Press Release: Estonia-Latvia Cross-Border Cooperation Operational Programme 2007-2013

On 21 December 2007, the European Commission approved a Cross-border Cooperation Operational Programme between Estonia and Latvia for the period 2007-13. The Programme involves providing Community assistance as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the regions of Lääne-Eesti, Lõuna-Eesti, Kurzeme, Riga, Pieriga and Vidzeme along the Estonian-Latvian border. Other regions of both countries can take part in projects as adjacent areas, receiving a maximum 20% of the ERDF funding allocated to the Programme.

The Programme falls within the framework laid out for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective and has a total budget of around €51 million. Community funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to some €38 million, which represents approximately 0.4% of the total EU investment earmarked for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective under the Cohesion Policy 2007-13.