What are EU funds?
The European Union (EU) implements the Cohesion Policy, through which EU member states are given the opportunity to obtain financial support. This support helps to improve the quality of life of citizens and help with country development. Funding for Cohesion Policy is allocated from financial instruments - EU funds.
Cohesion policy covers hundreds of thousands of projects across Europe and receives funding from the three largest EU funds - the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), and the Cohesion Fund (CF). Member States can also obtain funding from EU funds such as the Recovery Fund (RF), INTERREG, the Just Transition Fund, and others.
Who implements EU funds in Latvia?
There are three leading institutions in Latvia that are responsible for the EU funds operation:
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is responsible for EU funds and other financial instruments that are allocated and managed.
The Ministry of the Interior (IeM) is responsible for the Internal Security Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, overseeing the use of funding.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) together with the Rural Support Service (RSS) administers the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, overseeing the use of funding.
In Latvia, sectoral ministries and regional institutions choose projects and areas that, in their opinion, best meet their needs, in accordance with the strategies and priorities agreed upon with the European Commission.
State institutions involved in the successful use and implementation of EU funds are:
How are EU funds managed?
EU funds are introduced in the form of various programs and projects, depending on the set goal, the sector of support, the beneficiary and other criteria.
For beneficiaries to be able to apply for EU funding, state institutions organize project open calls (selections). These are open fund application measures, divided based on the specific support objective (SAM), funding title, source (in the form of EU funds) and application date.
Project open calls (selections) are organized and split according to status, depending on the progress of the selection. There are five statuses:
Planned;
Announced;
In evaluation;
Under implementation;
Closed.
Who can receive support from EU funds?
Companies, public organizations, societies, associations or individuals can benefit from EU funding if they submit a project that meets the selection criteria.