PART I – PROGRAMME PRIORITIES FOR OPEN CALL PROJECTS PROGRAMME PRIORITIES The Programme is result oriented and thematically concentrated. Result orientation means that projects are expected to achieve tangible results which are relevant to the target groups of the project and have long lasting effect on the Programme area. Thematic concentration means that the Programme intervention is planned in restricted number of fields. Four programme priorities are selected based on Programme area characteristics, identified needs and challenges. Each Programme priority is divided into specific objectives. To measure the progress of each specific objective the result indicators are defined - each result indicator has the baseline and target values. Table 1 Programme priorities, specific objectives, result indicators, output indicators and ERDF co-financing available for projects. PRIORITY SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE RESULT INDICATOR, UNIT VALUES OUTPUT INDICATOR ERDF ( MEUR) MAX ERDF PER PROJECT 1. SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENT THROUGH COOPERATION 1.1. To increase number of visitors to the Programme area through improving and developing cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products Number of overnight of visitors in the Programme area 2023 target: 3 548 250 2013 baseline: 3 085 435 Sustainable Tourism: Increase in expected number of visits to supported sites of cultural and natural heritage and attractions ~5,6 1 000 000 1.2. To increase integration and efficiency of environmental resource management Number of organisations jointly contributing to environmental resource management 2023 target: 186 2015 baseline: 177 Number of organisations supported ~3,5 1.3. To regenerate public areas with environmental problems Number of households not facing pollution, grime and other municipal environmental problems 2023 target: 861 054 2013 baseline: 855 069 Land rehabilitation: Total surface area of rehabilitated land ~4,9
2. SUPPORT TO LABOUR MOBILITY AND EMPLOYMENT 2.1. To create employment opportunities through entrepreneurship support Number of newly established businesses per year 2023 target: 6 818 2012 baseline: 6 619 Business support services improved/created as result of the border cooperation ~4,5 800 000 Improved or created business support infrastructure objects that ensure indirect business support Productive investments: Number of enterprises receiving support Productive investment: Number of enterprises receiving support 2.2. To increase job opportunities by improving mobility and workforce skills Number of people receiving upgraded skills matching labour market needs per year 2023 target: 36 116 2013 baseline: 34 396 Labour Market and Training: Number of participants in local employment initiatives and joint training ~13,5* Created or improved educational and training infrastructure objects planned for joint use Number of commuters per day 2023 target: 1 717 2013 baseline: 1 561 Total length of reconstructed or upgraded roads 3. AS A TO 3.1. To improve accessibility and Number of people benefitting from more accessible, Created/improved social services and infrastructure
within opening and closing time of the call (post stamp) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Project fulfils minimum requirements for partnership At least one Lithuanian partner registered in Lithuania and one Latvian partner registered in Latvia (according to the section 5.2. “Partnership”). LP and project partners are eligible organisations (type, territorial eligibility and financial requirements) LP and project partner(s) are public authority or public equivalent body or NGO; Territorial eligibility is followed; Financial requirements for NGO that is LP are followed according to subsection 5.2.2. “Partnership requirements”. Co-financing rate is observed. All project partners contribute to the eligible project budget. Co-financing rate has been observed and the sums indicated in section “Project budget” of the application form and on LP and partner declarations match. Project duration is within set limits Project duration is within set limits (max 24 months). Project budget is within set financial limits. Project requested amount of ERDF co-financing is within the set limits for the project’s selected priority and specific objective according to section 5.4. “Budget Plan”. 6.2.2 Quality assessment criteria Applications that have passed administrative and eligibility assessment are subject to quality assessment. The quality assessment is carried out based on quality assessment criteria, included below. For each criterion main assessment question with several sub questions is identified. During quality assessment projects are assessed against strategic and operational criteria and each criterion is assessed according to the following scores: 1,2,3,4 and 5. Afterwards, scores received for each criterion are reflected as weight in percentage according to the tabe below: Table 3 Quality assessment criteria (1) CRITERIA CRITERIA SCORE WEIGHT IN PERCENTAGE Project context (relevance and strategy) and cooperation charachter Maximum weight 20% 5 20 4 16 3 12 2 8 1 4
20% Project context (relevance and strategy), and cooperation character The project addresses common territorial challenges in the Programme area or joint potential of the Programme area- there is a real demand for the project; The cross-border cooperation is essential for achieving the project objectives, the results cannot (or only to some extent) be achieved without cooperation and/or the cooperation has a significant added value for the project partners, target groups, project area and Programme area); The project clearly explains its contribution to a strategy on one or more policy levels (EU/national/regional/EUBSR); The project makes use of available knowledge and builds on existing results and practices /brings new knowledge to the region and project partners; The project makes a positive or neutral contribution to the Programme horizontal principles: sustainable development, equal opportunities and equality between men and women. 25% Project contribution to Programme objectives, results and outputs The project overall objective is in line with the chosen Programme priority specific objective; The project results clearly link to a Programme result indicator; Activities outside the Programme area cleary benefit the Programme area (if applicable); The cross-border relevance of investments and their relation and importance to other project activities is demonstrated to reach the project objectives (if applicable);
Submit updated partner declaration via the eMS. 7.2.2 Major project changes A list of major changes that can be introduced during the project implementation via project changes procedure is detailed below. Any changes not listed in the table 8 are subject to the decision of the MC. Table 8 Description of major changes DESCRIPTION OF THE CHANGE RESTRICTIONS TO DO LIST PARTNERSHIP CHANGE Withdrawal of project partner(s) without a replacement A project partner(s) withdraws and no other organisation(s) is taking over the implementation of planned activities and budget. Project partnership corresponds to the eligibility criteria – at least one Latvian and one Lithuanian project partner remains in the project; Activities, which are removed from the work plan, as well as the role of the withdrawn project partner, is not crucial for the achievement of the project objective, outputs and results and still can be achieved as initially planned. Otherwise, activities have to be taken over either by existing project partners or by inviting a new organisation to join the partnership. Submit a request for change via the eMS; Submit an updated project application form, partnership agreement via the eMS after decision on approval of changes is made. Decision is by the MA. Replacement of the project partner Replacement of withdrawn project partner in order to take over the implementation of planned project activities and budget. Withdrawal of the project partner is when: The partner has not started the implementation of the planned project activities. In this case the activities and budget will be fully taken over; In both cases the pre-condition of the change is that the withdrawn project partner is not continuing its participation in the project. The replacement can be done either by involving a new organisation, or by giving responsibilities of the withdrawn partner to an existing project partner(s). Submit a request for change via the eMS. Submit an updated project application form, partnership agreement via the eMS decision on approval of changes is made. Submit partner declaration form:
infrastructure part and are related to changes in costs estimations, technical projects, etc., the relevant documents should be uploaded via eMS or delivered to the JS within ten working days after request for change is submitted via eMS after decision on approval of changes is made. Decision is taken by the MA. CHANGE IN THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES Only activities that do not alter the objective of the project can be changed: increase/decrease in the amount of existing project outputs and/or results; extend/reduce the of the existing project activity; create new project output and/or activity; hand over activity to other project partner. Change may not alter objective of the project; Changes foster more efficient achievement of the project objectives and results; Submit a request for change via the eMS; Submit an updated application form, partnership agreement via the eMS; If changes are introduced in the infrastructure part and are related to changes in costs estimations, technical projects, etc., the relevant documents should be submitted via eMS or delivered to the JS within ten working days after request for change is submitted via eMS after decision on approval of changes is made. Decision is taken by the MA. MC takes decision on changes which affect achievement of the Programme output and result indicators or would be an exceptional case from the Programme manual rules. PROLONGATION OF THE PROJECT DURATION The project duration can be prolonged if the requested prolongation is justified and the project can be successfully finished within the requested end date. Maximum project duration can be 24 months. Project can be prolonged by necessary number of months if justification is provided; The project implementation cannot be longer that 31 December 2020. Submit a request for change via the eMS; Submit an updated application form, partnership agreement via the eMS after decision on approval of changes is made. . Decision is by the MA. If project requests to prolong project duration by more than six months, decision is taken by the MC.