The first call for application for the Estonian-Russian cross-border partnership program 2014-2020 opened on 17 January this year. The program of the Estonian-Russian cross-border partnership promotes the cross-border cooperation between Estonia and Russia to foster social and economic development on both sides of the common border. The program of the Estonian-Russian cross-border partnership 2014-2020 is co-financed by the European Union, the Estonian Republic and the Russian Federation.
This program of Estonia-Russia cross-border partnership continues the previous European Union program of the period 2007-2013 within the framework of the Estonian-Latvian-Russian partnership program, in the course of which Mustvee Port got ready too. Within the framework of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership instrument – the Estonian-Latvian-Russian partnership program 2007 – 2013 – the construction of Mustvee Port was financed in the amount 1.1 m euro. Mustvee town plans also to apply for a grant via the program of the Estonian-Russian cross-border partnership program 2014-2020.
"Within the framework of the Estonian-Latvian-Russian cooperation program 2007-2013, Mustvee Passenger Port got a modern northern berth, an up-to-date passenger terminal and a nice boat harbor. We apply for support to continue development of the biggest port on Peipus lake, for instance, to build the southern berth, within the program EST- RUS 2014-2020. In the perspective, one day Mustvee Passenger Port might become international," says a mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur.
The total financial support in the first call of the program of the Estonian-Russian cross-border partnership 2014-2020 is 10 000 476,78 EUR. The eligible region of the program in Estonia is the North-East, the South, the central Estonia and the North of Estonia, including Tallinn; on the Russian side – St-Petersburg, Leningradskaya oblast and Pskovskaya oblast. Entrepreneurship and development of small and middle-size businesses will be supported as well as good governing practice on the local and regional levels; environment protection, mitigation of climate changes and adapting to them. The program is aimed at projects which are clearly characterized as the cross-border partnership and which involve a minimum of 2 partners – at least one from Estonia and at least one from Russia.