In the near future, Latvia will receive €40 million from THE EC for the implementation of the 2014-2020 fund projects
On Wednesday, 19 November, a meeting of the Council of general affairs on cohesion policy was held in Brussels, involving Finance Minister Janis Reirs and representatives of the Ministry of Finance.
The Council conclusions on the sixth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion were endorsed during the meeting, which assessed the results of the 2007-2013 European Union (EU) Funds programming period and the implementation orientations of the next, 2014-2020 programming period. An exchange of views on the review of cohesion policy and the Europe 2020 strategy was held, focusing on the analysis and improvement of the effectiveness of policy measures. The meeting also discussed the current situation with regard to the approval of Member States' partnership agreements and operational programmes, which is slower than originally planned.
Within the framework of the Council meeting, the Minister of Finance met with the Prime Minister of Great Britain in order to discuss the progress of the EU's multiannual budget amendments during the Latvian Presidency, which will be necessary in order to be able to approve operational programmes which will not be approved by the end of that year.
During the meeting of the Minister of Finance, THE EC expressed satisfaction that Latvia was among the first countries that had fully concluded negotiations on EU fund planning documents. After the negotiations with the EC colleagues, the Minister revealed: “Latvia fulfils its commitments – in time to approve the planning documents – can count on the fulfilment of the commitments of the European partners, and in the near future more than 40 million euro will be credited to the Latvian budget so that the implementation of the 2014-2020 fund projects can be launched.”
It is recalled that on Thursday, November 13, the European Commission (EC) officially approved THE “growth and employment” programme of THE EU funds for the 2014-2020 programming period, under which Latvia will have access to eur 4.4 billion. The operational programme envisages investments in a number of sectors of the economy, which will ensure the further sustainable economic development of Latvia, taking into account also the promotion of social equality.
On 22 November, the opening event of the Operational Programme will be held with the participation of Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, Minister of Finance Janis reira, Head of the European Commission Delegation in Latvia Innas Šteinbukas and Deputy State Secretary OF Finance Ministry of Finance, Armanda Eberharda, as well as the Commissioner for Regional Policy of the European Commission, Corina Krecu, who will be present at the event.Corina Creţu).
The originator of the information shall:
Zaiga Pushkina
Senior expert of the Department of Communication
Tel.: 67095656, zaiga.puskina@fm.gov.lv