Nordic Council of Ministers

Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office of the Nordic Council of Ministers in Saint Petersburg 2006

Nordic Council of Ministers in Northwest Russia • Office in Saint Petersburg (1995) • Contact centers in Arkhangelsk, Murmansk Petrozavodsk • Office in Kaliningrad (2006) • Мurmansk, Аrkhangelsk, Кarelia, Pskov,Novgorod, Kaliningrad, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad oblast/district • NCM has no activities in Komi and Nenets • Totally 14 million inhabitants • Territory: 1 678 000 sq.km2 (approximately 10% of the Russian Federation)

Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office in Saint Petersburg • 13employees in Saint Petersburg, including the Director • 3 employees in the information centers in Barents region • The Director comes from a Nordic country, other members of the staff can be citizens of Russia or Nordic countries • Working languages: Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and English • The Director reports directly to the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers in Copenhagen

Main tasks/responsibilities of the office: • Assist the Nordic Councils • Support and strengthen the co-operation between state, regional and municipality bodies in Nordic countries and NW Russia • Support and strengthen the co-operation between NGOs and other national and international organisations • Support and strengthen the co-operation between the Baltic states and NW Russia • To work as Nordic Council of Ministers local ”supervisor” • Represents Nordic countries • To work as a quality inspector within different programmes

Information activities of 2006 • www.norden.ru • Informationseminars in Saint Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Petrozavodsk, Pskov, Ivangorod, Vyborg and Kaliningrad • NCM Portal: www.norden.org • Personal consultation in the office • Seminars, conferences, forums, information meetings, press - conferences • Co-operation with mass media • Meetings with representatives of Russian authorities • Reports and press-releases to Copenhagen • Co-operation with the Baltic - offices

The New Russian Program • Programme for 2006-2008 • Activities financed by the different Nordic councils in accordance with the overall gidelines (through direct contact with their Russian co-operation partners) • Activities financed through realization of the Council of Ministers’ special policy for the neighboring countries

The new Russian program 2006 The major activities financed and condacted through the neighbourhood policy: • knowledge building and networking • participation in the EU’s Northern Dimension • co-operation with the non – governmental sector in NW Russia • co-operation in the Barents Region

The new Russian program 2006 Knowledge building and networking Scholarship programmes: • Civil Servants Exchange programme supports stability, consistency and democracy in Russia • NordProlink programme offers possibility to gain knowledge and experience of running enterprises in free market conditions • Sleipnir-Adjacent Areas programme aims to increase mobility among young artists • Cultural exchange programme for children and young people • Young Politicians Exchange aims to pass on experiences of Nordic countries and representative democracy • Nordplus Neighbour – education exchange programme

The new Russian program 2006 Co-operation with EU – partnerships within the framework of the Northern Dimension • The Nordic countries participate in the Northern Dimention at national level according to national priorities • Through the Council of Ministers the Nordic countries participate in 3 multilateral partnerships 1. Environmental partnership (NDEP) 2. Partnership in Public Health and Social Wellbeing 3. Partnership-style IT co-operation (NeDAP)

The new Russian program 2006 Co-operation with the non – governmental sector in NW Russia • The promotion of social structures that bolster constitutional democracy • Support of civic and voluntary organisations that play an importend part in popular participation • The new NGO programme • The aim is increase in the activities and scope of NGO networks that play an important role in the process of democratisation

The new Russian program 2006 Co-operation in the Barents Region • Co-operation has been facilitated by the fact that BC and BEAC have established working parties and programmes similar to those in which the Nordic Council of Ministers is involved • The Nordic Council of Ministers and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council have similar objectives and working methods • The work of NCM and BEAC overlaps in geographic terms • Desireble an appropriate allocation of responsibilities between NCM, BEAC and BC • The Nordic Council of Minicters’ informational centres in Murmansk and Archangelsk coordinate with Norwegian Barents Secretariat as far as possible

Programmes 2006 Project Financing Co-operation within the cultural sphere (children and youth) (DKK 225.000, Euro 30.000) Crossborder Co-operation(BEN, Euro-regions) (DKK 300.000, Euro 40.000) NGO programme (DKK 3 mln. Euro 400.000)

Programmes 2006 Exchange Programmes Exchange of Civil Servants (DKK 2 million, Euro 270.000) Nordplus Neighbour – Education exchange programme (DKK 5 million, Euro 672.000) NordProLink – Exchange programme for businessmen (DKK 1.75 million, Euro 235.000)

Programmes 2006 Sleipnir – Cultural exchange programme (DKK 700.000 Euro 94.000) Closer Culture Neighbours – Cultural exchange programme (DKK 200.000 Euro 26.000) Exchange programme for Parliamentarians (DKK 550.000 Euro 73.000) Exchange programme for Young Politicians (DKK 1,5 mln. Euro 198.000)

Budget 2006 • The budget of the Nordic Council of Ministers is DKK 826 million(Euro 111 million) • Approximately 20% is used for co-operation with Russia and the Baltic states (DKK 165 million,Euro 22 million) • The budget of the Information Office in Saint Petersburg is DKK 6 million(Euro800.000) • In 2006 the main focus will be on Northwest of Russia and the new Russian country programme

Exchange of Civil Servants Aim: support and build networks and co-operation for state institutions and municipality structures between Russia, the Baltic states and Nordic countries. • On state, regional – and local levels

Exchange of Civil Servants Participants: ●State and municipal civil servants ● State and municipal organisations and structures ●Nordic experts, invited by civil structures of Northwestern Russia or the Baltic states

Exchange of Civil Servants • Possibilities: exchange of experience, work with joint projects, study similar structures,professional growth, personal contacts. Receive/obtain a program certificate • Financing: Travel costs Accommodation; visa, insurance; Daily allowance 1) Individual travel 2) project (travel groups of max. 4 persons)

Exchange of Civil Servants Requirements to participate: • Russian citizenship • Foreign language skills (individual trip) • Atleast one year of work experience as a civil servant in a state/municipal administration or with administration dealing with public institutions • Host-organisations (minimum 2 organisations in the Nordic countries) • Approval and supportof employers No age limitations to participate Deadlines to apply: March15th andSeptember 15th

Exchange of Civil Servants Statistics on ECS, springdeadline Region AppliedApproved SPb 29 11 Pskov 4 4 Murmansk 11 5 Arkhangelsk 7 3 Petrozavodsk 15 6 Kaliningrad 0 0 Denmark4 0 TOTAL7029

Exchange of young active politicians between Northwestern Russia and Nordic countries The project finances study trips for young active politicians from the Northwest Russia to the Nordic Countries Financing: Travel costs Accommodation Visa, insurance Daily allowance 1) Individual trip 2) Project (Travel groups of max. 3 persons)

Exchange of young active politicians Requirements to participate: • Work experience within the framework of operating political party or movement or a non – governmental organisationor union, be involved in political activityand directivity; • 34 years old or younger; • Knowledge of English, Finnish or any Scandinavian language; • Host organisations in two or more bodies in the Nordic Countries Deadlines to apply: March 10, September 10

Целипрограммы: NordProLink "Nordic Professional Links" The aim of the programme: • Supportsmall and medium sized businesses in Northwestern Russia • Facilitate business contacts between Northwestern Russia and the Nordic countries • Exchange experience, boost/improve the professional level

Requirements to participate: • Age 20 or older; • Knowledge of English, Finnish or a Scandinavian languague; • At least one year of work experience; • Work in a small or medium sized company (maximum 250 employees); • Acceptance and support of employer; • Host company Personal contacts; Business partners; Search through Internet

Grant conditions: • Duration of the visit to the host company from 1 to 4 weeks (28 days); • The grant must be used within 12 months; • The grant covers expenses on travel, visas, daily allowances and accommodation; • The grant will be paid according to 80% + 20%; • 13% tax. The deadlines to apply are: April 1st and October 1st

Co-operation with EU – partnerships within the framework of the Northern Dimension NDEP • The Nordic Council of Ministers participates in the partnership principally within the framework of the Nordic financial institutions because NDEP deals with a range of major infrastructure projects • This co-operation is complemented by sectoral work on the environment, which is regarded as an important means of getting activities off the ground in North-West Russia.

Co-operation with EU – partnerships within the framework of the Northern Dimension ND Partnership in Public Health and Social Wellbeing • The Nordic Council of Ministers participates in the partnership on an equal footing with the other members • The main priorities of the partnership are to combat infectious diseases (particularly HIV/AIDS) and life-style related illnesses, as well as to promote physical and social welfare through activities, diet, lifestyle habits and social interactions

Co-operation with EU – partnerships within the framework of the Northern Dimension ND Partnership in Public Health and Social Wellbeing • The Nordic Council of Ministers contributes by linking its programmes to partnership activities and providing co-ordination in the Region. • Additionally the Council of Ministers has been providing a full-time staff member in the office in St. Petersburg who works with the partnership's secretariat. since 2005 • A cross-sectoral approach is fundamental to the Council of Ministers participation because of perspectives affecting children, young people and gender equality

Co-operation with EU – partnerships within the framework of the Northern Dimension NeDAP (the Northern eDimension Action Plan) • Partnership agreement on IT with the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and EU Commission as a part of NeDAP • Within the framework of the Northern Dimension, NeDAP directs attention to the special political opportunities and challenges in the BSR relation to the knowledge society in general and information technology in particular.

Co-operation with EU – partnerships within the framework of the Northern Dimension NeDAP (the Northern eDimension Action Plan) • The co-operation builds on a joint plan, with various so-called 'action lines' in which participation varies. The financing is based on the own priorities of participants. • NCM focuses its priority on two action lines within NeDAP: 1.NeDAP Action Line 1 - Internet research development 2.NeDAP Action Line 6, - statistical indicators for the development of a knowledge society

Nordic Council of Ministers