The Government granted 23.5 million euros for neighbouring area cooperation this year
Press release 22/2007
8 February, 2007
On Thursday, 8 February the Government approved the plan for the use of appropriations for neighbouring area cooperation in 2007. A total of about 26.3 million euros has been reserved for neighbouring area cooperation this year; this sum is divided so that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs receives about 23.5 million euros and the other ministries about 2.8 million euros.
Finland’s neighbouring area cooperation focuses on North-West Russia, especially the City of St. Petersburg, the Leningrad Region, the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk Region.
Neighbouring area cooperation strives to promote strengthening of civil society and rule of law, environment protection and nuclear safety, and reform of administration and legislation. In addition, cooperation combats threats associated with infectious diseases, drugs and organised crime.
The distribution of neighbouring area appropriations takes account of the principles and priorities set out in Finland’s Strategy for Cooperation in Neighbouring Areas. The most funds are allocated for the environment, nuclear and radiation safety, social and health care, education and strengthening of civil society and for development of agriculture and forestry. Each year more than 200 projects are carried out.
The majority of the projects are bilateral. Cooperation is also implemented with international financial institutions and organisations. During the present year, 2 million euros in neighbouring cooperation funds will be allocated to the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) Support Fund, for environment projects to be carried out in North-West Russia. Finland’s funding in the years 2002–2009 totals 18 million euros.
In all, some 18.2 million euros are targeted for projects carried out in Russia. By geographical area, neighbouring cooperation appropriations are distributed so that most of the projects, jointly worth a total of about 9.4 million euros, are focused on more than one region of North-West Russia. The target areas of such projects are usually four regions, i.e. St. Petersburg, the Leningrad Region, the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk Region. In addition, some projects focus on the Komi Republic and the regions of Kaliningrad, Archangelsk, Pskov and Vologda.
The following appropriations are for projects focusing on only one area of North-West Russia: St. Petersburg, about 0.5 million euros; Murmansk Region, about 0.9 million euros; Leningrad Region, about 2.4 million euros; the Republic of Karelia, about 1.1 million euros, Pskov Region, about 0.4 million euros; and the Komi Republic, about 0.1 million euros. Several projects in the environment sector and in the social and health care sector increase the allocations for Leningrad Region. The sum of approximately 3.4 million euros has been allocated for projects carried out at the Russian Federation level. Civil society projects in neighbouring areas were granted 1.3 million euros.
Additional information: Director Petri Salo, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Unit of Cooperation with Neighbouring Areas, Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, tel. +358 9 1605 5625