I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
Following consultation with the member states, the European Commission is finalising the draft guidelines on Leader+, consequent on the recent receipt of the observations of the European Parliament. Further consultation is taking place with member states and this should open the way to early approval of the guidelines.
Based on these guidelines, member states will then draw up operational programmes for Leader+ for forwarding to the Commission for approval with a view to commencement of the Leader+ programme as soon as possible. The Commission will then have to consider the programme over a number of months, prior to approval.