The State Duma ratified the agreement on financing and implementation of the cross-border cooperation
programme ”Russia-Poland“ for the period 2014–2020.
The cross-border cooperation
programme ”Russia-Poland“ for the period 2014–2020 is aimed at solving
common challenges of the frontier areas through implementation of joint
projects between the Kaliningrad region (Russia) and the Pomeranian,
Warmia-Mazury and Podlaskie voivodeships in Poland. For the Russian Federation,
this format of cross-border cooperation is an effective tool for addressing
issues of economic and social development of border areas, as well as it is an additional source of funding for regional initiatives, the explanatory note
says.
The agreement defines the amount of financial contributions of the parties, the procedure for transferring funds and special circumstances for withholding payments by the parties. It also defines the basis of tax and customs regulation, when the most-favoured-nation treatment (MFN) regime is applied in accordance with the legislation
of each country.
In addition, the document
establishes the procedure for disclosing information and transfer of personal
data of individuals participating in the programme to the databases of the programme's administration and, upon reasonable request, to the EU control bodies.
It also establishes a procedure for the recovery of unfounded or misappropriated funds.
Preliminary assessment of the Kaliningrad region’s project proposals allows to conclude that the financial commitment of the Russian Federation in the programme will help to the achieve the goals of the Northwestern Federal District socio-economic
development Strategy for the period up to 2020, as shown in the financial and economic substantiation of the document.
