VIII Conference «Cross-border Cooperation: the Russian Federation, the European Union and Norway»

Regions of the Russian Federation and the European Union are longing to build pragmatic and mutually beneficial relationship across their borders. One of the key mechanisms of such a dialogue is the annual international Conference «Cross-border Cooperation: the Russian Federation, the European Union and Norway» will be held on September 6-7, 2012 in Pskov. (hereinafter - the Conference).

Participants of the Conference will discuss current state of cross-border cooperation, possible trends and models of its further development, ways of joint planning of border areas development. Like the previous years, the experience of cross-border cooperation of the host region - the Pskov region will be emphasized.

During the Conference the following issues will be discussed:
- prospects of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument after 2013, search for an optimal model of cross-border cooperation programmes development; 
- cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. Agenda and priorities of the presidency of the Russian Federation in the Baltic Sea States Council in 2012-2013; 
- particularities of cross-border cooperation: tourism as the main priority, ecology, transport and logistics projects and development of border infrastructure. 
- cooperation between local authorities and between businesses in border regions.