Today on 23 March the first mutually signed contract on implementation of the project “Safety first!” was submitted to the Joint Secretariat by the project’s lead partner “Ventspils Digital centre” thus symbolically launching actual implementation of the Programme’s projects.Since the Monitoring Committee selected the projects that should be financed by the Programme in late January, the Programme’s Joint Secretariat with projects’ lead partners have been working on implementing conditions for project’s approval and on contracting.  During last week 28 draft Subsidy Contracts have been signed by the Managing Authority and sent to the lead partners.

Main objective of the project “Safety first!” is to increase Latvian and Lithuanian beach rescuers’ capacity, as well as inform residents and tourists about safe recreation on the beach. It is expected that after implementation of the project number of accidents in the Latvian and Lithuanian coast will decrease. During the project there will be large-scale trainings and seminars carried out which will be attended by rescue services from Latvian and Lithuanian state and municipal institutions. In addition rescuers’ equipment will be modernized. 4 informational films will be created and safety warning signs situated in beaches with basic recommendations on safe resting at the beach and how to handle emergency situations.

Monitoring Committee’s decision to select 41 project submitted to the 1^st Call for Proposals was made at its meeting on 23-24 January, 2017 in Anykščiai, Lithuania.