Abstract. The European Union Leader initiative is an important chance for the development and tightening of the rural-urban continuum in Romania. Fundamental elements of this initiative are the local action groups. These local action groups are conceived rather as an ad hoc framework for exchanging ideas, for debate on matters of local interest, on initiatives to boost economic activities. Thus, these local partnership structures can be self-organized by very real problems and directions: to promote a brand of product made in a certain area, the image of a tourist attraction, of traditional occupations, crafts of products etc.

This paper aims to highlight the difficulties of economic progress for the Romanian rural area, considering that the Leader initiative would be a good opportunity to accelerate this process. To emphasize this, a review of the dimension of the Romanian rural problem was done. Also, I examined how specific indicators and official recommendations have stimulated the initiatives for organizing local action groups. Finally, arguments in favour of local action groups as the solution to the rural problem of Romania are provided.

Keywords: local action groups; regional disparities; economic cohesion; rural development; economic integration.