Nordic interest in Russia

15 MPs from the Nordic Council are heading for the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions of Russia on 16 May. The politicians will meet their Russian colleagues and learn more about the challenges facing the two Russian regions.
"I am delighted by the great interest my colleagues in the Nordic Council are showing to learn more about Russia, and that this is happening in a period of enhanced Nordic-Russian relations," said Sinikka Bohlin, member of the Presidium of the Nordic Council. Bohlin will lead the Nordic delegation during the visit.
For five days, the MPs will, among other things, study the development of the infrastructure in the port of Primorsk, learn more about co-operation between the Nordic countries and the Russian city of Vyborg and visit the Duma in Kaliningrad.
"I am very much looking forward to hearing some of the presentations, for example, the one on human trafficking. The Nordic countries and Northwest Russia are already co-operating a great deal in health and social issues. Perhaps we can further intensify our co-operation?", says Siv Friðleifsdóttir, chair of the Welfare Committee in the Nordic Council, before the study visit.
Future Nordic-Russian parliamentary co-operation will be discussed during a round table meeting in Bergen on Thursday 27 May.
The Nordic Council of Ministers' Information Offices in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad will also contribute to the programme during the visit of the Nordic Council.