North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher has told the European Parliament that proposed changes to the Leader programme here are unnecessary, and will hamper rather than stimulate local development.
Minister Phil Hogan is seeking to align the Leader companies more closely with county councils as part of a streamlining of local development structures.
However, Pat The Cope Gallagher says this will dilute the bottom up philosophy on which Leader has been built…………
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