The transformations in the new Central European Member States, following their entry into the European Union (EU), call for a renewal of rural development analysis frameworks. For more than 40 years, rural societies in eastern Europe have been the scope of the collectivist model, framed by central government. They have been the subject of economic and social development planning, denying them any autonomy of action. At present, the introduction of a local development model based on radically opposed principles and approach is an unprecedented and innovative experience. The model of endogenous development, based on a bottom-up and partnership-based approach, and the mobilisation of local initiatives, is the source of inspiration for the LEADER approach, which has been tested by the old Member States since the 1990s. Session proposed by Marie-Claude Maurel (Section Human and Society Sciences) in partnership with Maria Halamska (Section for Economic Affairs and Agricultural and Rural Policy) Date: 18 January 2012 presentation of the topic by Marie-Claude MAUREL The transformations in the new Central European Member States, following their entry into the European Union (EU), call for a renewal of the rural development analysis frameworks. For more than 40 years, rural societies in the East of Europe have been the scope of the collectivist model, framed by central government. They have been the subject of economic and social development planning denying them any autonomy of action. At present, the introduction of a local development model based on radically opposed principles and approach is a novel and innovative experience. The endogenous development model, based on a bottom-up and partnership-based approach, and the mobilisation of local initiatives, is the source of “inspiration for” the LEADER 1 approach, which has been tested by the old Member States since the 1990s. In the new Member States, the transfer of the LEADER approach takes place in the specific context of rural societies which returned two decades ago to democracy and local self-government. However, the implementation of the “LEADER approach” involves learning a “new mode of” public action based on exploiting the specific assets of each region and mobilising initiatives led by public/private partnerships (elected representatives, project leaders, entrepreneurs, associations). In itself, such learning is a form of testing of local actors. How have the new public policy measures proposed by the LEADER model been met? For which uses? What can be the effects of the transfer of a local development model on political systems with a recent and fragile democratic anchoring? These questions call for consideration of the conditions for receiving the LEADER approach. With a view to carrying out a transfer analysis under the European Rural Development Policy (PEDR) for the period 2007-2013, comparative research on the transcription and implementation of the LEADER axis in four countries: Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic have been committed. Common to all EU Member States, the objectives of the European rural development policy can be broken down flexibly (using a “menu” of measures) in order to take account of the specific nature of national economic and social contexts. Each Member State is responsible for transposing the priorities of the EDDP, in the form of programmes integrated into its national rural development strategy. Therefore, the question is how “the transcription process operates and what political, economic and social effects can be achieved in 1 LEADER” stands for “Links between actions for the development of the “rural economy””.