THIRD STEP OF EUROREGION “COUNTRY OF LAKES” Strategy 2020 of Euroregion „Country of Lakes” Project „Third STEP for the strategy of Euroregion “Country of lakes” – planning future together for sustainable social and economic development of Latvian-Lithuanian- Belarussian border territories/3rd STEP” "3-rd step” 2014 Strategy 2020 of Euroregion „Country of Lakes” This action is funded by the European Union, by Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus Cross-border Cooperation Programme within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. The Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus Cross-border Cooperation Programme within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument succeeds the Baltic Sea Region INTERREG IIIB Neighbourhood Programme Priority South IIIA Programme for the period of 2007-2013. The overall strategic goal of the programme is to enhance the cohesion of the Latvian, Lithuanian and Belarusian border region, to secure a high level of environmental protection and to provide for economic and social welfare as well as to promote intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity. Latgale region in Latvia, Panevėžys, Utena, Vilnius, Alytus and Kaunas counties in Lithuania, as well as Vitebsk, Mogilev, Minsk and Grodno oblasts take part in the Programme. The Joint Managing Authority of the programme is the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. The web site of the programme is www.enpi-cbc.eu. The European Union is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Association Euroregion “Country of Lakes” and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. 2 Strategy 2020 of Euroregion „Country of Lakes” Content 1. THE PORTRAIT OF EUROREGION “COUNTRY OF LAKES” ............................................ 8 1.1. History ................................................................................................ 9 1.2. Association “Euroregion “Country of Lakes””........................................ 10 1.3. Basic facts about territory of Euroregion “Country of Lakes” ................... 11 1.4. SWOT analysis .................................................................................... 17 1.4.1. Strength .....................................................................................................17 1.4.2. Weaknesses .............................................................................................. 18 1.4.3. Opportunities ............................................................................................ 18 1.4.4. Threats ...................................................................................................... 18 1.5. Political and Strategic Documents ....................................................... 19 1.5.1. European level documents ........................................................................ 19 1.5.2. Documents of national level ...................................................................... 19 1.5.3. Previous strategies of Euroregion .............................................................. 20 1.5.4. Strategies of other Euroregions ................................................................ 20 1.6. Financial sources in 2007-2013 .............................................................. 22 1.7. Projects realized by Euroregion “Country of Lakes” ................................ 22 1.7.1. Projects from 2001 to 2008 ........................................................................ 23 1.7.2. Projects from 2008 to 2013 ........................................................................ 23 2. STRATEGIC PART .................................................................................................... 41 2.1. Why such a strategy (justification) ....................................................... 41 2.1.1. Global Context of planning ........................................................................ 41 2.1.2. The space Cross-border cooperation between the regions - a place for innovation (theory) ........................................................................................................................... 42 2.1.3. Method "Country of Lakes " ....................................................................... 44 2.2. Vision for 2020.................................................................................... 46 2.3. “Economic” profile of Euroregion “Country of Lakes” (Role of cooperation partners) .....................................................................................50 2.4. Strategic goals .................................................................................... 52 2.5. Priorities ............................................................................................ 54 3. PART OF ACTION .................................................................................................... 56 3.1. List of strategic projects for 2014-2020 ................................................. 56 3.2. Strategic projects ............................................................................... 61 P1 Multifunctional, sustainable transport ........................................................... 61 P2 Bike mobility project ...................................................................................... 62 P3 Application for mobile phone "Baltic Country of Lakes" ................................. 63 P4 GadgetGet ..................................................................................................... 65 P5 „Green corridor” ............................................................................................ 66 P6 Project of markets ......................................................................................... 68 P7 Spare time project ......................................................................................... 70 3 Strategy 2020 of Euroregion „Country of Lakes” P8 Water project ................................................................................................. 72 P9 Project of city parks ....................................................................................... 73 P10 The project of camping ................................................................................ 75 P11 Olympics of Euroregion ................................................................................ 76 P12 Cool Tour ...................................................................................................... 77 P13 Guild of social workers ................................................................................. 78 P14 Social enterprise .......................................................................................... 80 P15 Seniors’ project ............................................................................................ 82 P16 Success ambassadors .................................................................................. 83 P17 "Tails" ........................................................................................................... 84 P18 Community centres ..................................................................................... 85 P19 Social housing .............................................................................................. 87 P20 Green management II .................................................................................. 89 P21 Green house ................................................................................................. 91 P22 Micro Light .................................................................................................. 94 P23 Energy culture and materials ....................................................................... 95 P24 Heritage of regional building of Euroregion "Country of Lakes" ................... 97 4. SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT PART ................................................................................ 99 4.1. Euroregion’s spatial structure in future ................................................ 100 4.2. City network in future ........................................................................ 101 4.3. Future structure of transport and engineering network ......................... 102 4.4. Nature structures of the future ........................................................... 104 ATTACHMENT. AUTHORS OF THE STRATEGY .................................................................... 106 4 Strategy 2020 of Euroregion „Country of Lakes” Introduction Strategy 2014-2020 of Euroregion „Country of Lakes” has been elaborated within the Project „Third STEP for the strategy of Euroregion “Country of lakes” – planning future together for sustainable social and economic development of Latvian-Lithuanian-Belarussian border territories/3rd STEP” "3-rd step” (LLB-1-083), financed from European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013 Cross Border Cooperation Programme Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus. Strategy has been elaborated bu «Grupa93" Ltd, under contract with the Bureau of Latvia Evroregiona "Lake District" c 1 March 2013 on 31 August 2014. Strategy has been approvad by Euroregion