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August 2012
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What is new in the CBC Programme LithuaniaPolandRussia 20072013: interview with Mr Marceli Niezgoda, Undersecretary of State in the Polish Ministry of Regional Development
What is the current situation of the Programme? MN: Currently the Programme is at the stage of contracting projects. On June 21st 2012 the Joint Managing Authority (JMA) concluded the first contract. So far contracts have been signed for 11* projects and the total amount granted for these is more than 24,4 M EUR. Our priority is to sign grant contracts and transfer the funds to beneficiaries as quickly as possible. Signing agreements and transferring grant funds to beneficiaries is a very pleasant phase of project implementation. Besides that, we believe that this process will run smoothly because the Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) and its Branch Offices do provide assistance to the beneficiaries. I would like to encourage the beneficiaries to prepare and submit the project documentation without delays. Where are the Branch Offices of the JTS located? There are three Branch Offices - one is located in Kaliningrad (Russia), one in Vilnius (Lithuania) and one, soon to be opened, in Olsztyn (Poland). Inside this newsletter you can find information what is on the Branch Offices agenda and even see some photos of the teams.
proposals but under an award procedure and then accepted by the European Commission. The grants awarded for these projects are usually larger than for regular projects - the ENPI grant amount of our LSPs ranges from 6,1 M EUR up to 10 M EUR while the maximum ENPI grant for regular projects is 4 M EUR. Within the Programme, 7 LSP have been chosen. How many projects were selected in a regular way - within the first call for proposals? MN: Under the first call for proposals there were 53 projects chosen with a total EU co-financing of 78,6 M EUR. In general, what kind of projects were selected for co-financing? Was there any special preference? MN: During selection procedure, we promoted the so-called integrated projects in which partners carry out respective parts of the actions on their side of the border. In my opinion, these ventures represent the highest level of cooperation. Most projects are bilateral: either Lithuanian Russian or Polish Russian, but there are also 8 projects which will be held by partners from the three countries. Among beneficiaries, the most numerable are local and regional authorities, but there are also health, educational and non-government organizations involved in. The crucial outline of the Programme is that partners from all the three countries will work together on projects, which will strengthen the social and economic ties between cross-border neighbours. Under the first call for proposals, there were both infrastructural and soft projects chosen. Within the Priority 2 The social, economic and spatial development 45 projects were selected. The most popular among the applicants was the measure 2.2. Development of human potential by improvement of social conditions, governance and educational opportunities there were 24 projects chosen. On average, each of these projects will obtain 1,2 M EUR from EU funds. There were 8 infrastructural projects chosen within the Priority 1 - Contributing to solving common problems and challenges and the average ENPI grant for these is higher ca. 2,7 M EUR. What are the Programme plans for the upcoming 6 months? MN: We plan to finish the contracting stage and concentrate on implementation of the projects. I would like to thank my colleagues from Lithuania and Russia for intense cooperation, whose effects will be visible soon. Projects activities have already begun and we believe that all selected projects will have good influence on cross-border relations between the three countries. Moreover, to support beneficiaries, the JTS and the Branch Offices will organise training sessions concerning contract requirements and Programme procedures. As you can see, there is a lot going on within the CBC Programme LithuaniaPolandRussia 20072013. Yes, indeed. Thank you for the conversation! Thank you. And to all the beneficiaries: good luck with implementation of the projects!
What does the first grant contract signed in June concern? MN: The first grant contract was signed for the large scale project Protection of the Baltic coastal water NEFA BALT II. The beneficiary of the project is the municipality of Sopot and the partners are: the municipality of Tolkmicko (Poland) and the municipality of Mamonovo (Russia). The project is briefly described in this newsletter. Beside this one, the two other chosen projects focus on the Baltic Sea, but they are aiming at development of touristic potential of the region. Within signed contracts, there are also projects concerning culture and cultural education (Museum over borders, Culture and arts. Step II - new quality of education), supporting agribusiness (Support and development of rural entrepreneurship: from local experience to cross-border cooperation) and improvement of administrative matters (Effective Governance for people). As you can see, the chosen projects are diverse. But out of these, only NEFA BALT II is the Large Scale Project. What is exactly a Large Scale Project? MN: Large scale projects address the most important issues from the perspective of the Programme, such as: sustainable use of environment and improvement of transport accessibility. The LSPs are the infrastructural projects of particular importance, as their implementation will strongly influence the Programme area. They are not selected under a call for
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Using this money, 2 cumulative collectors will be constructed in Sopot, directing the precipitation water further into the Bay of Gdansk. Also, the underground retention reservoir will be built in the catchment area of Sopots Babidolski stream, as well as a new integrated sewage treatment system in the Polish towns of Pogrodzie, Chojnowo, Nowinka and Wodynia (all in Elblski sub-region, Poland). A concept paper for the system of rainwater purification in Mamonovo (Russia) should be also prepared, using the experience and expertise from Sopot. The events aimed at experience exchange among project partners will be organised. Protection of the Baltic Coastal Water NEFA BALT II: 9 Less contamination of Vistula Lagoon (Kaliningrad Gulf) 9 Improved living conditions 9 More attractive to tourists
Mr. M. Niezgoda and Mr. J. Karnowski sign the Grant Contract. Photo: Municipality of Sopot.
The remaining projects approved within the 1st Call for Proposals should sign the grant contracts on the EU co-financing in the nearest future. 78,6 M EUR has been allocated to 53 regular projects, which were selected during the open competition of the 1st Call for Proposals. 56,7 M EUR will be used by 7 Large Scale Projects selected by the Programme implementing bodies and the participating countries.
The Beneficiary of the Large Scale Project Protection of the Baltic Coastal Water NEFA BALT II is the Municipality Administration of Sopot and the partners are the Municipality Administration of Tolkmicko (Elblski sub-region, Poland) and the Municipality Administration of Mamonovo (Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia). The project is implemented under the Programme Priority 1 (Contributing to solving common problems and challenges), Measure 1.1. (Sustainable use of environment). It has 2 specific objectives: to reduce the pollution in rain and snow melt water flow into the Bay of Gdask (Sopot); to reduce the flow of untreated municipal wastewater into the Vistula Lagoon/Kaliningrad Gulf (Tolkmicko). The total budget of the project is 8,116 M EUR. It will be granted the co-financing worth 7,3 M EUR.
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Support and development of rural entrepreneurship: from local experience to cross-border cooperation Kaliningrad Institute of retraining specialists in agri-business Beneficiary of the project: Kaliningrad Institute of retraining specialists in agri-business (Russia). EU co-financing: 450.000,00 EUR. The partners of the beneficiary are: Klaipda University (Lithuania), Warmia and Mazuria Centre of Agricultural Advisory Support (Poland) and Immanuel Kant State University of Russia. A series of research studies analysing the prospects of agri-tourism in Kaliningrad region, Lithuania and Poland will be conducted and their results will be presented to local authorities. The partners will organise a number of trainings for farmers. Also, the manuals, catalogues, and an agri-tourist map will be produced, and the joint conferences and festivals organised. Culture and Arts. Step II - New quality of education (CULART II) Beneficiary of the project: Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Baltic (Poland). EU co-financing: 250.000,00 EUR. The beneficiary and partners (Community foundation "Kaliningrad", Regional State educational institution of additional professional education of specialists of culture and art Educational-methodical centre (both Russia) and Samogithian Community Foundation (Lithuania)) will carry out a comparative analysis of the legislative and administrative conditions for preserving cultural and historical objects in Russia, Poland and Lithuania. A common database for cultural and historical objects will be created. Museums over the borders Beneficiary of the project: Museum of Archaeology and History in Elblg (Poland). EU co-financing: 3.500.000,00 EUR. The partner of the Polish museum is the Museum Friedland Gate from Russia. Thanks to the project, both museums will be renovated and equipped with modern museum equipment to meet the contemporary needs of tourists. Also, the partners will develop joint co-operation strategy and promotion strategy. Healthy lungs for one and all Beneficiary of the project: Independent Public Complex Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Olsztyn (Poland) Beneficiary: 900.000,00 EUR. The beneficiary and its partner: State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Kaliningrad region City Hospital #3 (Russian Federation) aim to decrease rates of mortality and morbidity caused by respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis, within the core areas of the Programme by formation of Cross-Border Pulmonology Center in Olsztyn, formation of a modern diagnostic and analytical laboratory in Hospital #3 in Kaliningrad and improvement of the knowledge and skills of employees of both healthcare institutions. Development of Cooperation in order to improve health safety of the population of the Russian Lithuanian Polish borderland Beneficiary: Autonomous Public Health Maintenance Organization J. Sniadecki Voevodship Polyclinical Hospital in Bialystok (Poland) EU co-financing: 3 599 661,60 EURO. The beneficiary and partners within the Project are Public Institution Marijampole Hospital (Lithuania), Municipality Health Institution Chernyakhovsk Central District Hospital (Russia), Dr. Ludwik Rydygier Voevodship Hospital in Suwaki (Poland), Public Institution Taurag Hospital (Lithuania), State Budgetary Institution of Health Care of Kaliningrad Region Sovetsk Central Town Hospital (Russia). The partnership will establish new standards of cooperation between Polish, Lithuanian and Russian doctors which will contribute in its turn to the development of telemedicine as an effective tool in diagnostics of patients for improvement of health safety of the population in the Programme area.
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BO functions
The Kaliningrad and Vilnus BO assist the JTS in consulting the beneficiaries and partners of the projects, which have been approved to receive the EU co-financing under the Programme. Also, the BOs are responsible for organising the events of the Programme in the territory of Russia and Lithuania providing any information about the Programme and its projects to anyone interested in the Programme in the Russian Federation and Lithuania.
The JMC decided to make the reallocation within the budget of the Programme (from Priority 1 to Priority 2) in order 18 more projects could be co-financed from the EU funds. These projects had been included into the Reserve list after the evaluation of the applications, submitted during the 1st Call for Proposals. On April 19th 2012 the JMC had made a decision that the Programme could co-finance the 18 projects from the Reserve list. After the JMC decision of the May 17th, the 18 projects are actively preparing for the contracting.
Kaliningrad BO
On Agenda
In cooperation with JTS the BO has organised the 7th JMC meeting in Moscow on May 17th. Also, the key-experts have translated the grant contract into Russian. Currently, the Russian key-experts are actively helping the beneficiaries and partners in the process of the preparation for signing the grant contracts with the Joint Managing Authority of the Programme the Ministry of Regional Development of the Republic of Poland (further on JMA). Also, the Kaliningrad BO is preparing for the participation of the Programme in the European Cooperation Day activities in Sankt Petersburg in September.
Other issues
The JMC made the decisions on the substantial changes to some projects, approved to receive the EU co-financing during the 6th meeting of the JMC, which took place in Brussels on February 8th 2012. The JMC also approved the Technical Assistance Budget of the Programme for the year 2012 and for the period from 2013 to 2016.
Key-experts
Tatyana Shitikova Senior Expert Team Leader mob. +7 9062 337 564 e-mail: tatyana.shitikova@tisc.org.ru
Status on August 31st 2012
photo later
Roman Bazanov Project Expert mob. +7 9052 437 727 e-mail: roman.bazanov@tisc.org.ru
Contact details
Lithuanian, Polish and Russian delegations during the meeting. Photo: JTS.
The Russian BO is situated in Kalinigrad (Russia) in the Pobedy square 4, entrance 4. Telephone: +7 4012 716 868. Fax: +7 4012 716 878.
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Vilnius BO
On Agenda
The BO has translated the grant contract into Lithuanian. It has also prepared the List of Lithuanian acts of law that are actual in the implementation of the projects under the Programme. The key-experts have prepared the databases of contacts of persons and organisations, interested in the Programme and the possibilities to receive the EU funding apart from the Programme. Currently, the Lithuanian key-experts are actively helping the Beneficiaries and partners in the process of the preparation for signing the Grant Contracts with the JMA. Also, the key-experts are preparing 4 tutorials that should help the Beneficiaries and partners in project implementation: Tutorial on Changes in Projects, Tutorial of Reporting, Tutorial on Procurement and Communication Tutorial. Currently, the main challenge of the Vilnius BO is organising the participation of the Programme in the celebration of the European Cooperation Day in Lazdijai, Lithuania on September 21st 2012.
JTS Acting Head Magorzata Woniak presents information for Beneficiaries. Photo: JTS.
Key-experts
Sigita Baronait Project Expert tel. +370 5 248 7233 e-mail: sigita.baronaite@vilniusjts.eu Ilma Bliakait Procurement Expert tel. +370 5 248 7233 e-mail: ilma.beliakaite@vilniusjts.eu
The Beneficiaries from Lithuania, Poland and Russia during the training. Photo: JTS.
Contact details
Lithuanian BO is situated in Vilnius (Lithuania) the premises of the Public Establishment Joint Technical Secretariat: in the Konstitucijos avenue 7. Telephone: +370 5 261 0477. Fax: +370 5 261 0498. Website: www.vilniusjts.eu (section: LT-PL-RU FILIALAS LIETUVOJE)
JTS Project Manager Pawe Natkaniec presents the requirements for Beneficiaries. Photo: JTS.
Important things, stressed during the seminars: 9 No costs are eligible before the start date of the project 9 The rules of origin and nationality must be observed in all the tenders 9 No sub-contracting contract may be signed before the start date of the project 9 Persons working for the project will have to fill in the timesheets. It is worth including this rule into the Partnership Agreements.
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getting the media attention getting as many people as possible informing succinctly about the essence of the programmes and the achievements of the projects
Over 50 ETC and ENPI programmes in and around Europe are currently preparing for the celebration of the European Cooperation Day.
This year the European Cooperation Day will be held on September 21st 2012. The European Cooperation Day is aimed emphasize the importance of European Territorial Cooperation with neighbouring countries. Representative of almost 40 countries will join the event strengthening cooperation and improving communication as well as mutual understanding between local communities all across European borders. Celebrations will be organized for the public within 17-23 September 2012 in different countries of Europe and Russia. Moreover, the event will reveal the achievements of local initiatives made in daily life aspects: from improved job opportunities to health care services, environment protection, transport accessibility, etc.
Lithuanian cuisine
There are lots of restaurants and cafes around Klaipda Old Town where one can taste Lithuanian national dishes. Klaipda ethnographic region has its own old recipes, a lot of dishes made from potatoes, white curd cheese, which is best with honey and brown rye-bread. Everybody should try: Cepelinai the Zepelin-shaped dish made of minced pork meat, bacon chops or cottage cheese wrapped in a large potato pastry and covered in cream curd sauce altibariai specific pink-colour cold beet-root soup, usually served with potatoes, as a delicious refreshing dish on hot summer days Kugelis oven-baked grated potato cake served with sour cream Garlic bread in cheese dipping an absolute hit of beer lovers, served as side dish Smoked bream, eel, snapper and other types of fishes Klaipda is crazy about loving beer. Just like the rest of Lithuania.
The Russian Federation will contribute to the European Cooperation Day celebrations by organizing International Innovation Forum in Saint-Petersburg on 26-29 September 2012. The forum will cover all five ENPI CBC Programmes the participant of each Programme will have a chance to present general information on their Programme, latest development as well as most interesting projects. All the participants of the Forum can take part in the press-conference experience exchange activities. For more information , please, contact Kaliningrad Branch Office.
The Programme has joined forces with the ETC Programme Lithuania-Poland and the ENPI Programme Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus to celebrate the European Cooperation Day in Lazdijai, Lithuania on September 21st. The event will take place on the very Lithuanian-Polish border and will consist of an interactive project fair and the symbolic rally of Lithuania (Lithuanian-breed horse emaitukas), Poland (the Maluch Polski Fiat 126 P), Russia (Russian-make car Volga 21) and Belarus (the tractor Belarus). The Programme invites its stakeholders, beneficiaries and partners to take part in this lively event. For more information, please contact the Vilnius BO.
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Places to visit
Klaipda Old Town In Klaipda Old town you will face the oldest buildings of the city, dating from the middle of the 18th century. They are warehouses built in the fachwerk style. This construction, influenced by the Germanic culture, has been used since the foundation of the city. The tiny downtown houses and fachwerk-styled warehouses are being used as galleries by many art organisations writers, artists and photographers. Lithuanian Maritime Museum, aquarium and dolphinarium There are aquariums with the Lithuanian fresh water fish, with the fish from the Baltic and tropical seas, prepared sea fauna expositions in the main restored building. The penguins, Baltic Sea seals, the North Sea lions have also found their homes in the aquarium. Enjoy the dolphin shows in the dolphinarium. The Castle Museum In the authentic 16-18th century chambers you can learn about the genesis of the castle and the city. You will see many interesting things: archaeological discoveries, historical documents, Klaipda city stamps, and the 17th century traditional clothing. In the 20-seat theatre movies are shown about the life in Klaipda during the Soviet period. This is one of the most modern museums of Lithuania. Palanga, Amber museum (Distance from Klaipeda 25 km) Drive out to visit the famous Amber Museum at Palanga and learn about the Baltic gold. Curonian Spit (Distance from Klaipda-Juodkrant with Hill of Withches 18 km, Nida with Great Dune 50 km) Cross the Curonian Spit by ferry to discover the Hill of Witches, the old fishermens cottages in Nida and the Great Dune with its magnificent panoramic view. The Curonian Spit is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Vents Ragas, Bird Ringing Station Visit the country side of western Lithuania, famous for numerous white storks. At Vents Ragas, tour the Bird Ringing Station which functions since 1939. Each season, several thousand birds are tagged to make easier to observe them.
The Lithuanian sea-coast line adored by the cyclists. Photo: Klaipda Tourism and Culture Information Centre. Source: www.klaipedainfo.lt
JTS Team
JOINT TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT LITHUANIA-POLAND-RUSSIA ENPI CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME 2007-2013
Malgorzata Wozniak Acting Head e-mail: Malgorzata.Wozniak@cpe.gov.pl tel. +48 22 378 31 88
The Lithuania-Poland-Russia European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 aims at promoting economic and social development on both sides of the EU-Russian border, addressing common challenges and problems and promoting people to people co-operation. Under the Programme, legal non-profit entities from the Lithuanian and Polish border regions and the entire Kaliningrad oblast implement joint projects co-financed by the EU and the Russian Federation. The European Union is made up of 27 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Lithuania-Poland -Russia ENPI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.