Nordic countries, EU and Russia to discuss cross-border cooperation in Kaliningrad

Press release 200/2007
10 October, 2007

The Conference on Cross-border Cooperation, to be held in Kaliningrad on 11–12 October, will focus on cross-border cooperation between the Russian Federation, the EU and the Nordic countries. Alongside cross-border cooperation, conference participants will discuss opportunities for strengthening regional economic cooperation and promotion of networking among various organisations.

The conference organisers are the Nordic Council of Ministers, the European Union and the Russian authorities of Kaliningrad. Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2007. The conference participants will include politicians and civil servants from the Nordic countries, Russia and the EU.

Talks at the conference will be given, among others, by EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Secretary-General Halldór Ásgrímsson of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and Minister for Nordic Cooperation Jan Vapaavuori of Finland.

At the moment, the Kaliningrad Region belonging to Russia and situated between EU countries Poland and Lithuania is experiencing a strong economic upswing. Besides the mother country, Russia, the EU and the Nordic countries are currently investing in the region, which had long been troubled by poverty, crime and drug problems.

Thanks to investments made, the region’s economy has grown at a faster pace than the average for Russia. The standard of living, however, is still considerably weaker than in the neighbouring Poland and Lithuania.

The Nordic Council of Ministers has an office in Kaliningrad, which was opened last year.

Additional information: Harri Mäki-Reinikka, Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, tel. +358 9 1605 5557, and Senior Advisor Caj Söderlund, tel. +358 9 1605 5561