Tarptautinis bendradarbiavimas: naujos galimybės savivaldybėms International cooperation: new opportunities for Local Authorities Austė Tamulynaitė LSA patarėja Adviser on EU Issues, Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania , Zarasai

Sponsorship of international cooperation for self-government: Search for partners through ALA’ contacts Projects of bilateral and multilateral cooperation EU programme “Europe for citizens” – meetings of citizens and thematic cooperation of cities

PROJECTS OF BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL COOPERATION: FLANDERS Support of the government of Flanders region (Belgium) to bilateral/trilateral cooperation with Flanders’ partners DOMAINS: tourism, culture, business, etc. MAX. SUPPORT: up to 300 thousand Euro, 50 per cent DURATION: up to 3 years Submission of projects: March

PROJECTS OF BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL COOPERATION: NORWAY, SWITZERLAND Norwegian financial mechanism: scheme of subsidies “Locations in Lithuania and Norway, exchange of experience among regional and Euro-regional partners and consolidation of mutual cooperation” Switzerland’s support mechanism: domain “support for initiatives of NGO, consolidating communal organizations and their cooperation with local authorities” Invitations to submit applications only for individual NFM projects

PROJECTS OF BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL COOPERATION : DEVELOPING COOPERATION, TURKEY Projects of developing cooperation in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus ( th Lt) Domains: democracy,development of human rights, good management, security and stability, consolidation of eurointegration and administrative competences, activation of political, cultural, economic and social relations in LR Application are accepted all year round, till 31 October Programme for years Promotion of cooperation between municipalities of the EU and Turkey Domains: environment protection, tourism and culture, planning of cities. First announced in 2007, for one year, so far no info about the year 2008

EU Programme “Europe for citizens” Meetings of citizens Applicants: municipalities of the EU countries (twins or intending to become twins). Only 1 application a year is allowed Duration of meetings: up to 21 days Support: Euro Minimum 10 participants from 2 EU countries. If more than 2 countries - min. 5 participants from each country Applications online!

EU Programme “Europe for citizens” Thematic cooperation of twin towns Applicants: municipalities (at least of 2 countries - twins), institutions of regional authorities Duration of meetings:1-3 days. In the project – max. 2 seminars/conferences Simplified support: system of total allowances, not less than 3500 Euro Min. 20 participants from 3 municipalities,3 countries. 25 per cent of participants must be not from receiving country

STATISTICS First half of 2007 “Meetings of citizens” 799 applications submitted, 53% of applicants got financial support. Greater success of the projects intended to be implemented together with municipalities of “new” and ‘old” EU countries, rather than municipalities only of “new” or “old” EU countries. „Thematic networks“ 90 applications submitted Lithuania submits too few applications...

USEFUL ADDRESSES Europe for citizens “Europe of active citizens” Projects of developing cooperation - Norway’s and EEA’s support Switzerland’s support - Lists of programmes funded by the European Commission - Search for partners, consultations

Thank you for attention QUESTIONS? Austė Tamulynaitė LSA patarėja Adviser on EU Issues, Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania , Zarasai