Sandis Cakuls
Head of National Authority for
Interreg Programmes
[email protected] Ours 09.12.2025 no 11.1-4/25/2528-1
Ministry of Smart Administration and
Regional Development of the Republic of
Latvia
The Interreg V-A Estonia-Latvia 2014-2020
technical assistance
Dear Mr Cakuls,
The State Shared Service Centre approaches you to initiate the repayment of the surplus of
technical assistance received during the 2014–2020 period. In line with the Agreement to the
cooperation programme Interreg V-A Estonia-Latvia 2014-2020 (CCI No 2014TC16RFCB050)
(hereinafter – the Agreement), the technical assistance contribution of Latvia for this period
amounts to € 809,370. The payment of this amount has been completed in full through yearly
instalments.
The Managing Authority of the (Interreg V-A) Estonia-Latvia Programme has received closure
proposal of the Programme from the European Commission on 26 July 2024. The European
Commission has detailed the closure of the Estonia-Latvia Programme 2014-2020 and has
calculated the final amounts chargeable to the funds. The Managing Authority has reviewed the
calculation and confirmed on 16 September 2024 that the amounts proposed for closure by the
European Commission are acceptable to the programme. The Managing Authority received the
formal closure letter from the European Commission confirming that the Programme has been
officially closed on 13 October 2025.
Two topics remain unresolved from the 2014–2020 programming period: the “Valga – Valka Twin
Town Centre Development” project court case and technical assistance. As the court case is
ongoing, at the meeting of the Programme Authorities, it was agreed to return to the discussion of
the technical assistance budget for the 2014–2020 period once the Court had delivered its decision.
On 9 September, we have been informed by the Court that a decision on the “Valga – Valka Twin
Town Centre Development” project will only be made on 23 January 2026. In light of this, it would
not be reasonable to postpone the repayment of technical assistance for the previous period until
the court’s decision is issued. Therefore, the Managing Authority proposes to proceed with the
necessary arrangements for the repayment without further delay.
The European Commission paid for the programme's technical assistance on the basis of eligible
costs. The Latvian National Authority paid the cofinancing of the technical assistance for the
programme by the annual invoices sent according to the Agreement signed. In the case of Estonia,
Lõkke 4 / 10122 Tallinn / 663 8200 /
[email protected] / www.rtk.ee / Registrikood 70007340
the cofinancing was in proportion to the amount of the eligible costs received from the European
Commission.
Taking into account that the actual costs of the technical assistance for the 2014–2020 period were
lower than initially planned, a surplus of € 88,581,68 has arisen. The technical Assistance of the
Estonia - Latvia Programme 2014 – 2020:
Financing Approved TA Real cost of Surplus (€)
rate (%) budget (€) TA (€)
European 65.63 2,661,447.00 2,370,006.89
Commission
Estonian cofinancing 14.41 584,413.00 520,368.72
Latvian cofinancing 19.96 809,370.00 720,788.32 88,581.68
Total 100 4,055,230.00 3,611,163.93 88,581.68
With regard to the repayment of technical assistance, the Managing Authority proposes to offset
the surplus of the technical assistance of 2014-2020 period against technical assistance payment
for the year 2026 under the 2021–2027 period.
In accordance with the Agreement to the Interreg VI-A Estonia-Latvia Programme 2021-2027
(CCI No 2021TC16RFCB043) and confirmation of national co-financing, the technical assistance
contribution of Latvia for the year 2026 is € 94,432.34. Therefore, in 2026 Latvia would need to
transfer € 5,850.66 to the Managing Authority’s account upon receiving the respective invoice.
Yours sincerely,
(signed digitally)
Urmo Merila
Deputy Director General
State Shared Service Centre
Külli Kaare 504 2896
[email protected]