31 new projects submitted within the third Call for Proposals are approved for funding in the framework of the Latvia–Lithuania Programme requesting about 12 million euro co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The final allocated amount may change as all projects are approved under conditions and will need to make changes in the projects activities and budgets according the Joint Monitoring and Steering Committee of the Programme decisions.

Fourth meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Steering Committee of the Programme was held in Palanga (Lithuania) on 17-18 June. Representatives from Latvia and Lithuania made decisions on 89 project applications which have been received during the third Call for Proposals.

Approved projects will carry out the joint activities in cooperation of 89 institutions from Latvia and 57 from Lithuania. Projects were submitted under four thematic groups: joint projects facilitating business, labour market, research and technology development; improvement of internal and external accessibility of the border region; enhancing joint management of public services and natural resources; development of active and sustainable communities.

List of the approved projects and partners is available here.

The total amount of the ERDF funding available to the Programme projects is 60 million euro. During 2008 and 2009 already 34 million euro were allocated to the projects approved within the first and second Calls for Proposals. Left 14 million euro will be available for the applicants during next Calls for Proposals. According to the decision of the Joint Monitoring and Steering Committee of the Programme fourth Call for Proposals is planned to be opened on November 2010 (when changes in the Programme Document will be approved by the European Commission).