European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation (ENI CBC)
Cross-border cooperation supports social and economic development along EU’s external borders, provides a response to joint challenges in such areas as the environment, health and crime and boosts the movement of people, goods and capital. By promoting the sharing of experiences and dissemination of best practices, cross-border cooperation helps to strengthen competitiveness in the border areas, the creation of international networks and economic growth.
Three ENI CBC programmes are currently under way on the border between Finland and Russia: Kolarctic, Karelia and South-East Finland-Russia. The programmes, which will cover the period 2014 - 2020, are a continuation to the programmes implemented between 2007 and 2013.
Even though each ENI CBC programme has its own themes there are also joint priorities: business development, environmental protection, border management and border security. The regions involved are responsible for the content and implementation of the programmes.
ENI CBC programmes are co-financed and based on equal partnership. Half of the financing for the programmes along the border between Finland and Russia comes from the EU, while the remaining 50 per cent is provided by the participating countries.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine – impacts on programme implementation
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has changed the operating environment of the ENI CBC programmes on the Finnish-Russian border. The European Commission has frozen the funding agreements of the programmes, which halts the implementation of the programmes with Russia. The preparations for the 2021−2027 programming period have ceased.
Finland and the Commission share the common objective of winding down the ENI CBC 2014–2020 programmes in as controlled a manner as possible in order to limit the harm caused to the beneficiaries of aid and the authorities managing the programmes in the EU.
For more information about ENI CBC programmes, go to structuralfunds.fi and the websites of the individual programmes.
Further information: petri.haapalainen(at)gov.fi