What is meant by ”Nationality rule and rule of origin”? According to the nationality rule participation in the procurement and grant procedures is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons from the EU and from eligible countries.

According to the rule of origin all supplies and materials purchased under a contract financed within the Programme must originate from the EU or from eligible countries.

Eligible countries:
Member States of the European Union:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

ENPI countries:
Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Russian Federation, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine.

Countries that are the beneficiaries of an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance set up by Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of 17 July 2006 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA):
Croatia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, including Kosovo.

Member States of the European Economic Area:
Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway.

The nationality rule applies to natural and legal persons.

The nationality rule does not apply to the experts proposed by service providers taking part in tender procedures or service contracts financed by the Programme.

All supplies and materials purchased, including the materials to be used for construction are the subject to the rule of origin.

The rule of origin does not apply to the contractor’s equipment to be used during the construction.

Are feasibility studies eligible under Priority III measure 3.2? According to the Programme document (European Commission on 17 December 2008, decision No C(2008)8332) Article 4 both
investments and soft projects shall be eligible for the Priority III. However the directions of support should be also respected while planning the particular project activities.

How long should project documents be kept? In accordance with LSP guidelines point 4.8, all the project related documents are to be kept for at least seven years after the receipt of the balance payment to the project.

How to know whether Estonian co-funding is available for our project? This information must be in the AF, or you can ask your Lead Partner.

Can we change Partnership Agreeement template? We recommend not make any changes in template and don’t delete any points. It is possible to add annexes and additional agreements.

State Examination satisfies programme requirements of project environmental impact? Yes, if it is elaborated according to national legislation.

Who is the Programme donor? Donor is Programme, but contract will be signed with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia as the JMA of the Programme and Contracting Authority ( please see LSP guidelines point 1.5).

What means Estonian co-financing, is this co-finance available for Russian partners? This co-financing is provided additionally to the Programme from Estonian budget. This co-financing is available for EST-RUS LSPs (for Estonian and Russian partners), please see LPS guidelines point 1.6.

If we pay salary to project staff from co-financing, should we include these costs in expenditures? Yes of course, and they have to be audited.

Amount of costs prior to the contract signature are included into first year budget? No.