FINAL STATEMENT

FINAL STATEMENT BALTIC ASSEMBLY R E S O L U T I O N ON THE PROMOTION OF MAKING USE OF EU SUPPORT The Baltic Assembly, taking into consideration the approaching membership of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the European Union; noting the importance of the co-operation between the Baltic Sea Region states - the member states of the European Union and the candidate countries; with a view to strengthening regional integration, developing socio-economic co-operation and cultural exchange, appeals to the Baltic Council of Ministers and the Governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and proposes: 1) to strengthen the co-operation of candidate countries and other Baltic Sea Region countries on the level of regional and local authorities; 2) to strengthen administrative capacities for the absorption of EU financial assistance; 3) to actively develop joint projects for the Small Project Fund within the framework of the Phare Cross-border Co-operation Programme, thus making more effective use of the support provided by the European Union; 4) to support EU initiatives aimed at cross-border, regional and international co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region, and propose to further include the Baltic States, prior to the end of accession negotiations, in European Union initiatives and programmes in which member states of the European Union participate. Vilnius, 25 May 2002