RIGA, Oct 12 (LETA) - Municipalities of Riga Metropolis from Riga and Pieriga in cooperation with the Ukrainian Association of Small Cities will organize seminars for Ukrainian municipalities, LETA learned from Riga Metropolis spokeswoman Inese Ozolina.

During the first webinar today, Salaspils Siltums and Liepajas Energija utilities shared their experience in introducing alternative centralized heating systems that promotes energy independence from imported energy resources and helps to reduce costs.

Future webinars will share experience in organizing distance learning in general schools and rational use of land properties in municipalities.

The goal of the seminars is to hand over good practice examples that would help war-stricken municipalities to organize renovation of their infrastructures more efficiently, including by using EU funds.

"This continues the cooperation agreement signed with Ukrainian cities in May. With Ukrainian mayors we have discussed the necessary type of support and agreed that one of the ways would be transfer of expertise that would help Ukrainian municipalities to reconstruct. The EU is ready to provide funds, therefore Latvia will share its experience in absorption of EU funds and meeting the necessary requirements," said Riga Metropolis executive director Kristine Cinkus.

Riga Metropolis joins the territories of Riga and eight Pieriga municipalities - Adazi, Kekava, Marupe, Olaine, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saulkrasti and Sigulda.