Denmark - 10 FLAGs - 15,7 M€

The Danish FLAG areas represent approximately 23% of the country’s surface area and 11% of the population. In the current programming period, CLLD in Denmark focuses on reinforcing EMFF measures in specially designated areas, which are experiencing a general decrease in employment within the fisheries sector and a decline within the population. Hence, through their strategies, the 10 Danish FLAGs promote economic growth, social inclusion and job creation, with a focus on projects that support the marketing of fisheries products and the diversification of fisheries businesses.

CLLD Programme

CLLD Context:

With 7 314 kilometers of coastline, bordering the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Skagerrak, and the Kattegat, the fisheries sector plays an important role in the Danish economy.

Fishing, fish processing and aquaculture account for 1 504, 2 975 and 377 full-time equivalents (FTE) jobs respectively, and the sector overall performed well in the 2007-2013 period.

The small-scale fleet, however, is experiencing difficulties.

Contact details of the managing authority can be found here.

More information about national EMFF programmes can be found here.

Axis 4 achievements (2007-2013):

In the previous programming period, Denmark had a total of 16 FLAGs (along the North Sea coast, Fyn, Sealand, Bornholm, and one FLAG covering a number of the small islands, focusing on the specific problems of these small isolated territories). The main achievements of Axis 4 were:

Fishing ports and harbours have been opened up to more tourist and leisure business;
FLAGs were able to involve a wide range of actors in the Axis 4 implementation (e.g. fisheries associations/ enterprises, tourism associations/ enterprises, environmental/nature associations, public institutions, research institutes);
At the beginning of 2015, almost 600 projects were implemented with a total public budget of around €11,3 million (10 projects are showcased as FARNET good practice); important themes were adding value to fisheries products (new products, short circuits and support to businesses), diversification into tourism, and diversification involving development of new activities and products;
The population in the FLAG areas with the larger cities has increased, while there has been a decrease on the smaller islands.

CLLD objectives and challenges for 2014-2020:

With a budget decrease of 70% (due to political reconsiderations) and a 75% reduction in the area covered, community-led local development (CLLD) in the current programming period CLLD will focus on reinforcing EMFF measures in specially designated areas, which are experiencing a general decrease in employment within the fisheries sector and a decline within the population.

Through their CLLD strategies, FLAGs will promote economic growth, social inclusion and job creation, with a focus on projects that support the marketing of fisheries products and the diversification of fisheries businesses.

The number of FLAGs is being reduced from 16 to 10, covering 16 municipalities. Compared to the 2007-2013 period, the total budget for CLLD has been reduced from €24.9 million to €8.8 million, and the average budget per FLAG has almost halved.

Multi-fund CLLD in Denmark

In 2007-2013, most Danish FLAGs were also LEADER LAGs, and the new legislation in Denmark allows for multi-fund CLLD (EMFF and EAFRD). The decision on whether LAGs and FLAGs will operate separately or as an integrated unit is to be taken locally. Strong fisheries areas could, for example, operate as independent FLAGs, whereas in other cases, integration with LEADER groups may be necessary to achieve critical mass.

CLLD Budget

Total budget: 
€15 663 319
EMFF budget for CLLD: 
€7 518 393
Co-funding: 
€8 144 926
Proportion of CLLD in EMFF budget: 
6%
Number of FLAGs: 
10
Average budget per FLAG: 
€1 566 332

National Network

The Danish Business Authority, an administrative board that comes under the auspices of the Ministry for business and growth (located in Nykøbing Falster, in the south-east of Denmark), is responsible for administering LAG and FLAG measures. Both CLLD in the EAFRD and the EMFF will be supported through the Network Center, which is an integral part of the Ministry. This will provide opportunities to exchange experience and information across the two programmes, while also ensuring consistency and continuity with the previous programming period.

Network actions include, among others:

Dialogue and engagement with central, regional and local authorities, and other rural and fisheries actors, in the development and implementation of the rural and fisheries development programme;
Skills development in relation to the establishment and operation of fisheries and LEADER local action groups;
The compilation of project examples showing “best practice”;
Studies and analyses;
Tasks relating to the preparation and implementation of the programme;
Networking activities for local action groups, and in particular technical assistance for the promotion of transnational cooperation and cooperation among local action groups.
Management of the network.

Two informal networks (East and West) have also been established by LAGs. Their chairmen meet on a regular basis with the MA. Being informal, these networks do not have an allocated budget, however they do receive an annual contribution from the Network Center to cover meeting and travel costs.

Click here for the National Network contact details.

Delivery of CLLD

Key actors and roles:

The FLAG areas represent approximately 23% of Denmark’s surface area and 11% of the population. The Ministry for business and growth is responsible for selecting the FLAGs. A call was launched in early February 2016, and groups had until the end of April to respond. The (F)LAGs and their strategies have been approved by end May 2016; seven joint LAG/FLAGs and three FLAGs are set up.

FLAG

Code	Nom	Région	Surface area (km²)	Population	Population density (per km²)	Employment in fisheries*
DK201	Nord FLAG	North Denmark	1577	126921	83	2020
DK202	Jammerbugt FLAG	North Denmark	866	38468	44	74
DK203	Thy-Mors FLAG	North Denmark	1460	65000	44	607
DK204	Vestjylland FLAG	Central Jutland	3607	250666	70	1161
DK205	Djursland FLAG		721	37898	53	238
DK206	LLSÆ FLAG		500	20718	41	148
DK207	MANK FLAG	South Denmark	206	23880	116	104
DK208	Halsnæs-Gribskov FLAG	Capital Region	280	41107	147	130
DK209	Danish Small Islands - Småøerne FLAG	South Denmark	196	4536	23	29
DK210	Bornholm FLAG	Capital Region	589	39756	67	414

(*)according to the information received from the FLAG

Map

Publication date:

15/12/2021