European Commission has approved
Operational Programme for the Period of 2007-2013 Infrastructure and Services
On December 10, European Commission has approved Operational Programme for the period of 2007-2013 Infrastructure and Services. This is the second operation programme approved out of three operation programmes submitted by Latvia within the framework of which there is 3.2 billion euro available for Latvia from the European Union budget. The programme will be financed from the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund and it is aimed at improvement of public sector infrastructure and service quality and availability.
"I can say with great satisfaction that the decision made by the European Commission is the last step in the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Services preparation stage and now we have to start implementation of the programme. It is planned that this programme as the largest of three Latvian programmes in terms of finances will give positive influence on all the society. The financing is planned for infrastructural improvements of all the national economy, as well as for settling problems of several significant socially political sectors, for instance, health care, modernization of education and science etc. Hereby, the baton has been handed over to line ministries responsible for particular fields and which should care about development of necessary conditions to launch the project preparation process. However, I think that in conditions of high inflation the government has to be more careful with assessment of EU fund acquisition and priorities not to allow negative influence on such national economy indicators as government deficit, payment balance etc.", said N.broks (TB/LNNK).
First projects of the new period will be launched in such sectors as education and social care. In the first quarter of 2008, it is planned to launch a project for provision of natural sciences material bases, improvement of general and preschool educational institution infrastructure, improvement of social rehabilitation services and improvement of energy efficiency in social houses.
As it was announced before, on September 20, European Commission approved a 4.53 billion euro "worth" Latvian National Strategy for Acquisition of EU Funds 2007-2013 – Latvian National Strategic Reference Framework, but on September 24 - operational program Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The last Operational Programme to be approved by the European Commission is Human Resources and Employment.
Operational programme Infrastructure and Services is available on EU fund home page www.esfondi.lv section 2007-2013 -> Operational Programmes.
Lita Kokale
Ministry of Finance
EU Funds Department
PR Division
Phone: +371 67083880; +371 2 6469946
Lita.Kokale@fm.gov.lv
