Latvia is an active participant in projects of INTERREG programmes for the promotion of a harmonious and balanced development of the territory of Europe. This European Community initiative supports cross-border co-operation projects, by providing financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The goal of INTERREG is to promote a gradual regional economic integration, while at the same time creating more intensive political and cultural relations, and establishing partnerships and contacts among regions of neighbouring states. The co-ordinating body for INTERREG projects in Latvia is the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government.

Latvia takes part in the INTERREG IIIA programme, under which joint projects with border regions of the neighbouring states of Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus are developed.

Latvia is also involved in the INTERREG IIIB programme with its goal of furthering co-operation among European states. Under this programme, Latvia has joined a Baltic Sea Region sub-programme, which involves eleven states: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and certain regions of Germany, Russia and Belarus. The Programme for Transnational Territorial Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region 2007-2013 will require a joint funding of EUR 238 million (funding from ERDF, the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument and the Norwegian government). Participation in the programme affords Latvia the opportunity to implement projects in areas such as innovations, transport and information technologies, protection of environment of the Baltic Sea, and cross-border co-operation.

INTERREG IIIA and IIIB programmes' website: http://www.bsrinterreg.net