A communiqué from the meeting highlights the need for continued stress on cross-border cooperation between Finland and Russia. Among the proposals are the establishment of a Russian consulate office in Oulo, northern Finland, and the upgrade of the existing Finnish consulate in Petrozavodsk to general consulate. The representatives of the Euroregion also propose to open up for 72-hour visa-free zones in the area of several border-crossing points, and to restart consultations on a passenger train connection between Petrozavodsk and Joensuu, as well as on the route Arkhangelsk-Kostomuksha-Kajaani-Oulo.
In addition, the communique stresses the need for an air link between Petrozavodsk-Joensuu-Helsinki.
The ten-year anniversary session of the Euroregion project was attended by several prominent regional representatives, among them Head of the Republic of Karelia Andrei Nelidov. Among the key speakers in the meeting was Karelian Minister of Economic Development Valentin Luntsevich, who in his speech highlighted the importance of tourism and energy-saving projects in cross-border cooperation between Russia and Finland.
The anniversary session was held in Kajaani, Finland, on December 1. Since its establishment in year 2000, the Euroregio Karelia has contributed with funding for more than 200 projects.
The Karelia Euregio includes three regional councils of Finland - Kainuu, Northern Karelia and Northern Ostrobothnia, and on the Russian side, the Republic of Karelia.
Read more about the Euregio Karelia at the project website
