AEIDL - European Association for Innovation in Local Development

The Association

AEIDL is an association that learns from and fosters community-led innovation in areas such as territorial development, employment, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, environment, climate action and green growth.

The birth of AEIDL

AEIDL was born at an important moment in European history. It was established in 1988 to animate a local approach to development by delivering the ELISE information and networking service for local employment initiatives. Significant changes were occurring at that time. In June 1988, the Commission led by Jacques Delors gave a new momentum to the process of European integration by finalising the conditions for the internal market, also laying the foundations for the single European currency. In the same year, the European Commission Communication on “The Future of Rural Society” was published, presenting the first strong statement on the need for a European rural development policy.

This led to the setting up of the LEADER Programme, which was the first time the ‘bottom-up’ approach was used in EU policy and practice, strengthening local citizen initiatives across Europe. AEIDL would later play an important role in LEADER, raising its profile across much of rural Europe.