Following the Russian military aggression against Ukraine and in line with the Commission's decision to fully implement all EU restrictive measures, the Commission has suspended the cooperation with Russia and its ally Belarus in the European Neighbourhood Instrument cross-border cooperation programmes (ENI CBC) as well as in the Interreg Baltic Sea region programme. The link to the Commission's decision can be found here>.

This means, among others, that no further payments will be made to Russia or Belarus. The suspension has immediate effect for the nine ENI CBC programmes involving Russia and Belarus and for the transnational programme Interreg Baltic Sea region under the programming period 2014-2020. The overall EU funding for the eight programmes with Russia is €178 million, while the total EU funding for the two programmes with Belarus amounts to €257 million. The rules on the ENI CBC provide for the suspension of cooperation with external countries in case of breaches to international law, human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.

Cooperation with both countries in programmes under the new programming period 2021-2027 is also suspended.

Please be reminded that according to the protocol decision of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 28 October 2020 “Regarding further implementation of the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020” the Managing Authority of the European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-border Cooperation Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus Programme 2014-2020 suspended payments of funds, allocated for beneficiaries from Belarus, back in 2020.

Lead beneficiaries will be informed immediately on any further updates as soon as they are received.