Structural EU support for Lithuania in 2007-2013

The 2007-2013 financial perspective became operational as of 1 January 2007. This date also marks the start of a new period in administering the EU assistance. Structural support is allocated according to the following three regional policy objectives:

1. Convergence: support for the regions with lagging development;  
2. European Territorial Cooperation: support for the regions with severe economic and social problems;
3. Regional Competitiveness and Employment: support for the modernization of training systems and the promotion of employment. Regions that receive support under the first objective are not eligible because training and employment measures are included into programmes designed for areas lagging behind.

The EU support for Lithuania is allocated under the first two objectives. It amounts to 23 billion litas for 2007-2013, while the whole support intended for Lithuania is approx. 36 billion litas (for comparison, 22 billion litas was planned for Lithuania’s state budget expenses for 2007).

In addition, Lithuania receives EU financial support for agriculture and rural development (from the European Agriculture and Fisheries funds) as well as for the participation in the European Community programmes (e.g. in the fields of culture, education, and science and research), external EU border protection, facilitation of transit to/from the Kaliningrad region through the Lithuanian territory, and financing of the closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

According to the indicative estimates of independent experts, additional 52 billion litas of GDP could be created if all 2007–2013 EU structural support funds were absorbed efficiently. This would grossly increase the current size of the Lithuanian economy; the Lithuanian GDP amounted to 71 billion litas in 2005.

Read more: http://www.esparama.lt/en/pasirengimas/