About Riga Office
On 1 June 2004, the INTERREG III B Rīga office stated its work. It functioned as a unit of the State Regional Development Agency and was funded by the Schleswig-Holstein Investment Bank. Currently the office has a new name - EU Territorial Cooperation Programs' Office.
INTERREG is an initiative of the European Community, supporting cross-border projects by allocating the financing of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
In 2004-2006, the INTERREG was designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion, supporting and promoting balanced regional development and bilateral and multilateral cooperation in Europe.
Within the framework of the Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme in 2004-2006, it was possible to get support for projects aimed at stimulating socio-economic development in the Baltic Sea Region. 11 countries could participate in it: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, some regions in Germany, Russia, and Belarus.
INTERREG IIIA priorities in 2004-2006 involved direct cross-border cooperation of neighbouring countries. It meant that the projects were carried out together with the bordering region of the neighbouring country.
- Estonia – Latvia – Russia (Priority North)
- Latvia – Lithuania – Belarus (Priority South)
The continuation of INTERREG III programmes for the European Structural Fund programming period of 2007-2013 is carried out within the framework of "European Territorial Cooperation". The programmes of territorial cooperation are an initiative of the European Community financed by the ERDF.
The task of the "European Territorial Cooperation" is to enhance the current cooperation on the level of cross-border countries and between the regions. Each cooperation programme has a definite cooperation theme.
In the period of 2007-2013 Latvia may participate in the following cooperation programmes:
Cross-border cooperation programmes:
- Latvia– Lithuania (http://www.latlit.eu)
- Latvia– Estonia (http://www.estlat.eu)
- Latvia– Estonia – Sweden – Finland or the Central Baltic Programme (http://www.centralbaltic.eu/)
Baltic Sea Region Programme for 2007-2013 (successor of BSR INTERREG III B NP)
The main tasks of the Rīga office:
- lending support to the Member States of the European Union involved in the programs;
- lending support in elaborating and implementing projects;
- managing the project application procedure;
- monitoring the project progress;
- cooperating with organizations, institutions and networks concerning the Baltic Sea Region;
- providing information about the EU Territorial cooperation programs.
