Author: groteski

With the partial end of the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Programme’s customer and stakeholder services will move to the so-called hybrid model and standard office hours as of November 1, 2021. Our personnel work both in the office and remotely, and the opening hours of our offices are following.

Managing Authority office, Lappeenranta Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00 (local time)

We recommend arranging expert’s meeting for the office separately, either by contacting the Programme with the e-mail [email protected] or directly with the expert. Contact information for the Programme personnel at: https://www.sefrcbc.fi/contacts/

Consultations and meetings continue using remote tools and, when possible, also meeting face-to-face on-site.

In its sixth meeting on 8 October 2021, the Programming Committee (PC) discussed of the future Programme’s partnership, small-scale projects, management and operational functions, Simplified Cost Options and the Large Infrastructure Projects (LIPs). The Committee was also informed of the process and the overall results of the Public Hearing. As the next steps to finalise the Programme, the Committee agreed to work on the document-package in the written procedure considering the feedback from the hearing and of the PC for the latest Chapters, and have the next meeting in December 2021 aiming to adopt the draft Programme for the process of national acceptances by the participating countries Finland and Russia.  

Three CBC Programmes “South-East Finland – Russia”, “Kolarctic” and “Karelia” are present in the All-Russia Forum in St. Petersburg in October, where they organize a Round Table discussion and a project exhibition on the premises of the Forum. 

Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) is a well-functioning tool to facilitate neighbouring countries Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway in finding better solutions for business development, innovation, education, environmental protection, cultural activities, transport connections of bordering regions, and much more. Three CBC Programmes “South-East Finland – Russia”, “Kolarctic” and “Karelia” are co-financed by the European Union and the participating countries. 

The Managing Authorities of the Programmes, together with their Russian Branch Offices, are organizing the Round Table discussion on 25 October 2021, at 17:15–19:15 in Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, St. Petersburg. The key speakers of the first session are National authorities from Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the European Commission, EU Delegation to Russia, and the CBC Programmes. Second session gives floor to the regional development organizations, educational institutions and business support organizations acting as the projects’ implementers. The Round Table is organized in hybrid format with on-site and on-line speakers. Discussions can be followed via direct stream-links:

In English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai4MtovHwwc

In Russian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcGf2a4nZLk

The Forum, with all parties engaged to the joint discussion, is good platform to increase dialog over the implementation of the CBC Programmes, and showcase the projects’ results. Its Round Table exchanges mutual understanding between the national and regional stakeholders, business and civil society about common values and development targets. The discussion is also a contribution to development of the next generation of Programmes for programming period 2021-2027. 

The Forum participants and visitors are welcome to visit the joint exhibition of CBC funded projects to get the first -hand information about the benefits of cooperation for the involved stakeholders, the regions and people. 

The main focuses of projects’ showcases are: 

• Greener and smarter future 

• Cross-border collaboration as the behavior transformer 

• Matchmaking science, business and people 

• Empowering synergies 

Information of CBC Round Table at https://forumstrategov.ru/eng/program/stol21.html  

Information of All-Russia Forum at https://forumstrategov.ru/?lang=eng  

Managing Authority (MA), together with its Branch Office (BO), organizes next Consultation Days for on-going standard projects in November 2021. Project specific consultations offer support for the project partners in any questions relating to projects’ implementation. Project partners together may consider the need for consultation for example via following questions:

• Are there open questions relating to the project’s implementation or closure?
• Are there needs for consultation in the reporting issues?
• Are there questions relating to the need for changes in budget and/or work plan?
• Are there any questions relating to the partnerships or visibility?

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CONSULTATION TIMES AND REGISTRATION

Consultations are organized online as in 1-hour sessions by using Teams or Zoom.

15.-19.11.2021 (week 46) daily Monday-Friday at 9:00 and 14:00 EEST/Helsinki

22.-26.11.2021 (week 47) daily Monday-Friday at 9:00 and 14:00 EEST/Helsinki

Booking deadline for the consultations is 5.11.2021.

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HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?

Project partners are encouraged to have an internal discussion of the consultation needs, and to book an appointment by the lead partner following steps 1-3:

Step 1) Enter the Bookings service

Select your project’s coordinator from the personnel menu, and then suitable date and time from the available options.

Step 2) Fill in the requested information in English

Add your details: Mark you name, e-mail and phone number.

Note’s box: Mark the name and e-mail of each participant from the project’s side and heading list of the matters you plan to address (for example: narrative report, payment request, partnership etc.)

Provide additional information: Mark your project ID and Acronym.

Step 3) Select Book

Booking confirmation is received to the e-mail address marked in the details. Prior to consultation, the MA will contact the projects to ensure the Teams/Zoom link to all participants expected to join the session.

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(Next project consultation days will take place in Spring 2022.)

The Managing Authority (MA) of the South-East Finland – Russia CBC 2014-2020 is seeking candidates for the position of an Administrative officer to work as part of the MA team, in the international field of European Union’s external cross-border cooperation. Responsibilities of the new team member consist of the tasks related with the ongoing 2014-2020 programming period as well as participating in preparation and implementation of new 2021-2027 Programme.

Deadline for applications is 1st of October 2021 at 16:00 EEST to email: official(at)sefrcbc.fi

Full announcement of Administrative officer with the instructions to apply in the PDF-file.