful development of regions.

El presente artículo se ocupa de la orientación emprendedora (EO), concepto actualmente muy debatido, e investiga su papel en el programa de desarrollo LEADER+ y en la aplicación de ese programa en tres territorios europeos. La cuestión principal abordada en este análisis es si el programa LEADER+ contempla el concepto de la orientación emprendedora como elemento básico para el desarrollo rural o no. Son analizados documentos programáticos de la iniciativa LEADER+ y acciones realizadas en el contexto de ese programa en tres territorios europeos. A pesar de la falta de orientación emprendedora en LEADER+, el artículo enfatiza en las potenciales de la OE para el desarrollo de zonas rurales.