Benchmark Study 1

IPP BENCHMARK REPORT
mote the business sector. This could be due to the fact that one of the priorities in the territorial
and cross-border cooperation programmes is the development of innovation and business.
o Local governments’ assessment of the main obstacle to participation in EU programmess is
the funding to attract adviseres. This implies a lack of local experience in the preparation of an
international projects, which is time-consuming process and requires certain human resources
and project preparation and management skills, as well as knowledge of foreign languages. On
the main barriers are considered insufficient number of staff and difficulties in finding suitable
project partners. It is also mentioned in both the long processing time for projects proposals, as
well as an ongoing process for the reimbursement of expenses incurred in project reporting periods.
o Among universities as a major disincentive is being referred to a long period of receiving the
funding about the reporting periods, and very comparable assessment is referred to obstructions,
such as long processing time for projects, lack of funding the project preparation consultants,
short calls and a low amount of available funding.
o NGOs as one of the main obstacles pointed the long project evaluation time and a low amount
of available funding.
o The larger benefits of participation in international projects and activities are the new experience
and contacts, new ideas and training. Of minor benefit is the possibility of obtaining additional
funding.
o Most respondents acknowledge that very important is the availability of information about the
EU programmes, as well as whether the programmes available to meet the real needs.
o As the most effective instrument of communication on EU programmes are evaluated the information
in web sites, individual consultations and face to face meetings at seminars and conferences.
Individual consultancies are particularly highlighted in the regional and cross-border
cooperation programmes. The survey shows that the brochures and newsletters, information in
radio and TV is on the smallest role.
o Despite the fact that there are several Internet sites where is possible to find information on
various EU programs as one of the key recommendations is a single portal. This shows that no
existing site does not provide full information on the Latvian partners access to EU programmes
and initiatives. Another key recommendation is the need to organize regular seminars on current
programmes.
Taking into account the results of the survey it could be recommended:
1) to ensure a wider and more targeted information about the EU programmes and initiatives,
which projects must be submitted directly to the European Commission;
2) to implement activities providing support for project preparation and implementation skills;
3) to implement the tools for finding international partners;
4) to reduce the administrative burdens and red tape of international projects implementation;
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