Category: Programme news

The Branch Office in St. Petersburg is closed from the 1^st of April 2022.
In project related issues please contact [email protected]

The Branch Office in St. Petersburg is closed from the 1^st of April 2022.
In project related issues please contact [email protected]

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.

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.

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 22^nd, 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.

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 22^nd, 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.

European Commission has published news of suspending CBC programmes with Russia and Belarus. We will give more information to project partners as soon as possible. The European Commission announcement can be found here.

European Commission has published news of suspending CBC programmes with Russia and Belarus. We will give more information to project partners as soon as possible. The European Commission announcement can be found here.