Panevėžys County Governor‘s Administration takes part in the EU INTERREG III C Project
Best Practice in the Presentation and Market Oriented Valorisation of Cultural Heritage as Instrument of Regional Development
Project objectives:
To develop best practice guidelines for the revalorisation of elements of built cultural heritage by sharing experience between the involved partner lands.
To stimulate further discussion and networking on cultural heritage and regional development.
To contribute towards the EU goals of achieving balanced regional development and reducing social and economic disparities within and between the regions of the EU.

On September 18-20, 2006 CULTURED Workshop 4 having 30 participants took place in Youghal city, Cork County (Ireland) in which Rita Abaravičiūtė, director of Regional development department, Rūta Ivanovaitė, head of Regional economical and social development division and Birutė Karalevičienė, chief specialist of Regional economical and social development division. Conclusions were drawn on CULTURED website development, partners listened to demonstration projects, Best practice cases of Wales, Netherlands and Spain, analysis on Template 4 „ Regional added value of the re-use of cultural heritage“ P rof. Annemie Draye delivered a lecture on “Economics of Historic Preservation” and “ Tangible and intangible cultural heritage”. Next day was comprised of the study visits of thatched houses, Jameson whisky distillery, Youghal cultural heritage. The workshop was used to present a first draft of the best practice guidelines on valorisation of heritage.
More ... Newsletter 4, Template 4, Panevezys County Gov.Adm.- Cork (B.Karalevičienė)

Regional conference in Lithuania
The historical Manor of Rokiskis with its large beautiful garden and an ensemble of other buildings belonging to the manor served as the venue for the three days Regional Conference (74 participants) in Lithuania, which took place from 20 th - 23rd of November, 2006. Project partners are welcome to take part in two following conferences in Brussels and Mallorca . The partners from Lithuania , Latvia and the Netherlands were officially welcomed by Gema Umbrasiene, Panevėžys County Governor and Egidijus Vilimas, Mayor of Rokiškis ,
After an introduction on CULTURED by project coordinator Sirka Ludtke, Dr.Jonas Glemža, chairman of the State commission of the Protection of Cultural Monuments, gave a lecture on the significance of the Lithuanian cultural heritage. Problems of immovable cultural heritage were drawn up by Arūnas Umbrasas, head of the Cultural Heritage Department of Panevėžys region. Titus Weijschede (the Netherlands ) gave an introduction on the importance of heritage and spatial planning in the Netherlands . The case of the fortified town of Naarden , an existing best practice case of revalorisation was presented by John Mulder, a researcher from the Netherlands . Artis Gustovskis, the Chairman of Kurzeme tourism association, presented regional cultural heritage and shared his point of view on problematic issues . A n extended explanation on the project of the “The future of the Narrow Gauge Railway” by Gintaras Kerbedis, the Director of the public enterprise (ASG), was presented emphasising the development of the Narrow Gauge Railway project to attract tourists and locals. Antanas Seibutis, a historical researcher from Biržai land museum “Sėla“ a detailed analysis and development overview of Biržai bastion fortress and Astravas manor. The issue of heritage and tourism was addressed by Daiva Tankūnaitė, the Director of the Tourism Information Centre of Panevėžys and Jurgita Blaževiciutė from Rokiškis District. The participants had the chance to enjoy a trip to the ancient Troškūnai monastery by the Narrow Gauge Railway during an excursion on the following day.
Short impression about the Narrow gauge railway (Sirka Ludtke, project coordination INTERREG IIIC Cultured)
Driving gentle through the landscape by the narrow gauge railway felt like three hours of meditation. Extended forest varied with pieces of open pastures. From time to time were the signs of human settlements visible, a cluster of farmhouses, a road we were crossing and the wooden architecture of train stations. Only one moment later we found ourselves again in another world: the old monastery of Troškūnai, which was restored only by private gifts. Late in the evening, after an afternoon full of music, atmosphere and an extended taste of the excellent Lithuanian kitchen, a see of candles along a food path delighted our way back to the narrow gauge railway.
More ... Newsletter 5

Project title: BALTIC TANGENT ( INTERREG IIIB)
Goal: Creation of a strategy partnership and activity plan for the implementation of an improved secondary transport network to the main BSR infrastructure corridors, by focusing on transport infrastructure as a means for labour market development, industrial growth and expanded trade flows in the Baltic Tangent region and, thus, as a fundamental prerogative for a positive sustainable socio economical development on local and regional level.
Result: A transnational infrastructure strategy for the BT cooperation area, a partnership and an activity plan for effective implementation of the results and conduct follow up activities for the realisation of the BT as a secondary infrastructure network with improved links to the BSR transport main infrastructure corridors.
Applicant: Regional Council in Kalmar County ( Sweden ).
Partners: Belarus , Denmark , Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania , Norway , Russia , Finland , Germany .
Duration: 2 years ( 2005-2006).
Budget: 1, 207, 450 Euros.

Project title: BALTIC BALANCE – INTEGRATED SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE ( INTERREG IIIB).
Goal: Elaboration of integrated settlement strategy based on urban and rural integration, elaboration of territory plans meeting community demands, entrepreneurship and service promotion in rural areas and improvement of living conditions.
Result: Integrated settlement structure.
Applicant: Kalmar County Administrative Board ( Sweden ).
Partners: Denmark , Estonia , Germany and Lithuania .
Duration: 36 months (2003-2006).
Budget: 1.5 million Euros.
Website: www.balticbalance.se

Project title: MASTER PLAN OF THE NEMUNAS MIDLAND RIVER BASIN
Financed by the Environment Project Management Agency and the national budget (former ISPA).
Goal: Elaboration of a strategic plan and setting up of technical environmental and financial priorities so that all water supply and waste water treatment objects of the cities located by the Nemunas midland basin were reconstructed until 31 December, 2009 in order to meet the requirements of the EC directive No 91/271. Master plan is based on detailed feasibility studies of the above mentioned objects. The project is implemented in the territories of 12 municipalities including Panevėžys city and district.
Result: Elaborated master plano of the Nemunas midland river basin.
Applicant: The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania .
Partners: Municipalities of Kaunas , Panevėžys and Marijampolė Counties .
Duration: 2003 – 2020. It will be implemented in 3 stages in the territories of Panevėžys city and district.
Budget: 45 million Euros.

Project title: MASTER PLAN OF THE LIELUPE-VENTA RIVER BASIN 2002-2011
Financed by the Environment Project Management Agency and the national budget (former ISPA).
Goal: Elaboration of a 10-year master plan for rehabilitation and extension of the water sector of the Lielupe – Venta river basin. The project includes the water supply and waste water treatment systems of the district settlements (over 500 inhabitants) of Biržai, Pasvalys Kupiškis, Rokiškis and Akmenė, Joniškis, Pakruojis, Šiauliai, Mažeikiai, Telšiai with more than 500 inhabitants. Project concept – evaluation of qualitative shortcomings and the service level of water treatment system of the Lielupe – Venta river basin territory conforming to the swim and the EU acts and standards. The project provides suggestions for the centralization of water treatment systems of the main cities and their neighbourhoods in economically profitable areas.
Result: Elaborated master plan of the Lielupe – Venta river basin 2002-2011.
Applicant: The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania .
Partners: Municipalities of Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Telšiai Counties.
Duration: 2002-2011
Budget: over 342 million Euros (over 90 m. Euros in Biržai, Pasvalys, Kupiškis and Rokiškis districts).

Project title: PANEVĖŽYS REGIONAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT (ISPA, EU Cohesion Fund 2000-2006).
Goal: Establishment of a new regional waste management centre responsible for the management of all activities related to waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal in Panevėžys County (until 2009). 98 dump sites which do not conform to the EU standards are to be shut down. Implementation of the feasibility studies of the state waste management system development and application for the EU Commission of the project were done by JACOBS GIBB ( England ) and UAB “Vilnius Consult” companies.
Result: Developed Panevėžys regional waste management system.
Applicant: Panevėžys County Governor‘s Administration.
Partners: Municipalities of Panevėžys County .
Duration: 2000-2006.
Budget: 19 million Euros.

Project title: REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS IN BUILDING NEW EUROPE ( PHARE SPF).
Goal: Establishment of partnership network for the transferring of experience to new EU members. Arrangement of a two-day workshop in Debrecen (2005). The focus – identification of joint development needs and interests in different sectors among the participating regions.
Result: Enhanced regional cooperative strategies, innovated new collaboration ideas and joint actions agreed upon.
Applicant: University of Debrecen ( Hungary ).
Partners: Universities, regional public authorities and developing companies and other institutions involved in regional development from Finland , Latvia , Lithuania , Slovakia and Slovenia . The participant interests match with the topics of seminar: innovation technology, sustainable energy resources and environment, education, entrepreneurship and rural development.
Duration: 8 months (2004-2005).
Budget: 30 000 Euros.

Project title: CAPACITY BUILDING IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN LITHUANIA AND ELABORATION OF A STRATEGY TO DIVERSIFY THE REGIONAL ECONOMIES OF THE WESTERN LITHUANIA AND PANEVĖŽYS REGIONS financed by the Ministry of Flemish Community .
Goal: Elaboration of a dynamic strategy of organic agriculture for Panevėžys County and a tourism development strategy in Western Lithuania .
Result: Action oriented strategies for tourism development in Western Lithuania and organic agriculture in Panevėžys County and 2 websites. Project concepts for the strategy implementation. The provision of a structure for the setting up of an organic agriculture Support Service in Panevėžys County and for the setting up of the Western Lithuanian taskforce to give advice on aspects related to tourism development.
Duration: 12 months (2003-2004)
Budget: 165 000 Euros
Website: www.organic.lt

Project title: PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE EU PROGRAMS – TRANSFER OF THE SWEDISH EXPERIENCE TO THE LITHUANIAN COUNTIES
SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency).
Goal: Development of administration culture and democratic working methods in Lithuania . The aspect of equal rights is involved here. Identification of wider cooperation forms among the Counties Administrations of Sweden and Lithuania and preparation of a joint application to INTERREG.
Result: Identified cooperation forms. The basis of the transferring of knowledge and know-how was created. Wider network of business contacts was. 20-50 Lithuanian government officials increased their practical knowledge and competence in the application of the EU funds and programs.
Applicant: Kalmar County Administrative Board.
Partners: Jonkoping , Kalmar , Blekinge Halland ( Sweden ) and Alytus, Panevėžys, Klaipėda , Utena ( Lithuania ).
Duration: 1 year (2003-2004).