http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3899/regulation/2/2011-04-22The Rural Development Grants (Local Communities) Regulations 2001Rural developmentEuropean UnionRural communitiesEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, ENGLANDStatute Law DatabaseExpert Participation2023-03-22Expert Participation2011-04-22 These Regulations, which come into force on 1st January 2002 and extend to England only, supplement the Community legislation listed in the Schedule to the Regulations (“the Community legislation”). The Community legislation inter alia provides for assistance to be paid from the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (“Community assistance”) towards operations which fall within Community initiatives to promote rural development (“LEADER”) pursuant to Article 20(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 (OJ No. L161, 26.6.1999, p. 1). In the case of England, the initiative concerned is the England LEADER+ Programme, approved by the Commission of the European Communities (“the Commission”) by virtue of the Decision referred to in paragraph 7 of the Schedule (“the Commission Decision”). 21In these Regulations—“applicant” means a person who has made an application;“application” means an application made pursuant to regulation 4;“approved operation” means an operation which has been approved by the Secretary of State and “approve” and “approval” are to be construed accordingly;“authorised person” means a person who is authorised by the Secretary of State, either generally or specifically, to act in matters arising under these Regulations, and includes any official of the Commission who accompanies such an authorised person;“beneficiary” means a person who has been granted approval for an operation;“the Commission” means the Commission of the European Union;“Community assistance” means assistance from the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund granted pursuant to the EU legislation;“the EU legislation” means the instruments listed in the Schedule to these Regulations;“Council Regulation 1260/1999/EC” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds;“electronic communication” has the same meaning as in the Electronic Communications Act 2000;“the England LEADER+ Programme” means the Programme approved by the Commission in the Decision referred to in paragraph 7 of the Schedule to these Regulations;“financial assistance” means an amount paid or payable under these Regulations; and“operation” means an investment, plan, project or action which is the subject of an application.2A reference in these Regulations to anything done in writing or produced in written form includes a reference to an electronic communication which has been recorded and is subsequently capable of being reproduced. OJ No. L161, 26.6.1999, p. 1. 2000 c. 7. Words in Regulations substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3-6