Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, today opens an EU-Russia seminar in Moscow with Mr. Dmitry Kozak, Russian Minister of Regional Development. The two-day seminar, entitled 'Strategic and governance aspects of regional policy', involves experts from Finland, Germany, Portugal and Spain, together with representatives from Russian ministries, universities and regions. The event takes forward work in progress under a Memorandum of Understanding on regional policy dialogue that the European Commission signed with the Russian Federation in May 2007.

The EU and Russia had much to learn from one other, she said. The dialogue would help both parties to tackle regional disparities, and to foster regional development based on modern growth drivers such as innovation and research and development, she added. It would also help to exploit the potential for socio-economic development of border regions.

Structured dialogue with the Russian Federation enables the exchange of information and best practice on setting up and implementing regional policy. Thanks to this process, Russian experts took part in last October's 'Open Days' (European Week of Regions and Cities) in Brussels, and will also be involved in this year's event, from 6th to 9th October.

Among mutual interests for further cooperation are:

• EU experience in devising instruments in support of innovation-driven regional development.
• classification and definition of regions.
• integration of ethnic minorities.
• public private partnership.
• spatial planning.

Future actions envisaged include exchanges between senior officials, studies in fields of mutual interest, and the participation of Russian regions in networks with which the Commission is also associated. The European Commission's Directorate General for Regional Policy has similar structured dialogue processes in place with China and Brazil.

Territorial cooperation with Russia

Following the enlargement of the European Union to 12 new countries, the border shared by the EU and Russia is 2,200 kilometres long. The EU is cooperating with Russia through six cross-border programmes supported by the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI):

• Barents.
• Karelia.
• South East Finland-Russia.
• Estonia/Latvia/Russia.
• Lithuania/Poland/Kaliningrad/Russia.
• Black Sea.

Another major trans-national programme with Russia is the “Baltic Sea” programme, covering eight Member States, Norway, Belarus, and supported both by the ENPI and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Practical examples of co-operation include modernising facilities, training border staff and improving customs operations. Other areas of cooperation include the development of border networks, including transport facilitation, and support for local telecommunications, energy links and environmental protection.