ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2013 FOR GRANTS
of Joint Managing Authority
Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme
within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument
2007-2013
1. Basic act and Financing source
Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.
Co-financing of the Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013 (hereinafter – Programme) allocated to Projects consists of European Union, Russian Federation and Estonian contributions assigned to the Programme in accordance with the following documents:
Decision of the European Commission No C (2008) 8332 of 17 December 2008 adopting the Programme, financed by European Union funding (budget line No 19 08 02 01 and 19 08 02 02);
Financing Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the European Community on Financing and implementing the Cross Border Cooperation Programme “Estonia – Latvia – Russia” signed on 18 November 2009;
Agreement between the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government of the Republic of Latvia Acting as the Joint Managing Authority, the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia on the Management and Administration of the Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013 signed on 22 December 2010;
Agreement on the management and administration of the Estonian additional financing to the Estonia – Latvia – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013.
2. Objectives of the Programme, priorities for year 2013 and expected results
The strategic objective of the Programme is to promote joint development activities for the improvement of the region’s competitiveness by utilising its potential and beneficial location in the cross roads between the European Union and the Russian federation.
The specific objective of the Programme is to make the wider border area an attractive place for both its inhabitants and businesses through activities aimed at improving the living standards and investment climate.
Programme’s priorities for year 2013:
ensuring timely signing of the Grant Contracts for 2nd Call for proposals projects;
continuous support and monitoring of the 1st and the 2nd Call for proposals project imple-mentation in order to ensure smooth and timely reporting of the projects and sustainable financial flow to projects and sound financial management at Programme level;
active participation in capitalisation process of ENPI CBC Programmes identifying, capturing and enabling for uptake results produced by Estonia-Latvia-Russia ENPI CBC Programme in 2012-2013;
support to the preparation activities of ENI for 2014-2020;
preparation and successful carrying out of the Programme’s Annual Event with the objective to strengthen cross-border tourism cluster and Programme’s results being visible to the wider public.
The Programme is divided into three priorities with specified measures:
Priority I: Socio-economic development
Measure 1.1 Fostering of socio-economic development and encouraging business and entrepreneurship
Measure 1.2 Transport, logistics and communication solutions
Measure 1.3 Tourism development
Priority II: Common challenges
Measure 2.1 Joint projects aimed at protection of environment and natural resources
Measure 2.2 Preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage and support of local traditional skills
Measure 2.3 Improvement of energy efficiency and promotion of renewable energy sources
Priority III Promotion of people to people cooperation
Measure 3.1 Development of local initiative, increasing administrative ca-pacities of local and regional authorities
Measure 3.2 Cooperation in spheres of culture, sport, education, social and health
The Programme adopted and used two options for selection and award of grant to the projects:
1. Open and Restricted Calls for Proposals.
2. Direct award (only for Large Scale Projects (LSPs)).
Both Calls for Proposals of the Programme took place between 2010 and 2012. All three priorities were opened for submission of Projects proposals. All Programme funds have been committed.
The 1st call for Proposals: 25 projects were awarded with the Programme grant; implemen-tation phase started in the end of 2011 – beginning 2012. Total amount of grant of the 1st Call for proposals is EUR 22 546 986,86.
The 2nd call for Proposals: 20 projects were awarded with the Programme grant Total amount of grant of the 2nd Call for proposals is EUR 8 729 142,67.
The process of contracting, comprising of fulfilment of minor changes and clarifications, final approval of the projects by the JMC and the Grant Contract signing, is underway.
The Large Scale Projects (LSPs) focus on Priority I and II. In the 3rd and the 4th quarters of 2012 the Grant Contracts for four LSPs were signed totalling EUR 28 142 152,20.
Information of Eligibility conditions; selection and award criteria; Programme financing rates; schedule and indicative amounts of calls for proposals are of no relevance to the projects as the 1st and the 2nd Calls for Proposals have been completed by 2013. No further calls are expected.