Transcript Importance of the cross-border cooperation for the present and

Importance of the Cross-border Cooperation
for the Present and Future
Birgit Autere
Ulkoasiainministeriö
9.12.2014
Main Topics of the Presentation
• Finnish- Russian Cooperation since 1992
• Importance of the Kolarctic Programme for Barents
Cooperation
• Benefits of ENPI CBC Programmes
• Cross-border Cooperation as Confidence Building
Measure
• Success Factors behind the CBC Programmes
• Challenges
Finnish- Russian Cross-border Cooperation since
1992
• Bilateral Neighbourhood Area Cooperation and InterregTacis have been predecessors to ENPI programmes
• ENPI CBC Programmes based on the good practices of
Neighbourhood Area Cooperation and Interreg-Tacis
Neighbourhood Programmes
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Neighbouring Area Cooperation 1992 - 2012
Interreg 1996 - 2004
Interreg-Tacis Neighbourhood Programmes 2004 - 2006
ENPI CBC Programmes 2007 - 2013
ENI CBC Programmes 2014 - 2020
Agreements for Bilateral Cooperation
• Finnish-Russian Neighbouring Area Agreement
concluded in 1992
• Finnish-Russian Agreement on Promotion of Crossborder Cooperation signed in 2012
Bilateral Finnish-Russia Neighborhood Area Cooperation
1992-2012
• Set a model for the ENPI CBC Programmes co-financed
by the EU
• Finland channeled in 20 years approximately 330 MEUR
• Yearly nearly 200 projects executed between
authorities, institutions, companies, regional and local
actors and NGOs. All in all 2500 projects executed over
the years.
• Cooperation focused on the North-Western regions of
the Russian Federation, especially the Republic of
Karelia, the Murmansk Region, the Leningrad Region
and the City of St. Petersburg
Bilateral Finnish-Russia Neighborhood Area
Cooperation 1992-2012
• Integral part of Finland's foreign and security
policy.
• MFA administered and coordinated the
cooperation.
• To mirror against the historical background, the
significance of the cooperation was the
establishment of networks, exchange of
experiences and information between different
actors.
Bilateral Finnish-Russia Neighborhood Area Cooperation
1992-2012
• One of the concrete outcomes was contribution to
wastewater treatment plants in St Petersburg.
• Finland demonstrated with well-functioning
Neighbouring Area Cooperation that it is worth investing
in EU's external borders.
• Neighbourhood cooperation know-how perceived as
export product for other EU external borders.
Neighbouring Area Cooperation 2000-2012
Termination of the Neighbouring Area Cooperation
• Need for change: major changes in operating
environment
• New way of cooperating – equal partnership
• EU's Cross-border Cooperation Programmes evolved
• Finnish Government emphasis on EU external border
cooperation programmes
• Increased regional cooperation in the Baltic Sea, Barents
and Arctic regions
Importance of Kolarctic Programme for the Barents
Cooperation
• The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (national level) and
Barents Regional Council (regional level) since 1993.
• Strengthen cooperation, stability and sustainable
development in the Northernmost regions of Finland,
Norway, Russia and Sweden.
• Barents working groups cover 11 different sectors and
the indigenous peoples cooperation.
• Priorities of the Finnish BEAC Chairmanship 2013-2015:
Economic cooperation incl. transport and logistics;
Environment and Climate Change; Youth.
Financing of Barents Cooperation
• Kolarctic ENPI CBC Programme 2007-2013 has been
the most important source of project financing.
• Project examples:
-Barents Freeway Project
-Public-private partnership in Barents tourism
(BART)
-Children and Youth at Risk in the Barents
region
-New Horizons 2013-2014 (Culture)
Kolarctic CBC Financing 2014-2020 in Barents Projects
Positive:
• Objectives of Barents cooperation have been taken into
consideration in the planning of new Kolarctic CBC
programme. Kolarctic programme financing can be
targeted to activities supporting the Barents cooperation
and other Euro-Arctic cooperation.
• Coherence with the priorities of the Barents Working
Groups and Arctic strategies of the participating countries
ensured
• Kolarctic geographical area will cover almost the whole
Barents area
Kolarctic CBC financing 2014-2020 in Barents projects
Shortages:
• No financing available before 2016
• Financing gaps: small projects (<200.000€); health
and social sector projects
The Role of the Central Government in Cross-border
Cooperation
• To create a conducive, able environment for cross-border
cooperation work.
• Cross-border cooperation between the regions and for the
benefit of the region.
• Cross-border cooperation is cooperation between regions
on both sides of the border with the support of the central
government of the participating countries and EU.
The Role of the Central Government in Cross-border
Cooperation
• In Finnish ENPI programmes central government has
understood its role. Regions sit on the driver's seat.
• CBC on EU external borders perceived as cooperation for
integrated and sustainable regional development and for
harmonious territorial integration across the EU external
border.
Role of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in
Cross-border Cooperation
• Responsible for external aspects of the political
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framework
Keeping CBC in the foreign policy agenda
Member of the Joint Monitoring Committee
ENI Committee representation – involved in ENPI/ENI
legal framework negotiations process
Advocating CBC at national and EU level (lobbying for
ENI CBC finances
Chairmanship of the Finnish-Russia Border Traffic and
Border Infrastructure Development Working Group
(dealing with LIPs priority list)
ENPI CBC Benefits from the Central Government Point of
View
• Since ownership of CBC programmes in the regions, level
of activity increases per se
• Day-to-day CBC contacts between the authorities
augment
• Combines foreign policy interests with regional
development and cooperation needs of the border
regions
• Border crossing capacity increased (LSPs)
• Instrument to underpin and complement EU's Northern
Dimension policies and Arctic Council policy development.
Cross-border Cooperation as Confidence Building
Measure
• Rapprochement through joint actions creating
positive atmosphere
• Tool for maintaining concrete cooperation with
Russia
• Creating culture of trust
• Permanent cooperation mechanism, automatically
improves relations
• Best of the cases cooperation not undermined by
politics in the capitals
Critical Views on EU CBC Funding
• Heavy reliance on EU funding for cross-border contacts.
If no EU funding for CBC, like years 2015-2016,
immediate interruption of activities and contacts?
• Cross-border cooperation should be integrated into all
activities in the border regions, not depend on
programmes. Cross-border cooperation not only in the
framework of the CBC programme.
Success Factors behind the CBC Programmes
• Existing cooperation mechanisms in place with all countries
in the North long before the CBC programmes, tradition of
cooperation
• Strong regional identity, traditionally state borders not
known in Lapland
• Regional Councils as Managing Authorities for CBC
programmes, possess long experience in programme
implementation and ensuring good governance
• Strong regional emphasis, decision making in the regions,
jointly decided priorities, respective regional councils in the
best position to identify regional needs. Towards stronger
linkage between regional strategies and EU funds
Cross-border Cooperation Challenges
• Delayed start of programme implementation
• EU-Russian political relations
-Finalization of ENI CBC Programmes
-Ratification of Financing Agreements
-Approval of Large Investment Projects
• EU sanctions looming upon CBC and possible Russian
counter-sanctions (i.e. EBRD)
• Restructuring of ministries in the Russian Federation
• Economic development on both sides of the border
Lessons Learnt
• CBC advocacy work pays off at EU level. More flexible CBC
Implementing Rules and ENI Regulation reflecting more
CBC work, not development assistance. In addition, CBC
sanctions avoided.
• Programmes have strengthened the stability, economic
development and cohesion on and around the border
regions. CBC programmes have demonstrated a clear
benefit for both sides of the border and a real cross
border character.
• The domino effect of a prolonged legal framework
formulation, delayed programming of new-generation ENI
CBC programmes and foreseen long selection and
contracting process lead eventually to minimal
implementation period.
Lessons Learnt
• Regions on both side of the border should be fully
committed to cross-border cooperation in order to make
it work
• A great percentage of absorption of EU funds - excellent
implementation capacity at programme level
• Cooperation and joint action per se are valuable
• Partnership building takes time, learning by doing
together
Importance of the CBC for the Future
• Results-oriented, practical cooperation in bordering
areas needed in the future despite the prevailing
international political situation
• ”Fading out the borders”
• For the sake of mobility of people and promotion of
people-to-people contacts
• Cross-border cooperation has been and will continue
to be a key priority for the Government of Finland
Questionnaire for NGOs and civil
society actors
• http://www.beac.st/questionnaire
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NGOs and other civil society actors in the Barents
region are invited to fill in the questionnaire
regarding their cross-border project financing
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The answers will contribute to gathering
information concerning the financial needs and the
existing financing sources in cross-border
cooperation in the Barents region. The website will
be open until 20 January 2015.
Esityksen nimi / Tekijä
31.3.2017
26
Thank You
and
Merry Christmas!