The Lithuanian port of Klaipeda will be allowed to receive a grant of €18 million from the EU Cohesion Fund for new ferry facilities.
The European Commission authorised the measure, on 22 February, after concluding that it is compatible with EU state aid rules. The executive found that the extension and improvement of wharves for the new passenger and freight ferry facilities in Klaipeda were necessary to improve Lithuania’s accessibility by sea and to boost regional development without compromising the functioning of neighbouring ferry terminals.
The Commission considered in its review the fact that the port authority had carried out an open tender for the selection of the company that will build the new infrastructure, that rental payments for the wharves are adequate and that public financing corresponds to the identified funding gap.
[mappress]
Dredging Today Staff, February 29, 2012; Image: portofklaipeda