Vitebsk, Grodno oblasts to become key participants of “Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus” programme

VITEBSK, 25 November (BelTA) – The Vitebsk and Grodno oblasts of Belarus have been announced the eligible regions of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument “Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus” programme, BelTA learnt from Executive Director of the TACIS Coordinating Unit Leonid Orlov. He takes part in the regional conference of projects of the TACIS programme in Vitebsk. The overall strategic goal of the programme is to enhance the territorial cohesion of the Latvian, Lithuanian and Belarusian border regions and secure economic and social welfare and cultural identity of their inhabitants. The selected projects should promote the development of business, transport and communication networks and services, tourism, socio-cultural networks and communities, preserve historical heritage. Support will be given to the projects aimed at simplifying border and customs procedures, developing education, health care system and social area in the cross border regions, environmental protection. The programme was adopted by the European Commission in late 2008 and is set to run until 2015. Its budget is estimated at over ?40 million, about ?2 million per each country a year. The programme envisages the participation of national and local authorities, educational and scientific institutions, chambers of commerce and industry, public organizations. In order to be included in the programme partnership projects should feature at least two countries. The eligible regions include the Latgale region (Latvia), Utenos, Vilnius and Altyaus (Lithuania), the Grodno and Vitebsk oblasts. The Minks and Mogilev oblasts and Minsk City were announced adjoining regions which means that they cannot submit projects, but can participate in it as full-fledged partners. The competition of projects is expected to be announced after the session of the joint monitoring committee that is due to be held in Grodno on 2-3 December.

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