The European Union has approved financing of EUR 305 million for the 2021-2027 financial period. This money will be provided to various transport infrastructure projects in Latvia, as confirmed by the Ministry of Transport.
The ministry’s representatives say that financing was provided to the Rail Baltica project, the modernisation of Liepaja sea port and the implementation of European air traffic management project.
According to information from the European Commission, a total of 107 transport projects were selected to receive EU co-financing worth more than EUR 6 billion from the Connecting Europe Facility.
This EU facility was created for strategic investments into transport infrastructure.
Latvian Minister of Transport Jānis Vitenbergs says financing for the development of the transport sector is necessary in order to implement strategically important projects that will help improve the country’s competitiveness and security in a long-term perspective.
“I am happy with the successful results of the Rail Baltica project, because it is one of the most supported European projects, as it has received support for 93% suggested activities,” the minister admits, stressing that financing will help continue Rail Baltica’s implementation in accordance with the plan.
The minister also highly praised the success of Liepaja Special Economic Zone in attracting financing, which sill benefit not only the sea port but the entire transport sector’s development in general.
“Participation in the European air traffic management project will help enhance our security and integration with Europe,” said Vitenbergs.
Rail Baltica’s implementation in Latvia will receive EUR 298 million or 32% of the total EUR 928 million available for the project in Baltic States.
Financing is intended to continue construction work along the main routes of both international stations – Rail Baltica Riga Central hub’s overpass over Maskavas and Krasta streets, platform access; the relocation of existing railway lines to the southern half of the station, as well as the construction of railway overpass at Riga International Airport.
Liepaja Special Economic Zone will receive financing in order to perform technical evaluation and construction work in order to reconstruct dock 46 of Liepaja Sea Port, which services ferries and Ro-Ro ships.
The main benefit from the project will be having a secure, sustainable and efficient shipping, as well as improved services.
Liepaja Sea Port’s modernisation efforts will receive funding of more than EUR 6.9 million.
Latvijas gaisa satiksme [Latvian Air Traffic] (LGS) will receive financing to participate in Eurocontrol coordinated project – CP1 Deployment – Synchronised Modernisation of ATM.
As part of the project, it is planned to improve the accessibility of digital aerial navigation data and exchange between various sides: providers of aeronautical information services, airports and air traffic control services, based on the concept and technologies of SWIM (System Wide Information Management), as well as improving the availability of digital aeronautical data in the European AIS (Aeronautical Information Service) database.
The project’s implementation will help improve the management of Europe’s unified air traffic.
This project’s total costs are planned at EUR 620 000. The intensity of support from the EU is 50%.
Financing contracts between CINEA and funding recipients will be signed in Q3 2023.
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