Third step of the Euroregion “Lakes Land” with ambitious future plans

At the beginning of August, the final conference of the European Union co-financed Latvian - Lithuania - Belarus cross-border cooperation programme “THIRD STEP” (LLB-1-083) was held in the city of Glubokoje (Belarus). In the large hall of the Musbocoje cultural house, discussions were carried out, the project realization presentations were demonstrated, the exchange of thoughts on future activities and the implementation of the Euroregion “Lakes Land”. The main message that came at the conference -- common borders, nature, history and people are the unifying aspects to address the socio-economic problems of the outermost regions through a cross-border cooperation approach.
More than 140 participants, local authorities and local government representatives from Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus, planning and development specialists, tourism information centre specialists participated in the final conference. In the opening of the conference, the Consul of the Consulate of the Republic of Belarus in Daugavpils, Jurijs Davidovskis, stressed the ability of the Euroregion to operate successfully in many border areas and areas that are equally important in both Latvia and Belarus and Lithuania.
The project manager, Head of the Latvian Bureau of Latvia Ilze Stachovs, head of the Lithuanian Bureau of Latvia Lin Staliauskiene and Mikhail Orehov, head of the Belarusian Bureau, who stated in his speech that this project is only the beginning of a variety of works, is presented to the participants of the project scoreboard.
In his work experience, the “Neman” of the Euroregion (cooperation between Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Russia) was shared by Gintaras Skamarochius, director of the Lithuanian Bureau, showing how important it is to act carefully, knowing what results you want to achieve. A consistent work resolves many problems and manages to implement ambitious, border-based projects.
In the 18 months of the project “Third step”, the Euroregion “Lakes Land” has developed a strategy for 2014-2020 and organised three major events – investment forum Glubokoje (Belarus), environmental forum in Svenchionys (Lithuania), song festival “GOSTI” in Rezekne, with almost 600 participants from Latvia, Belarus and Lithuania. Six members of the Euro-Region Directorate had the opportunity to represent Euroregion IN OPENDAYS, Brussels. On the other hand, 28 members of the Euroregion “Lakes Land” were able to acquire new knowledge and experience with four days in two countries.
In order to strengthen the administrative capacity of the cross-border cooperation structure of the Eurozone “Lakes Land”, to ensure co-operation and joint strategic planning in the border regions of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus in the territory of the Euroregion, three interactive seminars were held in each country where the main strategic objectives and tasks were met. As the conference moderator and strategy development manager Neil Balgalis acknowledged, all meetings focused on the work of intense groups, “mind storm”, the thought caleidoscope for creating new ideas. In the cultural, environmental, tourism, business and social sphere, representatives of the local authorities responsible for development planning, negotiations and discussions identified solutions and created vision for the future, the most important directions of development integrated into the strategy.
Projects involving maximum number of partners from all three co-operation countries are best achieved when the interests of the euro area are represented at a large scale in the exchange of local government experience, business promotion, infrastructure management, economic and tourism development, the promotion of cross-border culture.
“The third step” has prepared a solid basis for further work, 35 million EURO-worth ideas, project concepts. A team is formed, contacts have been established, which will definitely implement important projects in the territory of the euro area by 2020, “-- the“ Lakes Land ”of the Euroregion of Latvia's office manager I. Stavis.
The project budget is EUR 299 880,60, including ENPI co-financing 90% - 269 892,54 EURO, national funding 10%–29 988,06 EURO.
The information was prepared by:
Euroregion “Lakes Land”
Office of Latvia
Tel. +371 29 47 26 38
www.ezeruzeme.lv
General information on the programme
The European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus is a continuation of THE Baltic Sea Interreg III B Neighbourhood Programme IIIa Southern Priority 2007-2013. The overall strategic objective of the programme is to contribute to the territorial cohesion of the border regions of Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus, to ensure a high level of environmental protection and economic and social well-being as well as to promote intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity.
The programme covers Latgale region in Latvia, Paņeways, Utenas, Vilnius, Alitas and Kaunas districts in Lithuania, as well as Vitebsk, Mogilev, Minsk and Grodna areas in Belarus. As a joint management body of the programme, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania is active. The official website of the programme is www.ENPI-cbc.eu.