摘要：The differentiated speed with which a new idea on rural development paradigm change is adopted and accepted is depending on the number of years of membership in the EU. Slovakia (since 2004), Austria (since 1995) and Ireland (since 1973) are compared to each other from the viewpoints of number, size and significance of the Local Action Groups registered for the period 2007 – 2013. In the context of intranational comparison 29 registered LAGs constitute for us different territorial units which we are comparing according to their sizes (number of inhabitants and municipalities, geographical area) and their relations to administrative boundaries with the stress on the description and explanation of the extreme cases.
关键词：new paradigm of rural development; LEADER programme; Local Action Groups; Slo-vakia
