EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian Financial Mechanism

30.04.2008.

 

Under the EEA Enlargement Agreement two new financial instruments will be available for several EU countries, including Latvia: EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The ten new Member States will be eligible for assistance from both Mechanisms. The objective of the assistance is to contribute to the reduction of social and economic disparities within the EEA, and to support the new EU member states in their efforts to participate fully in the enlarged internal market. The Mechanisms will be available for 5 years (from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2009). The EEA Financial Mechanism is made from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein finance. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism is made from Norway finance.

 Finance for implementation of individual projects are 49 731 318 Euro from both mechanisms.

On 2008 second open call for the individual projects will be announced in following priorities:

1.      Protection of the environment

2.      Sustainable development

3.      Conservation of European heritage

4.      Health

5.      Children with special needs

6.      Human resource development and education

7.      Judiciary

8.      Regional policy and economic activity

 

The administration of Kurzeme planning region introduced two Projects tenders in Project preparation fond: Project ”Optimization of Public Service Rendering System in Newly Formed Territories of Kurzeme" and project “Development of yacht ports in Kurzeme".

 

Project "Optimization of Public Service Rendering System in Newly Formed Territories of Kurzeme"

The idea of the Project is based on the law of Administrative territorial reform which

says   that   administrative   territorial   reform   must   be   implemented   by   2009.

Implementing the reform several municipalities will join into territories and it will be

necessary to restructure the scheme of rendering municipal services.

It is prescribed to realize one common project involving all the regional councils as

Partners.

 

The aim of the Project is:

1.                       Promote long-term, competitive and balanced development of territories in
Kurzeme region supporting capacity of municipalities to implement their
functions established by legislation.

2.            Promote the process of optimization of municipal services in Kurzeme within the forming territories.

3.     Promote the introducing of innovative projects and advanced technologies in the region.

The main Project activities include:

1.      Research on the legal, financial, work organization and human resource
aspects in newly formed territories of Kurzeme.

2.            Study course on urgent problems for regional specialists.

3.     Study visits in Norway educating in the areas of municipal services.

4.     Develop the optimization model of water supply system in Talsi territory.

5.      Developing the model of heat supply system in Liepaja region.

6.              Developing the model of power saving system in Saldus region.

7.                 Developing the model of municipal services department in Kuldiga.

8.                 Developing the model of sewerage treatment system in Ventspils region.

 

 

The Project is prescribed to be implemented within the instruments of EEA finances and Norwegian government finances. In May 2007 the administration of Kurzeme planning region introduced two Projects (henceforth - Activities) tenders in Project preparation fund and on October 2, 2007 Society integration fund (SIF) council confirmed the introduced Activities application for financing (both the projects).The financing contracts made between SIF and the administration of Kurzeme planning region came into force on November 1, 2007 and the realization of the above mentioned activities commenced.

1.   Activity ”Optimization of public service rendering system in newly Formed Territories of Kurzeme".

                                                                                                       

The aim of the activity is to obtain the basic data and to summarize the necessary information to prepare the Project application documentation and to realize the pilot Project, developing the model of water supply system in Talsi promote the introduction of innovative solutions in organizing territorial water supply system functioning and in improvement technological processes. At present, different activities are taking place which stimulate the realization of the advanced targets.

 

2. Activity “Development of yacht ports in Kurzeme”.

 

The summary of the activity ”Development of yacht ports in Kurzeme".

In order to promote balanced regional development, economical activities in Kurzeme, as well as diversifying of economy it is clear that tourism is one of the branches of economics. Development of yacht ports would bring surplus income to the ports and develop tourism.

The general aim of the activity is to obtain the basic data and to summarize them for preparing   Project   application   documentation,   developing   complex   and

Innovative work assignments to solve problems of-infrastructure, quality and management, promote economical activity of the small port towns in the region. The activities include:

1.  Research of the condition of small yacht ports in Kurzeme planning region.

2.             Analyses of small yacht ports compliance to the demands of Blue Flag
certificate.

3.             Preparation of assignment to accomplish the demands of Blue Flag certificate
in yacht ports.

4.             Preparation of assignment to develop unified strategy for yacht ports
marketing.

5.                 Preparation of procurement documentation to develop marketing strategy.

6.            Preparation of assignment to improve the infrastructure of yacht ports in
Kurzeme.

7.           Organizing of Project introduction.

8.                 Defining Project partners and their terms and share degree.

9.            Project development and preparation of application documentation.

10.    Implementation of informative activities.


At present:

The administration of Kurzeme planning region continue to work by Activity, “Development of yacht ports in Kurzeme". Meetings with the representatives of Ventspils, Liepaja, Pavilosta, Mersrags and Roja yacht ports have taken place. At the moment, the society, Environment education fund is doing evaluation of the compliance of yacht ports in Kurzeme to the demands of Blue Flag criteria. The activity ”Development of unified marketing plan for yacht ports in Kurzeme" is carried out within which an open discussion with the representatives of yacht ports about the marketing activities. On March 13 a discussion was took place in Liepaja where all the representatives from yacht ports in Kurzeme were invited to mark in common the most essential problems of the yacht ports development in the region that have to be solved in the nearest future.

For further details about the Activity please contact the Project manager

of Kurzeme planning region: Zanda Zeidaka

E – mail:  zanda.zeidaka@kraa.lv

Tel: 7338738, 26310077