Estonia – Latvia – Russia Priority North Neighborhood program in the Baltic Sea Region (Estonia, Latvia, Russia)

http://www.bsrinterreg3a.net
 

The main Objectives of the INTERREG IIIA North priority are:

Strengthening the cross-border relations in various structural fields of activities on borders between Estonia and Latvia - Measure 1

	Tourism development
	Environmental management and protection
	Municipal co-operation
	Local co-operation contacts
	Training, innovative and explorative activities

Balancing the overall development conditions and elimination of development hindrances caused by geographical location through integrating the border regions (on borders with Russia) - Measure 2

	Development of new business opportunities
	Improvement of infrastructure
	Tourism development
	Environmental management and protection
	Local and regional co-operation contacts
	Training
	Innovative and explorative activities

In the framework of the North Priority both small-scale and large-scale projects can be supported.

Small-scale projects can cave the ERDF co-financing between 5.000 and 50.000 EUR. The duration of small-scale projects can be up to 18 months, but projects must be finalised by 31 December 2007.

Large-scale projects with ERDF co-financing between 50.000 and 1 million EUR do not have a fixed time limit but must be finalised by 31 December 2007.

Under large-scale projects infrastructure projects are also supported. The project is defined as an infrastructure project if the costs listed in budget line "Investments" exceed 75% of the total eligible project budget.

The eligible co-operation area for Priority North is:

	11 Estonian counties: Hiiu, Ida-Viru, Jogeva, Laane, Polva, Parnu, Tartu, Saare, Valga, Viljandi, Voru.
	5 Latvian regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Riga, Vidzeme, Latgale.
	3 regions of the Russian Federation: Leningrad oblast, Pskov oblast, city of St. Petersburg.

Projects with EU Member States' partners from the NUTS III regions that share a common border are encouraged. Under Measure 1 , it refers to Hiiu, Jogeva, Laane, Polva, Parnu, Tartu, Saare, Valga, Viljandi and Voru counties in Estonia; Kurzeme, Zemgale, Riga and Vidzeme regions in Latvia.

Under Measure 2, it refers to Ida-Viru, Jogeva, Polva, Tartu, Valga, Viljandi and Voru counties in Estonia; Vidzeme and Latgale regions in Latvia.

The IIIA Priorities are supported from the following sources:

	European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
	EU Tacis Programme
	National support schemes

ERDF

The total funding available from the ERDF to the INTERREG IIIA priorities for the period 2004-2006:

For North Priority: EUR 7 840 236

(ca 3 million EUR were available prior to 3rd call for proposals)

Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme
Joint Secretariat Riga
State Regional Development Agency
Elizabetes iela 19,
Riga, LV-1010, Latvia 
Phone: + 371 735 73 68
Fax: + 371 735 73 72
Email: info@bsrinterreg3a.net