Examples of cross border activities

The Interreg A programmes operating on the external borders of the EU have been implemented in North Karelia since 1997. The programme area of Interreg II A Karelia and III A Karelia consist of the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu and North Karelia in Finland. The main co-operating partner region in Russia is the Republic of Karelia. During both programming periods youth co-operation projects also have been funded by the programmes. As only the costs incurred by Finnish actors have been eligible for Interreg funding, the costs of Russian project actors have been financed mostly by the Tacis CBC programme or from funds for Neighbouring Areas provided by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The neighbourhood programmes, combining Tacis and Interreg funding, have been operating along the Finnish-Russian border since 2004. At present the Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood programme with a focus on youth work is being implemented in North Karelia. Various different types of activities have been financed by the programme, e.g. the internationalisation of promising, but non-established bands, the support of student activities carried out at schools, a healthy lifestyle for children, anti-drug work and projects promoting the cross-border activities of youth and youth workers.

With regards to business, the programme has funded several projects on promoting companie`s internationalisation, export to Russia and sub-contracting in Russia. Also, education projects have focussed on training the staff of companies for Russian co-operation. In research and education projects, e.g. training structures are compared, the future needs in training and employment are estimated for different fields on the both sides of the border, and adult and additional training are developed.

Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme

• http://www.euregiokarelia.fi/EN/

17.9.2009 12:53

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