Discussions on implementation of the INTERREG EUROPE Interregional Cooperation Programme to be held in Riga

Met dank overgenomen van Lets voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2015 (Lets voorzitterschap) i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 16 juni 2015.

Latvia as the presiding country of the Council of the European Union will chair the first Monitoring Committee’s meeting of the INTERREG EUROPE i, a new interregional cooperation programme for 2014-2020 programming period (hereafter - INTERREG EUROPE) on 16 June. Meeting aims to reach an agreement on implementation of the programme.

INTERREG EUROPE is the European Territorial Cooperation Programme that aims to improve regional development policy and implementation of related programmes, facilitating the exchange of experience, ideas and policy-learning between participants of the programme.

The programme is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The available ERDF funding for programme's projects in 2014- 2020 programming period is 322 500 000 EUR.

The programme's beneficiaries are the state budgetary institutions, derived public persons partially financed from the state budget and bodies established by them, regional authorities and bodies established by them, associations and foundations. The private sector can participate in the projects with its own funding.

The Monitoring Committee of the Programme is an institution established by EU Member States and partner countries, and takes decisions on implementation and monitoring of the programme.

The aim of the meeting is to reach an agreement on the implementation of the INTERREG EUROPE 2014 - 2020 programme already this year. Therefore it is intended to adopt the Monitoring Committee’s Rules of Procedure, the guidelines for the programme, conditions and documents of the first Call for Proposals.

On Wednesday, 17 June, the Monitoring Committee’s meeting of INTERREG IVC 2007-2013 Interregional Cooperation Programme will take place in Riga. During the meeting it is planned to discuss the implementation progress of the programme and agree on necessary actions in order to successfully conclude 2007-2013 programming period.

During these meetings the Latvian Presidency will prepare and hold a strategic discussion to reach an agreement between EU Member States and the partner countries - Switzerland and Norway.