PROGRAMME PERIOD 2000-2006

The Neighbourhood programme was based on the INTERREG III A South-East Finland-Russia Programme which was approved by the Commission on 27 December 2001. The Neighbourhood Programme consolidated and strengthened the work which had already started in the framework of the previous programme.

The aim of the South-East Finland-Russia Neighbourhood Programme (approved by the Commission 25 October 2004) for the years 2004-2006 was to promote cross-border co-operation across the Finnish-Russian border between South Karelia, South Savo, Kymenlaakso, St. Petersburg and Leningrad oblast. The programme which was co-funded by the European Union from two different instruments, INTERREG and Tacis, were granted aid to joint development projects following a strategy and priorities which were jointly agreed by the Finnish and Russian partners.

Regional Council of South-Karelia acted as the Managing and Paying Authority for the whole programming period. www.ekliitto.fi

CLOSURE OF THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE INTERREG IIIA / NEIGHBOURHOOD PROGRAMME SOUTH-EAST FINLAND - RUSSIA

Refering to Article 38(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 European Commission has informed the Managing Authority of the three years period of availability of the supporting documents in relation to the above-mentioned assistance. Fixed date is 18 July 2011 which corresponds to the payment of the programme final balance. In addition, regulations of the national legislative will apply.