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FLAG Factsheet: Business
Association of North Kurzeme
“Ziemeļkurzemes biznesa asociācija”
Country:
Latvia
Region:
Kurzeme
Area:
Municipalities of Dundaga, Ventspils, part of Talsi (parishes of
Īve,
Lube and Valdgale), and Ventspils city
Code:
LV202
Operational:
2007-2013 and 2014-2020 programming period
AREA
Description of the area and its main challenges
The Northern Kurzeme FLAG is located in northwest Latvia. The FLAG area is bordered by a 144 km
stretch of the Baltic coast, from the parish of Jurkalne to the Cape of Kolka, and 12 km of the coastline
around the Gulf of Riga. The area consists of 17 parishes, one town and one city, Ventspils, which is
considered to be one of nine development centres of national significance* in Latvia. There are two
important fishing ports
–
Roja and Ventspils.
The Northern Kurzeme FLAG area is characterized by a very large forest coverage - 65.3%, and very low
population density - 5.8 persons per square kilometer, far below the average population density in Latvia.
In 2014 the unemployment rate in the area was 7.2 %.
The area
’s most important asset
is the Baltic coast, noted for its natural beauty and its fishing potential.
The area also has a very rich cultural heritage, including religious architecture from the 16
th
-19
th
Century,
Baltic German manor buildings, and Suiti (a small catholic community) and Liv (a Finno-Ugric ethnic group)
traditions.
The coastal area has large beaches, which support many business activities, mostly in the tourism and
fisheries sectors. The most popular holiday destinations are the
Jūrkalne
Steep coast and the Cape of
Kolka. The Northern Kurzeme FLAG area is also characterised by its extensive forests, which cover about
71% of the area.
Challenges:
For a long time (about 50 years during the Soviet occupation), the entire coastal area was closed to the
public because of its use for military exercises by the Soviet army, which seriously hampered its economic
development by restricting access to the area. This negative impact on the local economy was reinforced
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by the military presence leaving behind discarded live ammunition, rocket silos, decaying infrastructure
and pollution, as well as useless and mostly outdated fisheries infrastructure.
* In Latvia there are nine cities with the status of development center of national significance. In the current
planning period most EU financing is going to be invested in these cities.
Population:
19 888 (01.01.2016)
Population Density [Inhabitants/ km²]:
5.7
Surface [area/km²]:
3 492 km²
Coastal or inland:
Coastal
Protected areas:
There are 30 such areas, the most important being: Slītere
National Park, Raķupe Valley, Kaļķupe Valley, and Moricsala
in Usma Lake.
Employment in fisheries:
893
Fishing:
199
Aquaculture:
No information available
Processing:
694
Women employment in fisheries:
No information available
STRATEGY
Short summary of the FLAG strategy
Fishing and tourism are the most important industries in the Northern Kurzeme Partnership area. As
identified in the participatory needs analysis of the area, coastal infrastructure needs upgrading and
fishing and fishing-related tourism services also need to be strengthened. Infrastructure improvements
are also necessary in order to enhance the quality of life of those working in fish processing.
The local development strategy includes the following objectives:
To promote the development of coastal enterprises and to enhance their competitiveness;
To promote the value of the coastal environment and to support its conservation and sustainable
exploitation;
To develop and improve public infrastructure in coastal areas and improve access to cultural
heritage.
The FLAG will support coastal enterprises, helping to improve production processes, marketing, and to
encourage new activities. A higher priority will be given to projects that develop an innovative product or
service.
Support will also be provided for projects that help to overcome the effect of seasonality in the fisheries
and tourism sectors.
Tourism is indeed one of the key industries in the area. The FLAG will support initiatives that contribute
to the restoration and protection of the coastal environment and its possible integration into coastal
recreational and tourism activities. There will be support
for the development of public infrastructure
aimed at maintaining and making good use of the sea and coastal heritage. For example, the creation
of recreational and fishing-related infrastructure along the coast, such as the restoration of trestles and
boat slips.
As regards sustainable growth, support will also be provided for improving the energy efficiency of fish
processing facilities and for increasing the use of renewable energy, as well as for improving the
management of wastewater and surface water drainage.
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Finally, aiming to improve the social inclusion in the FLAG area a high priority will be given to projects
that provide opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
Importance of the following objectives
for the strategy of your FLAG
Priority (1 is low, 5
is very high)
% of the budget allocated to
them in the strategy
Adding value, creating jobs, and promoting
innovation along the fisheries chain
4
10
Supporting diversification
4
10
Enhancing and capitalising on the
environmental assets
4
15
Promoting social wellbeing and cultural
heritage
5
65
Strengthening the role of fisheries
communities in local development
-
-
Project examples and ideas
-
Support for fishing tourism, where visitors and tourists get to accompany fishermen to see what
their work involves.
-
Equipment for smoking and tasting fisheries products.
-
Infrastructure for fishing enthusiasts and coastal environmental conservation measures.
-
Upgrading of rain and surface drainage systems (nearly all coastal villages are suffering from
excess water run-off).
Calls for projects
The deadline for the first call for projects was 13 June 2016. This call included only two of four planned
objectives. A second call, focusing on the improvement of infrastructure related to cultural heritage and
fishing traditions, will be announced in July 2016. At least two calls for each objective are foreseen before
December 2018.
Thematic expertise and cooperation
Type of cooperation projects foreseen
Inter-territorial (within your
Member state):
Yes
Transnational:
Yes
Sea basin:
Yes
Budget available for cooperation [€]:
N/A
PARTNERSHIP
Lead partner or
Responsible Legal Entity
Association
“Ziemeļkurzemes Biznesa asociācija” (Business Association of North Kurzeme)
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Other key actors/organisations in the partnership
The FLAG board (decision-making body) consists of 12 members, but all 56 members of the FLAG are
actively involved. Together th
ey represent four municipalities, six fishermen’s organisations,
14businesses, 23 NGOs and nine private individuals.
% of public actors (on the decision-making body):
17
% of fisheries actors:
33
% of other (non-fisheries) private / NGO sector actors:
42
% of environmental actors
8
Number of individuals/organizations in partnership/
general assembly:
56
Number of individuals on main decision-making body/
board:
12
Links with LEADER or other CLLD groups:
FLAG territory is the same as (or overlaps with) one or several CLLD
territory/territories
The territory is the same as the LEADER territory and is administered by the
same entity. EMFF co-financed projects can be implemented only in
Kolka,
Tārgale, Vārve, Užava, Jūrkalne parishes and in Ventspils city.
Yes
FLAG shares its legal structure with a Leader LAG/CLLD group
The territory has one entity (LAG/FLAG) that administers the implementation of
single local development strategy co-financed by the EMFF, the EAFRD and a
national contribution.
Yes
FLAG shares certain (how many?) board members with a Leader
LAG/CLLD group
The board of the FLAG is also the board of the LAG.
There are 4
representatives of the fisheries sector. The board is made up of:
- 2 rep of local authorities;
- 5 NGOs (incl. 2 rep of rural women and 1 rep of youth);
- 5 business (incl. 4 rep of fisheries and 1 rep of agriculture).
Yes
FLAG and LAG have a common local development strategy (with separate
sections for EMFF/ EAFRD/ other ESI funds)
There is one single local development strategy with separate action plans for
each EU Fund.
Yes
FLAG coordinates its work informally with nearby Leader LAG(s)
–
how?
No
FLAG has formal cooperation with Leader or other CLLD groups
No
Budget information
Total public budget allocated to the
FLAG for 2014-
2020 [€]
:
2 319 459.43
EMFF [€]
:
1 971 540. 52
Member State co-
financing [€]
347 918.91
Source of co-financing? (national/
regional/ provincial):
National
Multi-funding: (Is your FLAG integrating
different funding sources into its
strategy?
If yes, please specify from which funds):
Yes (EAFRD – 1 835 449.76 with national co-financing (68%))
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Contact information
President/Chair, organization:
Inta Matrevica
FLAG Manager:
Gunta Abaja
Email
zba@dundaga.lv
Telephone
+371 29172814
Postal address
Pils iela 14, Dundaga, Dundagas pagasts, Dundagas novads,
LV-3270, Latvia
FLAG website
www.ziemelkurzeme.lv
Number of contracted staff in FLAG
[FTE]
3
Language information
Language
Basic level
Intermediate level
Good level
English
X
German
X
Latvian
X
Russian
X