OREANDA-NEWS. August 12, 2009. Experts of JASPERS programme together with representatives of  Directorate for Transport investments and State Enterprise Transport and road research institute visited Klaipeda State Seaport Authority. The aim of visit  – to provide consultations and to discuss issues related with infrastructure project „Construction of Infrastructure of Passenger and Cargo Ferry Terminal“ being implemented at  Klaipeda port, financed from the EU Structural Funds, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.
 
Experts of JASPERS programme together with representatives of  Directorate for Transport investments and State Enterprise Transport and road research institute visited the Seaport Authority (J. Janonio street 24). The guests were met by Director General of the Seaport Authority Eugenijus Gentvilas and Director for infrastructure Algirdas Kamarauskas. Issues concerning planned construction of Klaipeda Passenger and Cargo terminal at Klaipeda port, review of condition of transport infrastructure, transport flows and impact on environment, preparation of programmes for transport infrastructure development were discussed at the meeting that was also attended by Director General of „Klaipeda Passenger and Cargo terminal“ Ltd. Benediktas Petrauskas.
 
After the visit at the Port Authority, the guests visited the territory of future Klaipeda Passenger and Cargo terminal.
 
More  information about JASPERS:
JASPERS - is a technical assistance facility for twelve member countries of the European Union; JASPERS assistance is complementary to the preparation of projects to be submitted for funding from the EU funds. Implementing this initiative, the European Commission, EIB, EBRD and KfW share their professional expertise with member countries – beneficiaries of assistance aiming at more effective use of investment funds assigned by the European Union.

In 2007–2013 the European Union assigned approx. 350 mlrd EUR for implementation of the EU Cohesion policy. These are the largest investments in the history of the EU granted through structural funds that amount to almost 36 % of the budget of the European Union. The European Commission (EC), European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) set up JASPERS initiative („Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions“) in order to assist twelve member states that were granted accession to the EU in 2004 and 2007 faster and more effectively to use support provided by the EU Structural Funds. These three institution have been successfully cooperating for long time in financing projects in Mid- and Eastern Europe  – JASPERS is one more possibility to expand this activities. Since 1 July, 2008 KfW Bankengruppe joined this joint initiative as the fourth partner, contributing by its international expertise in financing and technical engineering.
 
JASPERS project preparation facility may be used to prepare infrastructure projects, especially those aimed at renovation of transport networks, environment improvement and investments related with increase of effectiveness of energy consumption and promotion of use of renewable energy. Besides, it may be used to prepare projects for improvement of urban transport systems and other large-scale projects eligible for the EU support in such sectors as health protection, scientific research and development and urban restructuring. At present a group of 56 experts are implementing  JASPERS initiative in the Headquarters of European Investment bank in Luxembourg and three regional offices in Mid- and Eastern Europe established in Bucharest, Vienna and Warsaw. JASPERS programme is actively managed by Steering committee consisting of representatives from DG REGIO, EIB and EBRD that meets once in a quarter.

JASPERS activities are based on action plans prepared for each country on annual basis, collaborating with country-beneficiary of support and the European Commission. Authorised institution of each country works in capacity of key coordinator and may apply to  JASPERS for assistance.

Focal point of JASPERS programme is larger projects, the total value whereof exceeds 25 mln. EUR in case of environment projects, and 50 mln. EUR – in transport or other sectors. Nevertheless, this requirement is flexibly applied to smaller countries or in case of pilot projects aimed at dissemination of good practice. JASPERS assistance for beneficiaries is provided free of charge and member states are not obliged to use  JASPERS.

This assistance may be used to prepare technical, economic and financial part of a project and to perform any other required preparatory work in order to submit complete, well-prepared projects. Within the scope of such assistance JASPERS aims at providing consultations,   ensuring coordination of works, developing and reviewing the structure of projects, eliminating hindrances, filling-in gaps and defining problems that have not been addressed, e.g. state support,  environmental impact assessment, etc.

Beneficiaries of JASPERS assistance are not obliged to borrow funds from EIB, EBRD and KfW,  but if they prefer so, national authorities may apply to EIB, EBRD or KfW for financial support for projects prepared with assistance of JASPERS. However, only the European Commission is entitled to adopt the final decision regarding granting of the EU financial support for a project prepared with JASPERS assistance.

By the end of October, 2008 JASPERS has been actively supporting 333 projects. Programme portfolio includes projects in the sectors of roads, railroads/ ports /airports, urban development (including urban transport system, effectiveness of energy consumption), water/ waster waters and solid wastes / energy.

Besides, JASPERS also performs horizontal tasks, such as services rendered by experts for public and private partnerships (PPP), financial analysis of projects and issues of state support.

75 %  of the total actively provided assistance was rendered to the major projects;

6,4 % – small projects;

18,6 % – horizontal.