Cross-Border Cooperation
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Cross-Border Cooperation

Category: Programme news

Youth and Greener Europe event in Lappeenranta 27.9.2022 – register now!

11.8.2022

What can be achieved with cross-border cooperation? How to benefit from the outputs and what could be done next? Where to apply for funding for a project idea?

Youth and Greener Europe is an event to celebrate together the European Cooperation Day (EC Day) and the European Year of Youth, it is an event to share our joint priority for greener tomorrow. The event is for promoting project results and making contacts. It is an event to look for future possibilities and new directions of cooperation.

The international event is for Finnish and Estonian project beneficiaries and stakeholders, and it is organized in cooperation with South-East Finland – Russia CBC and Estonia EU external border Programmes. The event will take place on Tuesday 27th September in Lappeenranta, Finland. The event will be held in English, no interpretation provided.

The registration deadline is extended and will close on 19th August 2022. The preliminary agenda as well as the reqistration form can be found here.

Confirmation e-mails will be sent to all confirmed participants soon after the registration deadline.

We would be happy to meet you in Lappeenranta!

Update on office hours

9.8.2022

Starting on 15th August, the Managing Authority office in Lappeenranta is no longer regularly open. In case you have documents to deliver, we recommend you send them by post. If you want to bring them personally or if you want to meet any of us, please contact us beforehand for an appointment. The mail can always be dropped to Regional Council office (5th floor).

Summertime services

4.7.2022

Managing Authority’s office in Lappeenranta is closed between 4th – 29th July. During these weeks the official email is checked occasionally. During the first week of August (1st-5th August) we recommend to contact us before visiting our office.

Have a nice summer!
CBC team

Suspension of cooperation with Russia

24.3.2022

Following the Russian military aggression on Ukraine and in line with the decision of the European Council to suspend cooperation with Russia and Belarus, on Tuesday 22 March 2022 a meeting was held in Brussels to explore ways to continue the implementation of concerned ENI CBC programmes. As a result, it was understood that the EU beneficiaries can carry on the project operations, whereas the activities and financial flows on the Russian and Belarusian side have to be suspended. Project partners will be contacted individually for more detailed information within few weeks.

Suspension of cooperation with Russia

Following the Russian military aggression on Ukraine and in line with the decision of the European Council to suspend cooperation with Russia and Belarus, on Tuesday 22 March 2022 a meeting was held in Brussels to explore ways to continue the implementation of concerned ENI CBC programmes. As a result, it was understood that the EU beneficiaries can carry on the project operations, whereas the activities and financial flows on the Russian and Belarusian side have to be suspended. Project partners will be contacted individually for more detailed information within few weeks.

Information for Project Partners

14.3.2022

The European Commission has suspended the Financing Agreements between the EC and the Russian Federation concerning the European Neighbourhood Instrument cross-border cooperation programmes (ENI CBC). This means, among other things, that no further payments of programme funds to Russia will be made. This concerns payments from the Managing Authorities and money transfers from the Lead Partners in Finland.

On March 22nd, the Managing Authorities of the programmes with Russia and Belarus will have a meeting with the European Commission about the practical consequences of the suspension.    

After the meeting, the Managing Authority expects to be able to inform you about the schedules and eligibility of costs as well as about practicalities concerning the next steps with the implementation of projects and payments. The European Commission is searching for solutions to properly conclude planned activities on the EU side.

The Managing Authority wants you to note that for the moment, the projects should not plan or carry out any major activities, like large events or investments, before clear guidance for proceeding can be provided. Also, projects should not apply for changes in the projects, because the MA is not able to proceed with change requests in this unclear situation.   

In addition, the Managing Authority wants to underline that a prerequisite for any payments is, as until now, that costs and activities are reported (note that the EC decisions may affect the eligibility of costs). Please note also that the MA continues checking the reported and audited costs of Russian partners and keeps record of the unpaid amounts, even though the payments cannot be made for the moment.

Information for Project Partners

The European Commission has suspended the Financing Agreements between the EC and the Russian Federation concerning the European Neighbourhood Instrument cross-border cooperation programmes (ENI CBC). This means, among other things, that no further payments of programme funds to Russia will be made. This concerns payments from the Managing Authorities and money transfers from the Lead Partners in Finland.

On March 22nd, the Managing Authorities of the programmes with Russia and Belarus will have a meeting with the European Commission about the practical consequences of the suspension.    

After the meeting, the Managing Authority expects to be able to inform you about the schedules and eligibility of costs as well as about practicalities concerning the next steps with the implementation of projects and payments. The European Commission is searching for solutions to properly conclude planned activities on the EU side.

The Managing Authority wants you to note that for the moment, the projects should not plan or carry out any major activities, like large events or investments, before clear guidance for proceeding can be provided. Also, projects should not apply for changes in the projects, because the MA is not able to proceed with change requests in this unclear situation.   

In addition, the Managing Authority wants to underline that a prerequisite for any payments is, as until now, that costs and activities are reported (note that the EC decisions may affect the eligibility of costs). Please note also that the MA continues checking the reported and audited costs of Russian partners and keeps record of the unpaid amounts, even though the payments cannot be made for the moment.