Lithuania receives 131,26 million euros for Rail Baltica project

Lithuania has received 131,26 million euros in European Union’s support for the first phase of the Rail Baltica project.

Support will be provided under the agreements signed on Tuesday by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA), by RB Rail, a joint venture established by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and by four Baltic countries.

“Of the total amount earmarked for the joint venture of the three Baltic countries [442 million euros], Lithuania will receive 25,362 million euros. 

Moreover, Lithuania will receive additional 106 million euros under a separate application filed by the Transport Ministry on behalf of Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways),” Ricardas Slapsys, an aide to transport minister, told BNS.

In line with the agreements, RB Rail has received 442 million euros in EU support and Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai, 106 million.

Support earmarked for all four countries - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, amounts to 734 million euros, the Lithuanian Transport Ministry said.

Also, the ministry reported that Lithuania planned to submit Rail Baltica applications worth a total of 197,6 million euros under the second Connecting Europe Facility call for proposals by February 2016.

Lithuania plans to build a European standard gauge railway between Kaunas and the border with Latvia between 2015–2020.

The project will run through the Lithuanian town of Panevezys.

In July 2015, the European Commission said the CEF coordination committee had approved 548 million euros in funding for Rail Baltica.