Broks and Zalāns agreed on reduction of administrative obstacles to acquisition of EU funds in 2007-2013
On March 19, the Minister for Special Assignments for Administration of European Union Funds Normunds Broks (TB/LNNK) met the Minister for Regional Development and Local Governments Edgars Zalāns (TP) to discuss implementation of EU funds in 2007-2013 and agreed on reduction of administrative obstacles for local governments and other project submitters. To start the new programming period soon as possible, as well as to make EU funds more available, ministers agreed to simplify evaluation procedures ensuring that best and most competitive projects will receive the EU funding.
Broks and Zalāns agreed that in Latvia more stringent project conditions will not be introduced, as it is stipulated in the European Commission regulations. Also the ministers are of the same opinion that similarly to other EU member states Latvia also shall evaluate project efficiency to ensure that best and most competitive projects will receive the EU funding. On the basis of this discussion the minister N.Broks will submit to the government guidelines for evaluation of project efficiency which will be manageable for each qualified project submitter and will ensure selection of best projects.
Ministers also discussed the situation with the city environment development program and agreed on sever issues related to simplification of application procedure for 17 cities which could allow starting implementation of the program already in the nearest future. „City environment development program as a priority of Latvia shall be submitted to the government for approval as soon as possible to allow local governments to apply and start project planning process. Now all the obstacles, possibly caused artificially, have been removed,” underlined Broks. Responsible line ministry – the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government – in nearest days will submit corresponding regulations to the Cabinet of Ministers.
As it was informed previously, the agreement with the European Commission on 263 million euro for city environment development or so called „urban” priority foresees provision of support for 17 cities in Latvia - Aizkraukle, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Gulbene, Jelgava, Jēkabpils, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Līvāni, Madona, Rīga, Saldus, Smiltene, Talsiem, Rēzekne, Valmiera and Ventspils.
Minister for Special Assignments for Administration of EU Funds by coordinating the work of EU funds administrating departments in the Ministry of Finance and other institutions involved in the administration of structural funds and Cohesion Fund, supervises acquisition of EU funds in Latvia, ensures supervision of their utilization, organises and ensures work of the EU Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund Steering Committee, work of unified project information system, coordinated communication about the EU funds and cooperation with the European Commission.
Agnese Beļkeviča
Ministry of Finance
EU Funds Department
PR Division
Phone: +371 67083938
Agnese.Belkevica@fm.gov.lv
