Russian national BSR Interreg IIIB sub-committee

The seminar was arranged by the Leontief Centre on behalf and with the support of the Baltic Sea Region Interreg IIIB partnership, the Committee on Spatial Development in the Baltic Sea Region (VASAB) and Saint-Petersburg City Administration.

The seminar was based on the conclusions of the first Consultation meeting on Russian and Belarussian participation in the BSR Interreg III B programme (Helsinki, 5 September 2000) and aimed for enhancing linkages between EU and non-EU countries.

The strategic objective of the seminar was to facilitate partnerships with the North-West regions of Russia by generating joint projects within the new phase of the transnational EU Initiative BSR Interreg III B programme.

104 participants took part at the seminar including 41 representatives from EU and candidate countries and 63 participants from Russian North-West region and Republic of Belarus.

This paper provides for the brief summary of the main messages connected with seminar objectives. Full versions of the most presentations and some additional information concerning seminar and its results are available at the www-site: http://www.leontief.net (section “What`s new ?”).

From St. Petersburg side the seminar was opened by Mr. Kirill Avdeev, Head of the Board for External Economic co-operation, Committee for External Affairs, City of Saint-Petersburg Administration.

1) EU regional co-operation programs and East-West focus in the new phase of the Interreg programs

Mr. Marten Johansson (Ministry of the Interior, Finland) informed seminar participants about purpose and instruments for the EU intervention in the Baltic Sea Region and the Barents area and the role of the concept of Northern Dimension to the development of Northern areas seen from the European perspective.

The special emphasis in presentation was placed on the role of Russian participation in trans-national co-operation[1] and steps has been already done for fostering this process in light of new transnational Interreg programme. Among such steps the following actions were mentioned:

Mr. Bernard Heinrichs (Ministry for Labour and Construction, Germany) presented the Baltic Sea Region Spatial Development Concept – VASAB 2010 Plus which is the revised version of VASAB 2010- conceptual basis for the Interreg programme. Six following key themes for transnational co-operation in spatial development were enumerated as leading issues of the VASAB 2010 Plus Spatial Development Action Programme:

2. Strategic development zones important for transnational integration within the BSR;

3. Transnational transport links important for integration across-BSR and with Europe;

Presentation of Mr. Yury Deryabin, Director of the Centre for northern Europe, Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russian Federation was devoted to problems regarding to implementation of transborder co-operation projects (improvement of interoperability between EU programmes Tacis, Phare, Interreg; financial component optimization of the “Northern Dimension” of EU`s policy etc).

Mr. Deryabin informed seminar participants about the idea of some kind of special Baltic Investment Bank (or so called Venture Capital Agency) foundation which had been raised by the Baltic Development Fund (Copenhagen).

The speaker noted that the process of future transborder co-operation will depend on the way problems connected with EU enlargement would be solved. Mr. Deryabin also stressed importance and necessity to undertake a number of measures at federal level in Russia for successful transborder projects implementation, including “Northern Dimension”. The speaker mentioned the lack of clear federal regional policy and lack of division of power (in particular in the field of international economic relations) between federal Centre of Russian Federation and Russian regions as problems hampering projects implementation.

Mr. Deryabin also noted the actuality of sub-regional transborder co-operation concept elaboration in Russia, the necessity of improvement of the Russian legislation, as well as of more flexible approach from the federal level to the problems of transborder co-operation.

Presentation of Mr. Esben Poulsen (European Commission Regional Policy DG/Unit B.1) was devoted to the framework overview of European Structural Funds, its structure, budget and its interrelation with the Interreg Initiative.

EU Interreg Initiative budget (2000-2006) amounts 4.9 billion euro or 48 % of total Community Initiatives budget (compared with 3.6 billion euro of Interreg budget for 1994-1999). Interreg IIIB budget comes to 1.3 billion euro. Mr. Poulsen stressed the importance of successful implementation of Interreg IIIB projects for the further perspective of such programmes.

The seminar participants were informed about some results of Russian participation in transnational co-operation for spatial development under the Interreg IIC by Mr. Wilfried Gormar (Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, Germany).

21 partners from Russian regions (mainly St. Petersburg, Republic of Karelia and Kaliningrad Oblast but also Leningrad, Pskov and Murmansk Oblast) take part in 15 projects of INTERREG II C. 2 projects receive together 18 000 Euro support from Tacis programme. For participation in 9 projects all together 700 000 Euro had been requested from Tacis.

Mr. Gormar declared the intention to support not only participation of partners but active project work inside the Russian region in transnational context during the new phase of Interreg programme – Interreg IIIB. The participation of Russian partners (travel costs) can now be covered from INTERREG. But for real project work however, applicants from Russian regions and from Belarus have to ask for funding from Tacis or other sources. From INTERREG Secretariat an advisor will give support to Russian and other East European regions and applicants, some decision-makers might be present in both (INTERREG III B and Tacis) decision-making bodies.

Mr. Giovanni Cremonini (Delegation of European Commission in Russian) assessed some options for co-funding for Russian partners and noted the complexity of task to co-ordinate Tacis and Interreg programmes, but he also stated that some progress in this direction had already been achieved. As regards the most flexible existing tools for Russian partners co-financing, Mr. Cremonini mentioned such instruments as: Tacis CBC programme (according to Tacis CBC Indicative Programme 30 mln Euro is envisaged annually) and so called “Baltic line” (special budget line for the Baltic Sea which are allocated to the Baltic Sea region (including Barents Sea region) and generally amounts 10-12 mln Euro).

Seminar participants was provided with the following information in the result of further discussion on procedures matter:

Mr. Valery Shlyamin (Ministry of Foreign Relations, Republic of Karelia, Russia), chaired the second part of plenary session, noted the great practical value of such experts seminars devoted to discussion of different problems and search of optimal options for co-operation. He expressed satisfaction with respect to practical outcomes of Consultation meeting on Russian and Belarus participation in the Baltic Sea Region Interreg IIIB programme (mentioned above). In particular Mr. Shlyamin noted considerable improvement of the final version of the Community Initiative Interreg IIIB for the BSR 2000-2006 in comparison with the one presented at the Helsinki. It concerns the following aspects, which are of high importance for EU counties, Russia and Belarus in light of future mutual co-operation:

Mr. Shlyamin in the name of North-West regions of Russia expressed extreme anxiety with respect to results (concrete project results) of Northern Dimension program implementation. He noted that Russian sub-regions do not satisfied with such unhurried process and mechanical collection of project ideas from Russian regions without using of spatial planning principles. Referring to future presidency of Russia in Baltic Council, Mr. Shlyamin expressed hope that such situation will give excellent opportunities for Russia to co-operate more efficiently in sphere of transfer of spatial planning experience to Russian North-West as pilot region. The latter in turn will contribute to preparation of more scientific-based project proposals, expressing Russian interests.

Mr. Shlyamin also stressed urgent necessity to increase Tacis and Interreg interoperability and to differentiate the roles of Barents and Baltic seas and to fix it on documentary basis.

2) Good practice from European and Russian partners in joint EU co-operation projects

The four transnational projects with spatial focus were presented during this session as successful examples of transnational co-operation:

Mr. Walter Leal Filho (Technical University, Hamburg, Germany) acquainted conference participants with the main idea of transnational project “Baltic Environmental Information Dissemination System” which having been implemented in the frame of Interreg IIC programme.

Mrs. Marina Butorina, (Baltic State Technical University “VOENMECH”, St. Petersburg, Russia) representative of Russian partner of BEIDS project - noted importance of Russian engagement in the project. Russian participation in the project gives certain opportunities for Russian potential project partners and interested actors. It enables not only to get valuable environmental information, but also to present information concerning different environmental activities and events, project ideas and disseminate it through the created network (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, EU countries).

Mr. Martti Ahokas (Director (regional planning) of Regional Council of Central Finland (Keski-Suomen Liitto) informed that an overall objective of the project had been to establish, to encourage and to support a network of spatial actors. Mr. Ahokas referred to the list for potential project (9 projects) in near future as to one of the most important project`s results.

Mr. Ahokas indicated a number of following bottlenecks project participants was faced with during the process:

Presented by Mr. Andrey Berezkin (SUPORTNET Russia project) project (initiated in frame of Baltic Palette project in 1999) is part of one of the largest Interreg IIC projects (55 partners including PHARE countries). Its main objective is to integrate Russia into the Baltic network.

Mr. Berezkin noted importance of the role of SUPORTNET project managers who supported financially participation of Russian representatives in several SUPORTNET seminars which was very important in terms of mutual understanding achievement and partners search.

Presented by Mrs. Olga Vasilenko (Centre for the trans-adjoining co-operation, Pskov, Russia) project was financed by Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It could be of some interest as successful example of cross-border co-operation. The project covers Chudskoe Lake region (part of Leningrad and Pskov oblasts). This project objective is to foster co-operation between municipal self-governmental authorities, to elaborate joint initiatives (in particular – ecology strategy for Chudskoe Lake), to strengthen Russian-Estonian cross-border co-operation at local level.

Mr. Johansson noted importance of bilateral funding which allows for Russian partners to participate the project before Tacis financial support.

Mr. Mikhail Berezin (Agency for Urban Research and Consulting, St. Petersburg, Russia).

Mrs. Belova presented the first results of generalisation of experience concerning planning legislation of BSR countries by means of the web-site created in the frame of this project (interactive compendium describing spatial planning legislative and administrative systems of all BSR countries opened on the www). The speaker pointed out the following factors contributed to the project success:

As for the perspective forms of future co-operation in the field of this project promotion under the Interreg IIIB, Mrs. Belova proposed to organise exchange of experience in the field of elaboration of municipal geoinformational systems in frames of joint project under Interreg IIIB.

Mr. Audun Moflag (Ministry of the Environment, Norway) presented a joint demonstration project with Baltic 21 on how spatial planning may be applied to ensure a balanced and sustainable development. The project should be carried out within the framework of Interreg III B and should to enhance understanding of the nature and role of spatial planning for sustainability, provide a step by step methodology, including the application of environmental and territorial impact assessments and contribute to capacity building and institutional development, particularly in national and regional government and educational institutions.

Mr. Szydarowsky (Office of the President of the Pomeranian Region Department of International and Interregional co-operation, Poland) presented a VASAB proposal for an Interreg IIIB project in conjunction with Phare and Tacis. It is expected the project will cover the territory of so called “Sapphire ARC”: Southerncoastal regions: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Coastal Wojwodships of Poland, Kaliningrad oblast, counties/national planning institutions in Lithuania and Latvia (up to the junction with Via Baltica).

Mr. Johansson noted considerable importance of Internet availability for project partners which facilitates partners co-operation and contribute to quality of projects presentations and discussions.

Mr. Johansson also noted that additional information in field of joint projects initiation can be picked up and additional experience concerning projects proposals preparation can be learnt from the paper “Recommendations for future Interreg IIIB projects” distributed at the seminar.

4) Collecting project ideas from Russian North-West for joint Interreg IIIB projects

The panel was chaired by Mr.. Vladimir Shchitinsky, member of Monitoring Committee of Interreg IIC. Representatives from 6 Russian regions – Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod and Pskov oblasts, St. Petersburg, Republic of Karelia - and Republic of Belarus participated in this panel activity.

Mr. Valery Funtov (St. Petersburg International Institute of management) informed the audience that about 70 projects to the amount of 25-30 mln. Euro in total are realised in Leningrad oblast annually. So, according to speaker, this subject of Russian Federation has a rich experience in field of participation in international programmes and projects of cross-border co-operation and has a list of project proposals for future co-operation.

The project “Development of marketing strategy, informational and service support for Leningrad Oblast region, co-operation with EU countries” (acronym: “Oblast Marketing”) was presented by Mr. Funtov as project idea from Leningrad oblast for Interreg IIIB programme.

According to Mr. Funtov, spatial planning for Leningrad oblast is connected mainly with raising of so called “informational blooming” of the region and creating of local geoinformational systems contributing to getting information in legislation and investment fields, commercial opportunities and labour market.

Mrs. Elena Sychenkova (Committee for the External Economic Activity, Government of Murmansk oblast) indicated the following strengths of the Interreg programme (mainly based on experience of Murmansk oblast participation in Interreg IIIA Kolarctic programme):

Mr. Georgy Psarev (Murmansk Technical State University) mentioned the idea of elaboration of joint strategy for oil and gas north provinces as project idea, which could be proposed for Interreg IIIB programme. Speaker also noted the necessity of creation of oil and gas companies co-operation network on local, national and international levels; creation of informational system on current and new projects.

Representative of Novgorod oblast, Mrs. Natalya Savushkina (Economic Committee, Administration of Novgorod oblast) was not ready to present any concrete project idea at that moment. She noted that there are socially oriented projects (especially in the field of health protection), ecological (factory waste utilisation, manufactory water refinement etc) and tourism projects which are of special interest for Novgorod oblast region.

Mrs. Ludmila Kozlova (Department of the investment policy, external economic relations and tourism, Administration of Pskov City) noted existing necessity to initiate and promote joint tourism projects and projects in field of tourism infrastructure. The speaker pointed out lack of appropriate experience as factor hindering the process of project proposals preparation.

Mrs. Marina Volkova (The Pskov regional centre of Folk`s creativity) presented the idea of holding the international folklore youth festival at the territory of State historic and natural-landscape museum “Isborsk”. Main goal of the project is to support of cultural diversity, to promote of interregional and international cultural links, to consolidate local, regional and international unities with the aim of territory development.

Mr. Valery Shlyamin (Ministry of Foreign Relations, Republic of Karelia) noted that implementation of mutually beneficial transborder projects is a tool for overcoming of existing socio-economic disparities among Russian regions and EU countries. Speaker informed the audience that government of Republic of Karelia in co-operation with local self-governmental authorities, scientific organisations and university has prepared about 50 projects which could be implemented under different European programmes (including EU Tacis and Interreg programmes).

Mrs. Nadezhda Mikhailova (Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences) presented two project ideas concerning territory of Lake Ladoga:

1) Development of tourism and regional planning in lake Ladoga – Lake Saimaa District.

The project aims for development of the North-Western part of Lake Ladoga district (in Karelia, Russia) and Eastern part of Lake Saimaa district (in Finland) as a regional entity of nature and culture tourism. The objective is to develop a marketable cross-border tourism route system and improve the state of planning the tourism areas, routes, services and related land use planning in local and regional administration of Republic of Karelia.

2) Conservation of biological diversity in agricultural lands in Republic of Karelia.

The main objective of the project is the combination of sustainable use of natural resources and the conservation of biological diversity: agricultural activities that will provide feeding opportunities for migrating birds. The project`s goal is to ensue sustainable agricultural practice in the eastern Ladoga (southern Karelia) as essential area for migrating birds and for supply of agricultural products for the Republic of Karelia.

Mr. Viktor Ivlichev (Institute for Regional and Urban Planning) informed the audience that energetic activity on Interreg IIIB programme are carried out at present in Belarus. Draft of Spatial Development Action programme VASAB 2010+ is considered as basis for project proposals preparation. According to Mr. Ivlichev, it has been stated about necessity of establishment in Belarus special organisational structure to assist the process of regional co-operational projects elaboration and implementation. This requires establishment of two entities: Council of Belarus cross-border regions and Experts Team. According to Mr. Ivlichev, it has been decided that it is Institute for Regional and Urban Planning of Republic Belarus (BELNIPGRADSTROITELSTVA) to be such expert structure which will render consulting assistance in the field of concrete project proposals preparation and promotion.

Mrs. Elena Ivanova (Committee for External Affairs, St. Petersburg City Administration) presented following list of projects from St. Petersburg for Interreg IIIB programme:

2) West Wind Highway – an interregional business and tourism development network formed by Imatra, Jyvaskyla, Mikkeli, Seinajoki and Vaasa Regions of Finland in co-operation with Umeaof Sweden and St. Petersburg region of Russia. This project aims for:

3) Support on Environmental Issues for Kronstadt Administration – environmental co-operation between Jyvaskyla, Finland and Territorial Administration of Kronstadt (St. Petersburg). It aims for improvement the quality of life through improvements in environmental management.

4) East-West Spatial Planning Forum for sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region – it will involve all BSR countries and representatives of regional and local authorities from the North-West of Russia. Forum will work as an arena for exchange of knowledge and experiences in the field of spatial planning and sustainable development to stimulate partnerships and increase the possibilities for co-operation and networking between North-West regional authorities and BSR countries.

6) The Open International University of Independent Expertise of Quality of Education in the Network of Scientific and Cultural Centres of the Baltic Region Countries.

It aims for increasing attention of the society to the problem of quality of education in the educational system of St. Petersburg and Universities Centres of Baltic countries, to the settlement of multiple matters of formation of the independent expertise.

Mrs. Ludmila Romanuk (Research Centre for Ecological Safety, Russian Academy of Sciences), Mr. Vagn Jorgensen (RAMBOLL-Consultant Company, Danmark) proposed to continue Baltic Chain project (Baltic Clearing House and information Network for small scale energy projects), which had been implemented under the Interreg IIC programme, under the new phase of Interreg programme - Interreg IIIB. This project main objective are: increased use of renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency in the BSR.

Mr. Leonid Stepanov (Committee for Tourism and Development of Resorts, City Administration, Academy of tourism) proposed the idea of creation of centre for tourism and cultural activity - zone - “Reconstruction of St. Petersburg Tsar road”. This project is connected with reconstruction of a number of historical buildings, berth and harbours.

5) Special Forum for Kaliningrad: priorities for co-operation and project ideas

This seminar section was chaired by Mr. Audun Moflag, Senior Adviser, Ministry of the Environment of Norway and Mr.. Veniamin Eremeev, member of Committee for Spatial Development in the Baltic Sea Region, president of ROSBALT company).

Mr. Eremeev presented project proposal “Strategy and action programme for balanced spatial development of the Kaliningrad oblast” (SAPPHIRE Kaliningrad) which was expected to be implemented in conjunction with presented earlier by Mr. Szydarovsky project “SAPPHIRE ARC – Strategy and action programme for developing a South-Baltic region”. Mr. Eremeev considered this project idea as a good example of possible successful co-operation of different EU initiatives such as Interreg, Phare and Tacis. The overall goal of SAPPHIRE Kaliningrad is to mobilise of development potentials in the Kaliningrad region through:

Mr. Eremeev considers Kaliningrad as a pilot region, which could serve as a bridge for Russian-EU co-operation. To identify the most important aspects of transnational co-operation requiring the special attention Mr. Eremeev proposed to use six key themes for transnational co-operation in spatial development which were considered as leading issues of the VASAB 2010 Plus Spatial Development Action Programme.

Mr. Holger Platz (PLANCO Consulting GmbH) presented a project of practical nature aimed for overcoming shortcomings impeding implementation of recommendations from Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) projects, thus to make ICZM effective and proceed to integrated zone development. Mr. Platz noted that this seminar was considered as part of partners search process and proposed to participate the project.

The section was chaired by Mrs. Irina Karelina, member of the Committee for Spatial Development in the Baltic Sea Region (VASAB), member of Joint Programming Committee Interreg IIIB, Director of the Leontief Centre.

17 seminar participants took part at the setting up of Russian Interreg IIIB sub-committee: 8 participants presented St. Petersburg; 2 participants - Leningrad oblast; and by 1 representative took part at the section as Novgorod and Murmansk oblasts and Republic of Karelia representatives. Besides, two representatives of Interreg IIC and Interreg IIIB programme; by 1 representative of VASAB and Tacis Office in St, Petersburg participated the session.

The initiative group was formed from among section participants. Irina Karelina was appointed as the Secretary of the initiative group and was asked to send appropriate letters to all eligible under BSR Interreg IIIB programme and interested actors with the request to determine the representatives to Russian Interreg IIIB sub-committee. Minutes and Draft statement on Russian national Interreg IIIB sub-committee must be attached to the letters.

Mr. Matti Lipsanen (BSR Interreg IIIB Finish sub-committee) informed participants about goals, objectives, structure and experience of functioning of BSR Interreg national sub-committee in Finland. According to Mr. Lipsannen national sub-committees – are tools for information transfer, channels of information being transferred from programme administration to day-to day participants level.

Mr. Bo Lowendahl (BSR Interreg IIC Common Secretariat) noted that it is possible to use combined approach based on experience of existing national sub-committees when forming national Russian sub-committee. Mr. Lowendahl also emphasised considerable importance of local and municipal authorities participation in sub-committee`s structure.

On behalf of Mr. Jacek Zaucha (VASAB 2010 Secretariat) proposal to include some points of VASAB activity in competence of Russian sub-committee was introduced by Mrs. Irina Karelina and approved by participants of the session.

The following additional task of Russian sub-committee has been formulated in result of discussion: “Co-ordination of Russian sub-committee with Tacis, Tacis CBC and VASAB partnership”.

Representative of Tacis Office in St. Petersburg Mr. Vaclav Stejskal approved the idea of financial support of Russian sub-committee`s informational infrastructure.

Draft Statement on Russian national BSR Interreg IIIB sub-committee has been approved in result of discussion.

Some preparatory work for so called “participants bilateral meetings” was carried out by the working group of Leontief Centre before the seminar. Some kind of inquiry (it included questions about interested for the participant region or person) was carried out via e-mails and certain groups of interest were determined. The main point of these bilateral meetings was to arrange address contacts among mutually interested participants for the more fruitful discussion of common problems.

[1] According to Mr. Johansson, active participation is not just being present at seminars, it also means setting own targets for the participation in terms of measurable results, a lot of work and raising own funds in addition to the Union contribution.