Annual Work Programme 2011 for Grants

ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2011 FOR GRANTS
of Joint Managing Authority of Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme
within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013

Approved by the JMC
6 April 2011

1. Basic act and Financing source
Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument;

Decision of the European Commission No C(2008) 8332 of 17 December 2008 adopting the Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013 (hereinafter – Programme); Financed by European Community funding (budget line No 19 08 02 01 and 19 08 02 02);

Financing Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the European Community on Financing and implementing the Cross Border Cooperation Programme “Estonia – Latvia – Russia” signed on 18 November 2009;

Agreement between the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government of the Republic of Latvia Acting as the Joint Managing Authority, the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia on the Management and Administration of the Estonia-Latvia-Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013 signed on 22 December 2010.

2. Objectives of the Programme, priorities for year 2011 and expected results
The strategic objective of the Programme is to promote joint development activities for the improvement of the region’s competitiveness by utilising its potential and beneficial location in the cross roads between the European Union and the Russian federation.

The specific objective of the Programme is to make the wider border area an attractive place for both its inhabitants and businesses through activities aimed at improving the living standards and investment climate.

The Open call for proposals will focus on all 3 Programme priorities and 8 related measures:

Priority I: Socio-economic development
Measure 1.1 Fostering of socio-economic development and encouraging business and entrepreneurship;
Measure 1.2 Transport, logistics and communication solutions;
Measure 1.3 Tourism development.

Priority II: Common challenges
Measure 2.1 Joint projects aimed at protection of environment and natural resources;
Measure 2.2 Preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage and support of local traditional skills;
Measure 2.3 Improvement of energy efficiency and promotion of renewable energy sources.

Priority III:  Promotion of people to people cooperation
Measure 3.1 Development of local initiative, increasing administrative capacities of local and regional authorities.
Measure 3.2 Cooperation in spheres of culture, sport, education, social and health;

The Large Scale Projects will focus on all 2 priorities and 5 related measures:

Priority I: Socio-economic development
Measure 1.1 Fostering of socio-economic development and encouraging business and entrepreneurship;
Measure 1.2 Transport, logistics and communication solutions;
Measure 1.3 Tourism development.

Priority II: Common challenges
Measure 2.1 Joint projects aimed at protection of environment and natural resources;
Measure 2.2 Preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage and support of local traditional skills.
 
Each measure will be implemented through different types of cross border joint projects such as among others research and innovation activities, promotion of networks, exchange and transfer of know-how, training, awareness raising campaigns, etc. (Further details can be found in the Programme and Guidelines for Grant Applicants).

3. Eligibility conditions
Beneficiaries and project partners, participating in the Open call for proposals, must be located (have their legal address) in the Programme area. The Programme funding up to a limit of 20% may be used for financing the expenditure incurred by the partners from adjoining areas in the Republic of Estonia or the Republic of Latvia. If it is necessary for implementation of the project and for the benefit of the Programme territory, in duly justified cases up to 10 % of the project's total budget can be spent for implementation of the project soft activities outside the Programme area. In accordance with the Article 40 of the Implementing Rules each project shall involve at least two partners, of whom at least one project partner shall be located in the Programme area in one of the Member States and at least one project partner located in the Programme area in Russian Federation.

Each Large Scale Project shall involve at least two partners, of whom at least one partner shall be from Estonia and/or Latvia and at least one partner from the Russian Federation, but all Large Scale Project’s activities must take place in Programme area. Limit of 20% set for the expenditure incurred by the project partners from adjoining areas in Estonia and Latvia is not applicable to the Beneficiaries and project partners of the Large Scale Projects.

Different types of actors can participate in the Programme: national, regional and local public authorities, associations of these, public equivalent bodies and associations formed by these, NGOs and other non-profit making bodies, educational organizations as well as certain types of small or medium sized enterprises (who can participate only within Priority 1 in projects selected through Open calls for proposals), and private entities (who can participate within Priority 1 and 2 in Large Scale Projects). More detailed definition of eligible partners can be found in the Programme and Guidelines for Grant Applicants.  

4. Selection and award criteria
The evaluation will be carried out in accordance with:
   - the Programme;
   - the Guidelines for Grant Applicants;
   - Regulation No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument;
   - Commission Regulation No 951/2007 of 9 August 2007 laying down implementing rules for cross-border cooperation programmes financed under Regulation No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument;
   - The procedures set out in the Practical Guide to Contract procedures for EC external projects.

5. Maximum rate of Programme financing
The financing rate of the Programme funds shall be up to 90% of total eligible expenditure of the project.

In case of small and medium size enterprises selected through Open call for proposals, the financing rate of the Programme funds may be up to 50% of total eligible costs of respective small and medium size enterprise.

In case of participation of private entities in the Large Scale Project maximum Programme co-financing rate is 50% for respective project partner from Estonia and Latvia and 90% of the total eligible costs for respective project partner from the Russian Federation.

6. Schedule of calls for proposals
Expected time for the launch of 2nd Call for Proposals is 4th Quarter of 2011, however it depends on results of the 1st Call for Proposals. 

The Call for Proposal with exact date for the launch will be published on the Programme’s website: www.estlatrus.eu.

Expected time for decision taking on selection of the Large Scale Projects is 4th Quarter of 2011.

7. Indicative amount of calls for proposals
The indicative amount made available from the Programme under 2nd Call for Proposals is around EUR 7 500 000, however it will be agreed by Joint Monitoring Committee based on results of the 1st Call for Proposals.

Programme allocation for the LSPs comprises of 30% of the Programme financing which is EUR 19 105 119. Additional financing can be made available from Estonian State budget and co-financing from the Russian Federation for projects involving partners from Estonia and/ or Russia.