Bold project ideas help to attract millions of EU funds into the Western region of Lithuania

KLAIPEDA - On May 23-24 the Annual Event "Unlocking the potential of blue and green regional development" of the Interreg South Baltic Cross Border Cooperation Program will take place at the Culture Factory in Klaipėda. The Annual Event of the Programme is dedicated to mark the successful implementation of the Programme and to present to the public the most important and interesting joint projects of the Western part of Lithuania and other regions of participating countries - Denmark, Poland, Sweden and Germany. The Programme's Annual Event attendance is high.

The event is expected to attract about 150 participants from Lithuania and foreign countries. Every year, this event takes place in another South Baltic region’s country participating in the Programme. Currently, 72 Interreg South Baltic Programme‘s projects are being implemented across 5 countries. 44 Western Lithuanian (in Klaipėda, Tauragė and Telšiai regions) organisations participate in 59 projects. About 10 million Eur of European Regional Development Fund will be paid to Lithuania's partners for the implementation of the project activities.

The rescue of the Baltic ecosystem from pharmaceutical pollution, the adaptation of aquaculture technologies, e.g. shrimp farms, to the specific conditions of the Baltic region, the introduction of one ticket system for various means of transport across borders, bird observation activities for attracting tourists are just some of the important projects implemented by partners in Lithuania and South Baltic countries.

Participants of the Annual Interreg South Baltic Programme‘s Event will discuss the progress of the Programme and the future prospects of the South Baltic region after 2020: sustainable tourism, transport, green technology promotion in the region, increase of the qualification and cooperation skills of employees, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship projects.

"Interreg South Baltic Programme provides an opportunity to cooperate in miscellaneous projects - from sustainable tourism to green technologies in the region. Topical projects related to the development of the region help to attract foreign partners and necessary investments into the South Baltic Sea area, including to the Western part of Lithuania," says Igor Kaniecki, Head of the Interreg South Baltic Joint Secretariat.

Participants of the Event will have the opportunity to take part in the boat tour and see closer a project co-financed by the Interreg South Baltic Programme - the LNG terminal. Another group of participants will be visiting sites of projects by cycling that are being implemented in Klaipėda.