The European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) Programme Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus 2014-2020 is financed by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), created to support the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
The Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) is a decision-making body monitoring the implementation of the Programme. It is composed of representatives appointed by all three participating countries (5 representatives from each country representing national, regional level institutions, and optionally, local authorities and other social-economic partners of the Programme area).
The Managing Authority (MA) is an executive body responsible for managing the Programme and ensuring that decisions of the JMC comply with the applicable law and legal provisions. It signs the grant contracts with the Lead Beneficiaries, ensures that the operational follow-up is carried out and makes payments to projects. The MA is the European Union Investment and International Programmes Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania.
The National Authorities (NAs) are the bodies responsible for supporting the MA in the management of the Programme. The NA in Latvia - the Development Instruments Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia. The NA in Lithuania - the EU Investment and International Programmes Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. The NA in Belarus - the Department for European Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
The Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) is a joint operational body, assisting the MA, the JMC and, where relevant, the Audit Authority (AA), in carrying out their respective functions. The JTS is responsible for preparation, launching and managing the project selection procedures, informing the potential beneficiaries about funding opportunities under the Programme, assisting the beneficiaries in the implementation of projects, monitoring projects’ progress including by checking reports and carrying out the usual work of a secretariat of the JMC, i.e. organising meetings, preparing documents, organising minutes, etc. The public establishment Joint Technical Secretariat has been designated as the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Programme.
The Branch Offices (BOs) in Latvia and in Belarus assist the MA and the JTS in carrying out their functions, in particular: support the MA and the JTS in organising information activities and carrying out communication activities in Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus; providing assistance in project implementation activities; carrying out monitoring activities and projects evaluation.
