EU-Russian cooperation on cross-border projects advances
"The EU and Russia are capable and ready to cooperate in the areas where their interests coincide. I am confident that these Programs will boost cooperation in neighbouring areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia and help find common solutions to joint challenges", commented Markus Ederer, EU Ambassador to the Russian Federation, on the ratification of three cross-border cooperation financing agreements by Russia.
The Programs will focus inter alia on preservation of historical and cultural heritage, promotion of social inclusion, cooperation for clean natural environment and efficient management of natural resources, joint actions for effective border management and security, cooperation for increasing accessibility of regions, promotion of innovation capacities, sustainable transport and communication models. Thematic objectives of all these Programs were jointly approved by Russia, the EU, and bordering EU Member States in accordance with national programs and strategies.
The total EU institutional financing contribution to all EU–Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programs for the period until 2020 amounts to €178.1 million. The contribution of the Russian Federation amounts to €91.3 million and the contribution of the EU Member States to €51.2 million.
The EU-Russia Cross-Border Cooperation is a positive example of how much can be achieved by joint efforts in a constructive and positive environment, primarily for the good of the people in border areas. Previous EU-Russia Cross-Border Cooperation programs proved to be very successful, bringing tangible benefits in quality of life of citizens on both sides of the border, such as modernization of heating systems in schools and hospitals; modernization of border crossing points; or implementing ecological education, to name a few examples.
The EU Delegation to Russia trusts that the Russian state bodies will complete as soon as possible the ratification of other pending financing agreements which could pave the way for the implementation of the following Cross-Border programs: "Estonia-Russia", "Latvia-Russia", "Lithuania – Russia", "Poland – Russia" and the Baltic Sea Region Transnational Program.