On the 9th of May 2022 the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, the Managing Authority of the European Neighbourhood Instrument
Cross-border cooperation programmes 2014–2020 (hereinafter – Programmes), together with the Joint Technical Secretariat (hereinafter – JTS),
organized a virtual meeting with Lithuanian and Latvian beneficiaries
on the further implementation of the Programme in Lithuania and Latvia.
In order to ensure the interests of Lithuanian and Latvian beneficiaries
the Managing Authority has prepared procedures and agreements, necessary for carrying out direct payments of the Programme funds to Lithuanian and Latvian beneficiaries of projects, where Lead beneficiaries are from Belarus.
After signing these direct agreements Lithuanian and Latvian beneficiaries
will prepare and submit progress and final reports without Lead beneficiaries and will be able to receive payments directly. At the moment 1 agreement (out of 8) has been signed, beneficiaries are already submitting reports and payment requests, and the first payments should reach the beneficiaries in July.
Please be reminded that in the beginning of March 2022 the European Commission suspended financing agreements with Russia and Belarus.
On the 31st of March 2022 the minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania signed the order No 1V-255 "Regarding the implementation of the European Neighbourhood programmes 2014-2020", providing recommendations and instructions on the implementation of projects:
to carry out planned activities in Lithuania, to submit progress and final reports and advance/balance payments requests in accordance with the provisions and deadlines of the Grant Contracts, not to make any transfers of the Programme funds to the beneficiaries from Belarus.