1.2 million euros granted for NGO cooperation with neighbouring areas

Press release 55/2005
17 February, 2005

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted a total of 1,200,000 euros this year to support the neighbouring area cooperation of non-governmental organisations. By the end of the application period, 41 NGOs applied for support for 50 neighbouring area projects. In this year's application round, the Ministry granted support to 26 NGOs for 31 cooperation projects, and on the basis of the previous year's round, support was granted to 11 NGOs for 13 projects, i.e. a total of 1,140,144 euros. Moreover, 59,856 euros were reserved to support the self-financed parts of EU financed projects. The latter support may be applied for throughout the year.

The Ministry granted support particularly for projects aiming to strengthen the civil society and projects to be carried out in the social and health care and environmental sectors. Further, support was granted for projects to promote gender equality and to improve the position of women, children and young people. Priority was also given to projects concerning disabled people.

In their cooperation with neighbouring areas, non-governmental organisations focus on the northwestern regions of Russia, especially the Karelian Republic, the Leningrad region, the Murmansk region and St Petersburg. Projects are also carried out in the regions of Archangel, Novgorod, Kaliningrad and Pskov. The Baltic states' accession to the European Union made Finnish-Baltic cooperation normal cooperation between EU Member States. Support was granted for the completion of three projects going on in Baltic states. For the first time ever, NGOs could apply for support for projects to be implemented in the Ukraine and Belorussia, and two such applications were lodged. The Ministry granted support for a project in Belorussia.

It was possible for NGOs to apply for support for the years 2005 and 2006 at the same time. Of the projects supported this year, 19 will receive support also in 2006.

The amount of support granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to individual NGOs varies from some 2 000 euros to 60 000 euros. The Ministry will inform all applicant NGOs about its decision and the terms and conditions for payment of the support by letter on week 8.

The application round for support to NGOs for neighbouring area cooperation in 2006 and 2007 will start in summer 2005.

Further information: Ms Minni Hyrkkänen, Temporary Chief Administrator, Unit for Cooperation with Neighbouring Areas, tel. 09 160 55610, email: [email protected]