Cooperation with the European Union
NORTHERN DIMENSION
The Nordic Council of Ministers is taking part in the Northern Dimension partnership with the European Union and Russia. The participation of the Nordic Council of Ministers is on the basis that the partnership creates added value in relation to what the countries could achieve on their own and with the requirement that it is to Nordic advantage. Both under the auspices of the Council of Ministers and on a national basis the Nordic countries have played an active role in the development of the activities in the majority of the Northern Dimension's joint co-operation areas: economy, justice and home affairs, research, education and culture with the exception of external security. Moreover, through the Council of Ministers, the countries have taken part in multi-lateral co-operation in environmental affairs and health and social affairs within the partnership.
The Nordic Council of Ministers participates in the Northern Dimension's Partnership for Public Health and Well-being. The Council of Ministers participates in this partnership on an equal footing with the other participants, in all 13 countries and eight international organisations, yet without having to contribute to the running of the secretariat. The main priority of the partnership is to fight contagious diseases (with particular focus on HIV/AIDS) and life-style related illnesses, as well as to promote physical and social well-being through activities, diet, living habits and relationships. The Council of Ministers prioritises the development of activities which focus on ventures for vulnerable children and young people as well as to combat trafficking in human beings.
The Council of Ministers participates in the Northern Dimension's environmental partnership principally within the framework of the Nordic financial institutions because the environmental partnership deals with a range of major infrastructure projects. This co-operation is complemented by efforts by sectors in the environmental area, which is considered important to start up activities in North-West Russia.
More about the Northern Dimension is here.
BEN-EAST (Baltic Euroregional Network - EAST)
The Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office in Kaliningrad is a member of BEN-EAST project partnership aimed at strengthening Euroregions and CBC regions in Russia and Belarus with a purpose to increase their role in development of the Baltic Sea region.
The partnership unites 14 members representing all North-Western Russian border regions and several Belorussian Euroregions. The Lead Partner of BEN-EAST is the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in St. Petersburg. The partners from the Kaliningrad region, besides NCM Office in Kaliningrad, are Kaliningrad Regional Duma (representing “Euroregion Baltic”) and Kaliningrad regional bureau of “Euroregion Sheshupe”, Krasnoznamensk municipality.
BEN-EAST is a complementary project to already ongoing BSR INTERREG III B NP project “Baltic Euroregional Network” (BEN). The BEN project has started in July 2005, and finishes in December 2007. BEN-EAST seeks to contribute to the BEN network by putting especial focus on Russian and Belarusian Euroregions/CBC regions. The overall objective of the BEN-EAST project is to increase capacity of the CBC regions/Euroregions in Russia and Belarus by providing them with possibility to take equal part in the activities of the Baltic Euroregional Network.
Duration of the BEN-East is 21 month (April 2007-December 2008). That means that the project will be implemented in parallel with BEN until the end of 2007, and then continue independently until the end of 2008.
Edited 04 October 2007.
