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.

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. 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.

Lithuanian beneficiaries will be informed of the next steps as soon as the Programme Managing Authority has more detailed information.

Please find more information here.