Brussels, 26/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - After Malta, Greece, Austria and Denmark, agreement was reached with the European Commission on Thursday 26 April on Lithuania's National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) and priorities under the 'convergence' objective of the Cohesion Policy 2007-2013. In its NSRF, Lithuania describes how it will use the EU funding of €6775 million that it will receive over seven years (until 2015) to catch up with more advanced areas of the EU. To this end, its priorities are fostering long term economic growth, more and better jobs, and promotion of social cohesion. Lithuania intends to translate the broad priorities contained in the NSRF into three thematic operational programmes for development of human resources, economic growth, and cohesion promotion. The adoption procedure was concluded on Thursday, with the publication by the Commission of its decision on the priorities, annual indicative funding, operational programmes and other aspects of the Lithuanian NSRF. EU Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner said: "I am very happy that the Lithuanian NSRF includes a significant commitment to the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth. 54.6% of the investments for the 'Convergence' objective has been 'earmarked' for Lisbon related expenditure. This is proof of Lithuania's commitment to the Lisbon strategy."
All member states have now submitted their NSRFs to the Commission and Germany's NSRF is expected to be approved in the very near future (see EUROPE 9408).
Info on Lithuania's NSRF: http: //ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/fiche/lt_en.pdf