Minister Väyrynen: The Wider Europe Initiative promotes Pan-European cooperation

Press release 193/2009
14 July, 2009

On 14 July, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen participated in the stakeholder meeting of the Wider Europe Initiative, organised in Helsinki. A wide range of NGOs, agencies, institutions and companies had been invited to the meeting. A preliminary plan outlining the intended implementation of the initiative during 2009-2013 was also published during the meeting.

In his address, Minister Väyrynen stated that the Wider Europe Initiative will complement the Finnish foreign and security policy in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia by development policy measures. The name of the framework programme for development policy refers both to the target area and the programme’s objective to promote Pan-European cooperation and integration encompassing the continent as a whole.

“The Wider Europe Initiative partially coincides with the EU’s Eastern Partnership, but there are also fundamental differences between the two. Firstly, the Eastern Partnership does not include Central Asia. Secondly, at least in its initial phases, the Eastern Partnership has been a limiting factor for cooperation, since the biggest partner Russia was left outside the Partnership. Later, it was decided that third countries have an opportunity to participate in multilateral cooperation projects. The observer status of Russia and other third countries still remains unresolved,” the Minister continued.

Väyrynen emphasised that the Wider Europe Initiative aims to widely promote stability and prosperity in our partner countries as well as in the European region as a whole. The Initiative strives to promote mutual cooperation and integration between the partner countries with help of three regional development policy programmes. In addition, the Initiative aims to develop circumstances under which the states and peoples in the region can maintain friendly relations and close cooperation between them, as well as with the EU and Russia. The framework programme aims for Pan-European cooperation striving to end and prevent conflicts and promote mutual understanding and cooperation, the Minister underlined.

The framework programme aims to promote ecologically, economically and socially sustainable development. It outlines the common themes which will be implemented in each of the regions in accordance with its own circumstances, needs and priorities. The implementation of the Initiative will be conducted in cooperation with, for instance, the EU and its member states, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the OSCE, the UN funds and agencies, the World Bank Group, and the neighbouring areas of the partner countries.

Within the next few years, Finland will double the allocations granted under the development cooperation operating and financial plan for the Wider Europe Initiative from the current level of approximately EUR 8 million. The funding received from cooperation partners will further enhance the effectiveness of the activities.

Additional information: Advisor to the Minister Päivi Nevala, tel. +358 9 1605 6171, and Counsellor Matti Kääriäinen, Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, tel. +358 40 801 2930

• Wider Europe Initiative – Framework Programme for Finland’s Development Policy – Implementation Plan for 2009–2013 (Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)(PDF, 1,7 MB)