LOCAL ACTION GROUPS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BULGARIA- CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS.

Over the last decade, local action groups (LAGs) in Bulgaria have become key organizations supporting the implementation of projects important for rural development. Prerequisites for this are the unique characteristics of the LEADER/CLLD approach, which allow empowerment of the population, capacity building combined with providing access to financial resources, as well as building trust and accumulation of social capital. Since the beginning of the application of the approach in the country, LAGs have been facing some difficulties, but at the same time the opportunities for attracting funds to support a wide range of initiatives at the local level are expanding. In this regard, the aim of this study is based on the analyses of the activities of LAGs in the country, to outline the challenges facing these organizations and to reveal their potential for sustainable development of rural areas. The case study method is applied. The results of the study show a significant potential of LAGs to accelerate the socio-economic processes in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]