The Programme has received 123 project applications aimed at various activities in Latvia-Lithuania cross border region supported within four Programme priorities for the second call of proposals that ended today at noon. Number of received applications is slightly less compared to 158 applications received for the 1st call.

There is a request for EUR 47,7 million co-funding of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), while the total available co-funding for this call amounts to EUR 21,8 million.

Similar to the first call, most of applications (52) address the 1st priority “Sustainable and clean environment through cooperation”. Out of them the most popular proved to be specific objective No 1.1 “To increase number of visitors  to the programme area through improving and developing cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products” – 34 applications were received. The second most popular was 3rd priority “Social inclusion as a precondition to territorial development” and its specific objective No 3.1 “To improve accessibility and efficiency of social services”: out of 38 applications subbmitted for the 3rd priority, 26 applications addressed specific objective No 3.1.

Now the applications will go thorough the process of administrative and quality evaluation, that is being organised by the Programme’s Joint Secretariat. It is expected, that the Programme Monitoring Committee will make its final decisions on the project selection in November 2017.

The second call for proposals was open for two months from 27 March 2017 to 31 May 2017.  Applicants could submit project application to all priorities and their specific objectives of the Programme.

The overall objective of the Programme is to contribute to the sustainable and cohesive socio-economic development of the Programme regions by helping to make them more competitive and attractive for living, working and visiting. The Programme will pursue its overall objective through the financial support granted to cross border cooperation projects contributing to its specific objectives.

Second call application statistics:

Priority/Specific objective	Number of applications	ERDF requested MEUR
1. Sustainable and clean environment through cooperation	52	23,9
1.1. To increase number of visitors  to the programme area through improving and developing cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products	34	15,7
1.2. To increase integration and efficiency of environmental resource management	13	5,1
1.3. To regenerate public areas with environmental problems	5	3,1
2. Support to labour mobility and employment	15	3,3
2.1. To create employment opportunities through entrepreneurship support	5	1,1
2.2. To increase job opportunities by improving mobility and workforce skills	10	2,2
3. Social inclusion as a precondition to territorial development	38	13,4
3.1. To improve accessibility and efficiency of social services	26	11,5
3.2. To improve living conditions in deprived communities and territories	12	1,9
4. Improved quality of living through efficient public services and administration	18	6,9
4.1. To improve efficiency of public services by strengthening capacities and cooperation between institutions	18	6,9
Total	123	47,7