“The pace of EU Funds investment is not disappointing; we are one of the leading countries responsibly investing each euro. This allows to maintain the country’s growing economy, promote employment, reduce social exclusion and poverty; therefore, investment must only accelerate”, Minister of Finance Rasa Budbergytė said.
Under the Operational Programme for EU Funds’ Investments for 2014–2020, the first 58 projects have already been implemented, and 582 projects are still under implementation. Total value of the projects funded under the agreements signed is estimated to be more than EUR 1.2 billion, i.e. almost one fifth of the funds allocated for Lithuania under this programming period. Most of the EU funds are invested into ongoing energy and multi-apartment building renovation, employment and social, business and environmental projects.
By the use of the current programming period funds five Reflow Funds were established in Lithuania: in order to enhance external financing possibilities for small and medium-sized businesses, about EUR 206 million were allocated for the implementation of financial instruments under the EU Funds, and about EUR 304 million – for multi-apartment building renovation and public infrastructure energy upgrading measures.
Business sector project operators were the most active ones: 838 tender applications were registered, of which 433 were awarded financing agreements. The majority of the projects are carried out under Measure “E-Business”: currently e-business solutions are installed by 254 small and medium-sized enterprises optimising the processes related to production or service provision, and organisation of activities.
By the end of the first half of this year, the amount of calls for proposals announced and lists of state or regional planning projects drawn up totalled EUR 1.95 billion, i.e. 29% of the 2014-2020 EU Funds assistance earmarked for Lithuania.
Additional information
Using EU investment by the end of June 2016:
205 multi-apartment buildings were renovated and after renovation assigned to a higher energy efficiency class;
822 enterprises received subsidies for investment in production;
19,000 unemployed persons took part in employment support activities, of which 4,000 were long-term unemployed, 5,000 – persons aged over 54 years.