A key objective of Finland's cooperation with its neighbouring areas is to support economic and social development in the regions and to promote the preconditions of cooperation between the public authorities, business life and citizens.
Neighbouring area cooperation is an integral part of Finland's foreign policy. The cooperation is carried out in accordance with Finland's Strategy for Cooperation in the Neighbouring Areas, adopted by the Government on 22 April 2004. The Unit for Regional Cooperation in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the coordination of matters related to neighbouring area cooperation.
In the cooperation, particular emphasis is laid on the promotion of economic cooperation, which will receive one third of the appropriations in the current year. Other areas of cooperation include promotion of environmental protection and nuclear safety, combat of the spread of risks related to contagious diseases and drugs, and support of civil society development and administrative and legislative reforms.
In the years from 1990 to 2009, Finland allocated about EUR 293 million to projects carried out jointly with Russia.
Finland's neighbouring area cooperation with Russia is based on an agreement between the countries, signed in 1992.
The cooperation focuses on Northwest Russia, especially the Republic of Karelia, the Leningrad and Murmansk oblasts and St Petersburg. Economic cooperation in particular can be conducted also with other regions in Russia that are important for Finland.
In the Budget for 2010, a total of EUR 19.5 million is reserved for neighbouring area cooperation under the main title of expenditure of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (item 24.20.66; Neighbouring area cooperation). Given the EUR 1.6 million allocated to neighbouring area cooperation in other ministries’ main titles of expenditure, the total amount of funds for neighbouring area cooperation in 2010 amounts to EUR 21.1 million.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will allocate a total of EUR 18.7 million from its item for neighbouring area cooperation to projects to be carried out in Russia. A total of EUR 9.2 million has been earmarked to projects in one area and the sum is distributed as follows: EUR 4.5 million to St Petersburg, EUR 2.3 million to Leningrad oblast, EUR 1.3 million to the Republic of Karelia and EUR 1.1 million to Murmansk oblast. In addition, EUR 0.2 million has been allocated to other regions in Northwest Russia.
Projects conducted in more than one region in Northwest Russia are given EUR 6.1 million, focusing on St Petersburg, Leningrad oblast, the Republic of Karelia and Murmansk oblast. Other regions are also involved in the projects, such as Komi Republic and the Archangelsk and Vologda oblasts. EUR 3.2 million has been reserved for projects that can be carried out also in areas beyond Northwest Russia.
Finnish NGOs' projects in the neighbouring areas have been allocated EUR 1.5 million in 2010. The start-up and development of Finnish small and medium sized enterprises in Russia is supported by EUR 0.8 million.
Finland`s strategy for cooperation in its neighbouring areas (accepted 2004)
Content administrator Unit for Regional Cooperation
Updated 5/14/2010