1. Pre-accession funds for regional development Ieva Vērzemniece Ministry of Regional development and local governments

2. Responsibilities: - Local governments related issues - Regional policy - Spatial planning (national, regional, local level) - EU financed programmes in field of local governments, regional development, cross border cooperation, spatial planning

3. Phare Cross Border Co-opration programme (I) Small scale co-operation projects! Programmes and financing: Phare CBC 2000 – 1 MEUR (+2 MEUR), 12 projects Phare CBC 2001 – 3 MEUR, call for proposals open until April 29 Phare CBC 2001 – 3 MEUR, call for proposals open until April 29 Phare CBC 2002 – 3 MEUR, expected to launch in late 2003

4. Phare Cross Border Co-opration programme (II) Types of projects : tourism, economic development, planning and development studies, cultural exchanges, environment, health, information and communication, euroregions Beneficiaries : municipalities, regional development agencies, NGOs, non-profit organisations

5. Phare Economic and Social Cohesion programme (I) Different approach for each programme! Programmes and financing: Phare 2000 ESC – 9 MEUR Phare 2001 ESC – 9 MEUR Phare 2003 ESC – 14,4 MEUR (proposal, not approved yet)

6. Phare Economic and Social Cohesion programme (II) Phare ESC 2000 Target regions approach: Latgale and Zemgale Support Area: - Increase activity of the productive sector - Strengthen the capacity of human resources - Improve business related infrastructure Supported 9 projects (2 in Zemgale, 7 in Latgale) Beneficiaries: municipalities

7. Phare Economic and Social Cohesion programme (III) Phare ESC 2001 Whole territory of Latvia eligible Target sectors: forestry and knowledge based economy Support Area: - Strengthen the capacity of human resources - Improve business related infrastructure National Milestone projects approach: 6 identified projects of National Significance compete for funding Beneficiaries: identified municipalities and University of Latvia Evaluation of projects is on-going!

8. Phare Economic and Social Cohesion programme (IV) Phare ESC 2003 Whole territory of Latvia eligible Support Area: - Development of Innovative Business and Applied Research Infrastructure - Investment in Human Capital and Human Resource Development - Investment in Development of Natural, Historical and Cultural Heritage - Development of Project Pipeline Beneficiaries: municipalities, municipal institutions and agencies, state institutions and agencies, branch related non-profit organisations, state education and / or research institutions

9. Phare Project Preparation Facility Phare PPS 2002 Whole territory of Latvia eligible Financing: 2 MEUR Support Area: Preparation of Project Proposals for Structural Funds Preparation of Project Proposals for Structural Funds Beneficiaries: municipalities, municipal institutions and agencies,

10. Future Programmes: Phare ESC => ERDF and partly ESF Phare CBC => INTERREG (involvment already now) Financing: over 300 MEUR for 2004-2006 Beneficiaries: municipalities, regional development agencies, state institutions and agencies, state education and / or research institutions

11. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION ! Ieva Vērzemniece Phone +371 777 0423 E-mail: ieva. verzemniece@raplm.gov.lv