FM: Sector ministries should prioritise work on the start of the new programming period of EU funds as the highest priority

On Friday, May 9, Finance Minister Andris Vilks met with co-operation partners, inviting representatives of the Ministry of Economics (MINISTRY of Economics) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) to raise issues regarding the implementation of the programmes of the European Union (EU) funds for the 2014-2020 programming period. Special attention was paid to the issue of early launching of investments, with detailed discussion of plans for the implementation of housing insulation, business incubators, industrial areas and financial instruments.
“In order to be able to successfully and timely start the implementation of the new EU funds programming period projects, there is a need for a considerably more intensive work of responsible ministries on the preparation of the content of the aid planned in 2014. Our goal is to ensure the continuous availability of financing between two EU fund planning periods and the quicker flow of financing to the economy of Latvia. The Ministry of Finance has taken all necessary steps to enable sectoral ministries to launch work on the implementation of new initiatives. Therefore, sectoral ministries have to prioritise work on the start of the new programming period of EU funds as the highest priority,” the Finance Minister Andris Vilks emphasized.
The participants of the meeting were informed of the amendments made to the legislative framework allowing the Commission to launch the implementation of individual measures before co-ordinating the EU Structural Funds 2014-2020 programming documents with the European Commission (EC), the financing of which would later be provided from the resources available in the 2014-2020 programming period OF THE EU Structural Funds. In addition to the representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the co-operation partners informed regarding progress in the development of EU fund planning documents, as well as indicated that THE EC comments on the “growth and employment” of the new programming period are expected in the coming days. In parallel with the process of harmonisation of documents, there is currently a work on the development of the content of the support measures planned in 2014. The Cabinet of Ministers has already examined the information reports of the Ministry of Welfare and Ministry of Transport on the conditions of support, and these ministries have already started projects.
At the meeting, WE are invited not to hesitate and to focus more attention on the quicker activities under the supervision of ministries, which are linked to the promotion of entrepreneurship, namely business incubators, industrial zone and housing insulation programmes. The proposals of the responsible authorities on the implementation model of the programmes and the timetable for their implementation were discussed.
It is recalled that the government has decided to start financing road infrastructure projects as soon as possible in 2014, support measures to promote the employment and competitiveness of young people. It is also decided to invest in research and innovation, energy efficiency improvement, urban revitalisation and environmental quality improvement. As well as supporting measures to ensure the availability of quality health services and to modernise vocational education institutions.
The originator of the information shall:
Ieva Rabovich
Senior expert of the communication department
Phone: 67083880
Ieva.Rabovica@fm.gov.lv