The Success of the Barents Cooperation
The success of the Barents Cooperation
Since 1993 The Norwegian Barents Secretariat has funded more than 3500 Norwegian- Russian cooperation projects in the Barents Region. The Barents Cooperation is a unique form of regional cooperation, which has been highlighted by both Russian and Norwegian ministers as well as project participants as a vital factor in establishing good neighbouring relations between Norway and Russia in the north.
The Barents Region consists of 13 administrative entities situated in four countries in the northern part of Europe. The area is three times larger than France and there are 5.5 million people living here. Natural resources like minerals, oil and gas reserves, fish and forests are important factors for the growing interest for this region from all over the world.
Regional funds Every year the Norwegian Foreign Ministry place regional funds at the disposal of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat. The primary task is to assist the Norwegian-Russian cooperation in the Barents Region, and to bring regional priorities in accordance with national and international policies. All relevant project ideas are welcome and the Barents Secretariat would like to help as many people, groups and organizations as possible, with an aim to stimulate and increase cross-border cooperation between Norway and Russia.
The main success of the Barents cooperation is the regional people-to-people contact. For centuries Norwegians and Russians had close contact in the north through trade and common challenges. The cold war period made cross-border contact difficult for more than 40 years, but with the establishment of the Barents Region in 1993 close relations between people in the two neighbouring countries prospered again. In this process the people-to-people projects have been vital. These are small low cost projects where people, sports clubs, organizations or other similar groups from Norway and Russia meet and build better relations.
Areas of priority The Norwegian Barents Secretariat has divided the funding into five different areas of priority. These areas are culture, competence, indigenous people, commercial development and environment. In addition there are also own Barents programmes for youth, health and sports. All projects must be run by a Norwegian and a Russian partner. The main purpose of the funds from the Barents Secretariat is to help the Russian and Norwegian partner in the initiating part of the cooperation, and that the project is able to develop and manage without funds in time. For some projects we can help the partners in the next face also, and in some cases for several years. However, it is very important that each project can document a progress in order for us to give additional support.
In 2008 a new program for larger border crossing culture and art-projects in the Norwegian and Russian part of the Barents Region was established. The programme BarentsKult is aimed at helping professional artist to realize new and innovative border-crossing culture and art projects. Several artists and cultural workers have their base in the Barents Region, and the cultural cooperation across borders has never been more extensive than today. This transboundary cooperation has at the same time made the region an exiting destination for artist living in other parts of the world. With the establishment of BarentsKult these creative art communities have a chance for further development.
The Norwegian Barents Secretariat Telephone: +47 78 97 70 50 Po.box 276 Fax: +47 78 97 70 55 NO-9915 Kirkenes Email: [email protected] Web: www.barents.no
Business cooperation An important part of the Barents cooperation has also been to promote business cooperation between Norwegian and Russian companies. The Barents funds have supported many Norwegian companies trying to establish activity in Northwest-Russia. A study performed in 2005 found that more than 80 Norwegian companies were active in the Russian part of the Barents Region. With the development of the large gas fields in the Barents Sea ahead, Norwegian and Russian companies and researchers will have to cooperate even better in order to find the best solutions for these advanced projects.
The competence of the staff at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat on business development in Russia has been helpful for many Norwegian companies looking at the Russian markets. The secretariat gathers some of the region’s best competence on Norwegian-Russian relations, with offices in Kirkenes, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Naryan-Mar. Our staff is often used by project managers, politicians, scientist and media as both consultants as well as lecturers to help understand the dynamics of the region better.
The Norwegian Barents Secretariat is also the leader of the “Northern Maritime Corridor- project”, which is one of the demonstration projects in the frames of EU’s StratMos project. The core aim and idea is to promote and facilitate shift of cargo from road to sea, based on intermodal transport and improved accessibility within the North Sea Region. The project comprises for the time being 27 partners, covering the North Sea Region. From Flanders in the south and Northern Norway in the north, with the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Nenets regions in Russia as associated partners.
The International Barents Secretariat The Norwegian Barents Secretariat funds can only be granted for bilateral Norwegian-Russian projects. However, also Sweden and Finland are a part of the Barents Region. The multilateral cooperation between the four Barents countries is managed by the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and the Barents Regional Council. In January 2008 an International Barents Secretariat was established with an office in Kirkenes, in the same building as the Norwegian Barents Secretariat. The International Secretariat will have an important role in developing a stronger multilateral dimension in the Barents cooperation.
The Norwegian Barents Secretariat Telephone: +47 78 97 70 50 Po.box 276 Fax: +47 78 97 70 55 NO-9915 Kirkenes Email: [email protected] Web: www.barents.no